Michael O’Brien’s Blog

If you set up a payment plan, a creditor will often want you to authorize direct payments from your bank account.  Talk to your bank to make sure that once you give that authority you can stop the auto deductions. We have seen many people get into deeper trouble when a settled debt keeps deducting […]

At the outset we need to distinguish between “civil” lawsuits and “criminal” lawsuits.  This information pertains to civil lawsuits only and, since we are lawyers who help with debt problems, this is really designed to aid people being sued by a creditor for money.  If you are being charged with a crime (I.e. “State v. […]

It is highly unlikely – but not impossible – that you can challenge the garnishment as improper.  Except in very rare circumstances, a garnishment cannot be issued until a creditor obtains a “Judgment” against you.  A judgment is simply a paper signed by a Judge that confirms you owe Creditor an amount of money. In […]

The first step is to pick up the phone.  Every garnishment issued in Oregon will have the name of the creditor and a phone number to call.  Call them up and talk. Before telling them the garnishment is improper read: What if the garnishment is improper?.  The better approach is to ask to set up […]

Yes.  On Oregon wage garnishment can last for up to 90 days and while active your employer is required to take a portion of your earnings and send it to your garnishing creditor.  If you have not done so yet, click here to access our Oregon Wage Garnishment Estimator. When a creditor issues a garnishment […]