Can a creditor garnish my wages?
In Washington, it is possible for a creditor to garnish wages. This means that the creditor can take a portion of your wages from your paycheck before it is deposited in your bank account. In order to garnish your wages, the creditor must first obtain a court order. This court order is granted if the court finds that the debtor has the ability to pay the debt but refuses to do so. The court order will specify the amount of the debt and how much can be taken from each paycheck. Washington has implemented Consumer Debt Defense Law, which requires creditors to provide you with written notification before they can garnish your wages. This notification must include a copy of the court order, an explanation of the debt, and a statement of your right to dispute the debt. Creditors in Washington must also follow certain rules and restrictions when garnishing wages. For example, creditors may not take more than 25% of your wages, or keep taking your wages beyond the debt amount. They must also provide monthly statements that detail how much was taken from your wages and what amount of debt still remains. If you do not agree with the garnishment of your wages, you have several options available to you. You can set up a payment plan with the creditor, dispute the debt in court, or declare bankruptcy. In any of these cases, it is important to hire a lawyer to help you with your case.
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