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StayLDS may not be the appropriate forum for this, but my family could sure use your prayers. I am embarrassed to reveal this, but this week I received notice that my wages are going to be garnished starting with my next paycheck. The garnishment is for 25% of each paycheck after taxes. This will create a severe financial hardship for my family.
I have filed a Claim of Exemption to have the amount reduced. It won’t be until next month that I will know if the creditor will accept the amount I can pay them each month.
If I have 25% of each paycheck deducted, that will mean I will not have money to buy food for my family. Tomorrow DH and I hope to meet with the bishop. I don’t know if he will help us since DH has not been going to church and I am not a member. The former bishop (who is also our neighbor) told us we could receive help as far as food.
This is all so humiliating. I spoke with an attorney about filing for bankruptcy (something I do not want to do because I incurred debt that I feel obligated to pay). Also, it would cost over $2,000 to file for bankruptcy (money we do not have).
Yesterday I telephoned the Oakland Temple and put our names on the prayer roll. If you are reading this, please pray for my family. Thank you.
Your family is in our prayers. I’ve had two bankruptcies in the last 15 years….all due to medical bills.
Now, we’re in our 50’s, living on a little better than minimum wage, no insurance, severe health problems, and raising a 4-year-old granddaughter.
I feel your pain.
It wouldn’t be quite as bad for the poor if it weren’t Christmas. I personally cannot wait until it’s over.
With gratefulness, accept the food from the Bishop’s storehouse. Someday, when you are in a better position, you will be able to help others as you were helped. Receiving this food at a time of your struggle will be a great motivator in the future to give to others less fortunate than yourselves. The economy is very, very bad right now, as far as unemployment goes. With unemployment at 10% (or greater in some areas), many families will be struggling. God bless your family. He will.
I’m not a lawyer and I don’t want to give you any legal advice except to say that you may have to seek bankruptcy protection. A Chapter 13 bankruptcy enables you to pay back all of your creditors in a structured fashion. Instead of garnishments, the court will decide how much you can pay, depending on your circumstances and ability to pay. It will really hurt your credit rating, but so do garnishments. Many people I know have filed for a chapter 13 without an attorney and paid only filing fees (no attorney’s fees). I don’t recommend this as it is always best to get an attorney, but you could ask the bishop if there is an attorney in your stake who would guide you through the process. Good luck.
Absolutely, Kalola – and this post is fine for StayLDS. I understand what you are experiencing all too well. You will be in my prayers.
Good luck, kalola. You’re in my thoughts and prayers. Life has a nasty way of putting things to us. I will pray for your family too. Things are really hard these days. I pray that you and your husband can have the clarity of vision to know what needs to be done and how things need to adjust. You will know. Having been through bankruptcy too several years ago, and currently being hit hard by unemployment, I feel for you guys. I know you want to do the right thing and pay people back. That is the honorable and right thing to do. I thought I would just point out though that if a creditor was able to get a judgment against you and garnish your wages, you may already be bankrupt. Declaring it legally is more of just a paperwork formality that gets you back on the path of working it out as best you can.
The Church is normally really good about getting people basic food for a period of time. They might be able to pay a single small bill or two once. There’s sort of a practical limit to what they can do to fix things for people. It mostly just takes a painful adjustment to financial equilibrium. I know … been there and done it more than once
😥 Kalola – thoughts and prayers are with you. I’m so sorry to hear that. I hope you find what you need. I am always mindful of the safety net provided by the church, although I’ve been fortunate to not have to use it – yet! Life is full of twists and turns, and that’s just the way of it. I’m sorry to hear about your difficulty, but I’ll be thinking of you. My prayers go out to you. I’m sorry to hear about your tough situation. What a great example you are setting that as you have such difficulties, you reach out with hope and faith to the temple and your friends for support. Thanks for that example of your strength! I hope things get resolved quickly.
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