How quickly can a garnishment be stopped?

Same day, in many cases. Once the petition is filed (even an emergency 'bare bones' filing), the automatic stay requires the garnishing creditor and your employer to stop withholding immediately.

Can I get back wages that were already garnished?

Possibly. Wages garnished within 90 days before filing may be recoverable as a preference payment, particularly if the total exceeds $600 to a single creditor [§ 11 U.S.C. § 547]. Your attorney can evaluate whether recovery is possible.

Can bankruptcy stop a foreclosure sale?

Yes, if filed before the sale occurs. Chapter 13 allows you to cure mortgage arrears over 3-5 years while resuming regular payments. Chapter 7 can delay foreclosure but does not provide a cure mechanism.

What if my car was already repossessed?

If the vehicle was repossessed but not yet sold, filing bankruptcy and proposing adequate protection may allow you to recover it. Once the vehicle is sold, recovery becomes extremely difficult.

Topic guideUpdated 2026-02-27

Stop Garnishment or Foreclosure — Washington Bankruptcy

How bankruptcy stops wage garnishment, foreclosure, and repossession — emergency filings, Washington wage protection, and the difference between Chapter 7 and 13.

When a Garnishment is already taking money from your paycheck, or a foreclosure sale date is approaching, bankruptcy may be the fastest way to stop it. The Automatic stay takes effect the moment the petition is filed with the court — not when the creditor receives notice §11 U.S.C. § 362(a).

Stopping wage garnishment

File the petition

Once filed, the automatic stay requires your employer to stop withholding garnished wages. Your attorney can provide the case number and notice to your employer and the garnishing creditor.

Recover recent garnishments

In some cases, wages garnished within 90 days before filing §11 U.S.C. § 547 may be recoverable as a preference payment, especially if the total exceeds $600 to a single creditor §11 U.S.C. § 547.

Address the underlying debt

Garnishment stops, but the debt remains unless it is discharged in bankruptcy (Chapter 7) or paid through a repayment plan (Chapter 13).

Washington wage protection §6.27.150

Even outside bankruptcy, Washington limits garnishment to a portion of your disposable earnings. Generally the greater of 75% of disposable earnings or 35× federal minimum wage per week; for consumer debt, the greater of 80% of disposable earnings or 35× state minimum wage; for private student loan debt, the greater of 85% of disposable earnings or 50× the highest state minimum wage. Bankruptcy's automatic stay goes further by stopping all garnishment entirely.

Stopping foreclosure

File before the sale

If a foreclosure sale is scheduled, the petition must be filed before the sale occurs. Once the property is sold, the automatic stay generally cannot undo a completed sale.

Chapter 13 to cure arrears

Chapter 13 allows you to propose a plan to catch up on mortgage arrears over 3-5 years while resuming regular monthly payments §11 U.S.C. § 1322(b)(5). This is the primary tool for saving a home from foreclosure.

Chapter 7 buys time

Chapter 7 stops foreclosure temporarily but does not provide a mechanism to cure arrears. It may buy several months to negotiate a loan modification, sell the property, or find alternative housing.

💡Chapter 13 is almost always the better option for saving a home. Chapter 7 can delay but not cure a defaulted mortgage.

Stopping repossession

If the vehicle has not been repossessed, filing stops the repossession attempt
If the vehicle was repossessed but not yet sold, you may be able to recover it by filing and proposing adequate protection
Chapter 13 can restructure car loans: if the loan is more than 910 days old, you may be able to reduce the balance to the vehicle's current value ("cramdown") §11 U.S.C. § 1325(a)

Emergency filings

When time is critical, an attorney can file a "bare bones" or "skeletal" petition — just the essential documents needed to trigger the automatic stay. The remaining schedules and documents are filed within 14 days §Fed. R. Bankr. P. 1007.

⚠If you have a foreclosure sale date, repossession threat, or garnishment hearing within the next few days, contact an attorney immediately. Emergency filings are possible but must be handled correctly to be effective. Incomplete filings that are dismissed can make your next filing less protective.

Prepare for Your Consultation

Quick checklist (Bankruptcy)

If there is a deadline (garnishment / foreclosure), include dates.

Recent pay stubs

and income info

Debt list

(cards, loans, balances)

Collection letters

or court papers

General preparation tips only. Eligibility and timing depend on facts.

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