If a judgment has been filed against me, can a creditor take

Submitted by chelsea.allbee on Mon, 11/30/2009 - 21:43
Forums

The judgment has been in effect two years. They were going to start garnishing my wages December of last year, but ironically I had to quit my job a week before it was going to go into effect. When I filed my taxes, nothing was taken out. My wages have been garnished for the past two months, and I am claiming my daughter this year so will have about a 4 grand tax return. I am planning on using $1500 to hire a lawyer and file for bankruptcy, but I am worried that the judgment will give the collection agency the ability to take my whole tax return. They have about 5 grand in medical bills that they've been garnishing from me. If I were to file for bankruptcy within the next two weeks, would that change anything? The judgment was obtained illegally, and the lawyer I spoke with said he can put in a motion to dismiss so I don't have to pay for it while I'm waiting for the bankruptcy to take effect.

If you are filing chapter 7 I am pretty sure the only thing you can not included is back taxes and student loans. So if you file on them then they are not allowed to collect anything else from you.

Mon, 11/30/2009 - 23:15 Permalink

Hi Chelsea,

Normally tax returns can be garnished since the creditor can seize any of your assets if you fail to pay the debt. With the help of judgment against you, the creditor can garnish the tax returns. Filing for bankruptcy could be a way out but I am not sure how much the motion to dismiss would work since the creditor had already started garnishing the amount. If the judgment was illegally done, then you should have filed a case two years back.

Anyways filing for either chapter 7 bankruptcy or chapter 13 bankruptcy will stop any activities for debt collection on the creditor's or the collection agency's part.

Tue, 12/01/2009 - 06:20 Permalink
LR (not verified)

5 years ago I was evicted from my house (lost Job) a judgement was put against me. If I pay this judgement off will they take it off my credit report....dismissing it.

Wed, 08/18/2010 - 04:05 Permalink

Hi LR,

Judgments cannot be removed like that. Judgments generally stay on the credit report for 7 years (the time limit for which it can be reported varies according to state laws on judgment), and can only be updated as "Satisfied Judgment" once paid.

Thanks,

Aaron

Wed, 08/18/2010 - 07:10 Permalink

The judgment was obtained illegally

If that is the case then haven't you appealed to higher court? If you could prove that the judgment is based on the bias then your judgment will be cancelled and it will also show in your credit report .

Ensure..............

Wed, 08/18/2010 - 07:23 Permalink
maya (not verified)

I live arizona and creditor took me to court and they won. Know i have judgement on me. They also went back to court to start garnishing my wages. I just wondering can they still take my tax return.

Wed, 01/11/2012 - 17:28 Permalink