Automatic Stay in Tacoma

Falling behind on bills often accompanies harassment from debt collectors who will seemingly do or say anything to get money from you that you simply don't have. If you're going through a tough time financially, you may have already experienced this behavior firsthand. These collection agencies often have no problem calling you at home and at work, and may even tell you that filing for bankruptcy will ruin your credit and cause you to lose everything you own.

Our Tacoma bankruptcy lawyers are here to tell you that debt collectors will continue hammer you relentlessly if you owe them money, but there is something you can do to stop the harassment and eliminate debt.

When you petition the bankruptcy court in Washington, the automatic stay takes effect immediately. What is the automatic stay? It is an automatic injunction that stops any and all actions by creditors to collect on the filer's debts. What it means for you is that debt collectors are no longer allowed hassle or contact you without risking fine or sanction.

You don't have to wait until a decision regarding your bankruptcy is rendered by a judge, and sometimes filers reap the benefits of the automatic stay injunction without qualifying for a discharge of their debt.

All debt collection is stopped by the automatic stay, including wage garnishments, car repossessions, home foreclosures, credit card debt and medical bills. Now is your chance to fight back against the ruthless tactics of corporate creditors who refuse to work with you, and our team of Washington bankruptcy lawyers is ready to help.

• In Washington, the automatic stay injunction prevents all debt collection, even if it ultimately can't be discharged
• If any of your creditors violates the injunction, you can be awarded punitive damages and attorney's fees
• Child support and certain fines may not be covered by the automatic stay injunction
• Automatic stay is a powerful tool, and our Tacoma bankruptcy lawyers will help you use it to put an end to creditor pestering

Falling behind on bills is stressful in its own right, but if debt collectors keep calling you on the phone or make threats that they will contact your workplace, it's time to fight back. You have legal rights that protect you from certain forms of creditor harassment, and bankruptcy may be a way for you to find financial relief. Our Washington State bankruptcy lawyers can help you take the next step.

Simply contact our Tacoma law office to petition the federal court for bankruptcy. Your Pierce County attorney's actions initiate the automatic stay, which stop the harassment, law suits, and start the process of discharging your debt. Eliminate the constant worry, clear your head, and hit the financial reset button with help from our team of professional Tacoma bankruptcy lawyers.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy almost always allows you to discharge all unsecured debt. When dealing with secured debt (loans backed up by collateral,) you must keep up with your regular payments if you can. With Chapter 13, you simply maintain your consolidation plan's monthly payments. In either case, the property, which is most often a car or home, must remain insured so the creditor has adequate protection in the security of their interest.

Once a discharge of debt is rendered, the automatic stay is no longer needed. A discharge permanently eliminates your debt, but some varieties of debt may not qualify, like taxes and student loans. In Chapter 13 situations, you are protected from secured debt for the full term of the bankruptcy, even if it's not included in your consolidated monthly payment plan.