Having creditors hound you on the phone or at work may have you feeling extra anxious, and you may be exploring your options and trying to figure out how to get your finances back in order. If you decide to file for bankruptcy to get your finances back under control, the bankruptcy courts issue something called an automatic stay once you officially open your bankruptcy case.
Per LendingTree, the automatic stay refers to a period in which many of your creditors must stop contacting you while you work out the details of your bankruptcy case. A bankruptcy’s automatic stay period offers at least temporary relief from the following.
Creditor harassment
The creditors who keep calling you at home or at work have to stop doing so once the automatic stay period takes effect. If any continue to contact you, take down their names and the time and date of their calls. They are breaking the law in continuing to contact you, and you may be able to hold them accountable for doing so.
Wage garnishments
If your debts have gotten deep enough that your employer is now garnishing some of your wages, this, too, ceases during bankruptcy’s automatic stay period.
Utility disconnections
Bankruptcy’s automatic stay may also give you relief from the threat of having your electricity, heat or water disconnected. Your utility companies may not disconnect your services during the automatic stay period.
Bankruptcy’s automatic stay may also protect you against foreclosures or evictions, depending on circumstances. However, there are certain financial obligations, such as child support, that the automatic stay period does not impact.