My Wages Are Being Garnished — I Need Help

From the Desk of Attorney Omar Zambrano: Helping 10,000 Families Become Debt-Free in 2025

📍 Proudly Serving Los Angeles, San Bernardino & Riverside Counties

If you woke up today and noticed your paycheck was smaller than it should be, you're not alone. Wage garnishment is hitting working families across Los Angeles County — and it’s happening faster, and more aggressively, than ever before.

Today, I want to walk you through exactly how this happens, why it’s spreading, where it’s happening, what steps you must take, and how our team can help you fight back before it’s too late.

Why Wages Are Being Garnished in 2025

Let’s be clear: The U.S. economy is still under extreme pressure.

• Student loan collections restarted May 5, 2025

• Credit card and auto loan delinquencies are at 15-year highs

• Inflation is driving basic living costs higher

• New tariff policies are squeezing consumers even harder

• Cities like Los Angeles are cutting budgets and laying off workers

And yet, debt collectors, lenders, and the Department of Education are moving ahead aggressively.

If you’re behind — even by a few months — you’re now at risk for:

✅ Wage Garnishment ✅ Bank Account Seizures ✅ Tax Refund Seizures ✅ Social Security Offsets

It's not a theory anymore. It's reality.

Real Examples from Los Angeles County Clients

Let’s talk about the real stories I see every day in my office:

📍 Case #1: Maria G., Baldwin Park

Maria worked full-time as a teacher's assistant. One morning, she opened her paycheck — and 15% was missing. No warning, no phone call — just gone.

She owed $7,200 in old federal student loans. Now her rent, utilities, and childcare bills were all at risk.

Her first call was frantic:

"I didn’t even know they could do this without telling me."

We immediately filed for a claim of exemption and stopped further garnishment.

📍 Case #2: Kevin L., Pomona

Kevin lost his job during COVID, fell behind on credit cards, and got sued by a debt collector. He thought the court paperwork was "just another collection letter" — until his employer handed him a notice that 25% of his wages were being garnished.

He called us in a panic:

"How can I even afford gas and groceries if they take this much?"

Through a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, we wiped out $42,000 of unsecured debt and ended the garnishment immediately.

📍 Case #3: Rosa and Enrique S., El Monte

This hardworking couple co-signed on a Parent PLUS loan for their daughter. When she fell behind, the government came after their Social Security checks.

After years of struggling to make ends meet, they now face $400 monthly deductions they can't afford.

We helped them apply for loan rehabilitation and hardship discharge defenses to stop the seizure.

How Wage Garnishment Happens (Step-by-Step)

It usually goes like this:

1. You fall behind on student loans, credit cards, auto loans, or taxes.

2. The creditor sues you and wins a judgment.

3. The creditor files for wage garnishment through the court.

4. Your employer receives a writ of garnishment and must legally deduct from your paycheck.

5. You find out after the money is already missing.

In student loan cases, they can garnish without suing you first under special federal powers.

Why So Many Garnishments Are Happening Now

There’s a simple answer: Debt collectors are desperate.

• Government loans were paused for 5 years — now they want their money back.

• Private lenders see rising defaults and are suing faster.

• The courts in LA County are clearing backlogs and approving garnishments in weeks, not months.

• State and local governments are facing budget gaps and using aggressive collection tactics.

Meanwhile, most families have no legal defense ready — they simply watch helplessly as their income is stripped away.

Where Garnishments Are Hitting the Hardest (Local Cities Affected)

These areas have seen the biggest increase in wage garnishment cases this year:

• Los Angeles City Proper (especially South LA and East LA)

• Pomona

• Baldwin Park

• El Monte

• Compton

• San Bernardino

• Ontario

• Fontana

If you live or work in these cities, the risk is significantly higher in 2025.

The Process of Fighting a Wage Garnishment

Here's how we typically protect our clients:

✅ 1. Immediate Review

We examine the original court case or debt status.

✅ 2. File Emergency Motions

We file a Claim of Exemption if you qualify for hardship defense (protects essential wages).

✅ 3. Bankruptcy Protection

In many cases, filing Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 immediately halts all garnishments under federal law.

✅ 4. Settlement Negotiations

In some cases, we negotiate debt reductions that eliminate the need for further garnishment.

✅ 5. Court Defense

If necessary, we fight the case in court, challenging improper service, illegal practices, or errors.

Who Can Garnish You?

Wage garnishment isn't limited to one kind of debt:

• Federal Student Loans (up to 15% of wages)

• Private Creditors (up to 25% of wages)

• Child Support/Alimony (up to 50–65% in some cases)

• Tax Debt (varies — IRS can garnish heavily)

Why Waiting Makes It Worse

Every paycheck garnished is money you won’t get back.

• It affects your ability to pay rent, car loans, childcare, and groceries.

• It damages your credit even further.

• It can spiral into bank levies, liens, and even eviction.

The longer you wait, the fewer legal options you have.

🛡️ Gather Your Documents

Prepare any:

• Pay stubs

• Court papers

• Debt letters

• Loan records

🛡️ Don’t Ignore It

Time is critical. Once garnishment starts, it rarely stops on its own.

Legal Services We Offer – Real Protection, Right Now

We serve working families in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties.

Bankruptcy Protection (Chapter 7 & 13)

🛡️

End lawsuits, stop foreclosures, and erase debt.

Auto Loan & Repossession Defense 🚗

Stop the repo man. Negotiate or reinstate your loan.

Credit Card Debt & Loan Negotiation 💳

Reduce balances. Settle for less. Avoid court.

Wage Garnishment & Lawsuit Defense 💰

Fight back in court. Protect your paycheck.

Foreclosure Defense & Mortgage Assistance 🏠

Delay, fight, or stop the sale.

Modify your loan. Save your home.

Free Financial Consultation 💬

We’ll review your situation. No charge. No pressure.

📞 Call or Text Now: (626) 338-5505 

🌐 Visit: www.omarzambrano.com 

📱 WhatsApp: +1-626-550-7071 

📍 Office: 12738 Ramona Blvd, Baldwin Park, CA 91706

Closing Thoughts

We are at a critical financial crossroads in America.

The wage garnishments happening right now are not about laziness or bad character — they are the direct result of an economy under enormous strain.

Good people are being crushed by bad systems.

But you don't have to face this alone.

If your wages are under threat, if you feel trapped — this is your lifeline.

"Helping 10,000 Families Become Debt-Free in 2025" isn’t just a slogan. It’s what we’re doing — one family, one paycheck, one future at a time.

Act before it's too late. Call us today. Let’s rebuild your future together.

#WageGarnishmentHelp #DebtReliefLosAngeles #StudentLoanDefense #Chapter7Bankruptcy #StopGarnishmentNow #OmarZambranoLaw #DebtRelief2025 #LegalDebtSolutions