Resources
Official sources we trust. Each link opens the agency or organization's own website.
Wage garnishment
- U.S. Department of LaborFact Sheet #30: Wage garnishment protections of the CCPA (opens in a new tab)
Federal limits on how much of your pay can be garnished, with exceptions.
- Consumer Financial Protection BureauCan a debt collector take or garnish my wages or benefits? (opens in a new tab)
When collectors can garnish wages or benefits and how to claim protections.
- Consumer Financial Protection BureauCan a debt collector take my Social Security or VA benefits? (opens in a new tab)
Which federal benefits are protected and the two-month bank rule.
- U.S. Department of LaborWage garnishment (opens in a new tab)
Overview of federal wage garnishment law and enforcement.
Your rights with debt collectors
- Consumer Financial Protection BureauDebt collection (opens in a new tab)
What collectors can and cannot do, and how to respond to them.
- Consumer Financial Protection BureauWhat information does a debt collector have to give me? (opens in a new tab)
What a validation notice must include and how to dispute a debt.
- Consumer Financial Protection BureauWhat should I do if I'm sued by a debt collector or creditor? (opens in a new tab)
Why responding by the court deadline matters.
- Federal Trade CommissionDebt collection FAQs (opens in a new tab)
Answers to common questions about collection calls, letters, and disputes.
Free and low-cost legal help
- Legal Services CorporationFind legal aid near you (opens in a new tab)
Search by address to find a legal aid office funded by LSC.
- LawHelp.orgLegal information and forms by state (opens in a new tab)
State-by-state guides, court forms, and legal aid directories.
Courts, credit, and bankruptcy
- USA.govState, county, and municipal courts (opens in a new tab)
Links to state court websites, local rules, forms, and self-help centers.
- U.S. CourtsBankruptcy basics (opens in a new tab)
How Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy work, from the federal judiciary.
- AnnualCreditReport.comGet your free credit reports (opens in a new tab)
The official site for free reports from all three credit bureaus.
- Consumer Financial Protection BureauAdvisory opinion: suits on time-barred debt (opens in a new tab)
CFPB position that collectors may not sue on time-barred debt.
Deadlines, forms, and filing fees differ by state and by court. Always confirm details with your court clerk, a self-help center, or a licensed attorney.
Facing wage garnishment?
Learn what federal law protects and where state rules come in.