How to Stop Wage Garnishment in Maine (2024 Guide)

Wage garnishment can drain your paycheck before you even see it. In Maine, creditors can take up to 25% of your weekly disposable earnings. You have the power to stop wage garnishment before it starts.

Debt doesn’t have to control your life. You probably took out that credit card or loan thinking you’d pay it back easily. Life happened. Bills piled up. Now you’re facing a potential lawsuit.

When a creditor sues you, they’re tired of waiting for payment. If they win the lawsuit, they can garnish your wages. Your employer will withhold money from every paycheck until the debt is paid. You need to act fast to protect your income.

Settling your debt before court is one of the most effective strategies. Our partner Solo can help you negotiate with creditors and avoid wage garnishment entirely.

Maine Wage Garnishment Laws Protect You Partially

Federal law sets strict limits on wage garnishment. Maine follows these federal guidelines closely. Your creditors face clear restrictions on how much they can take.

Under Maine law (9-A ME Rev Stat § 5-105), creditors can garnish the lesser of:

• 25% of your disposable earnings per week
• The amount your disposable earnings exceed 40 times the state minimum wage ($13.80)

Disposable earnings mean your wages after required withholdings. Required withholdings include federal and state taxes. Voluntary deductions like health insurance don’t count as withholdings.

Here’s how it works in practice:

Example: Sarah owes $1,500 on a credit card. The creditor sued her and won. Sarah earns $1,000 in weekly disposable income. The creditor can garnish 25% of her disposable earnings, which equals $250 per week. The alternative calculation ($1,000 minus 40 times $13.80) equals $448. The creditor takes the lower amount. Sarah loses $250 from every paycheck for six weeks.

You Can Fight Back Against Wage Garnishment

Receiving a court summons feels terrifying. You must act immediately. The summons includes a complaint describing the debt and the amount owed.

Review every detail carefully. Look for mistakes in the complaint. Wrong debt amount? Incorrect dates? Note everything that seems off.

You need to file an Answer next. An Answer is your written response to the lawsuit. It lists your defenses against the debt claim. Filing an Answer prevents a default judgment against you.

Without an Answer, the judge can rule against you automatically. With an Answer, the judge must hear both sides. Our partner Solo provides tools to help you respond to debt lawsuits quickly.

After filing your Answer, focus on resolving the debt. Paying off or settling the debt stops the lawsuit. No lawsuit means no wage garnishment.

Paying the full debt is ideal. The creditor drops the lawsuit immediately. You walk away free from that obligation.

Can’t afford the full amount? Debt settlement is your next best option.

Settle Your Debt Before Going to Court

Debt settlement means offering a lump sum payment for less than you owe. The creditor agrees to forgive the remaining balance. You both avoid the time and expense of court.

Traditional debt settlement companies create payment plans. You send them monthly payments. They hold your money in a dedicated account. You stop paying your creditors during this time.

Once enough money accumulates, the company negotiates with your creditors. They settle debts one by one. The process repeats until all debts are resolved.

Traditional debt settlement companies have serious drawbacks. They’re expensive. The process takes months or years. Some companies are outright scams.

You can settle debt yourself without expensive middlemen. Modern technology makes the process straightforward and affordable.

Technology Makes Debt Settlement Faster and Cheaper

Our partner Solo uses software to streamline debt settlement. You send and receive offers directly with creditors. No expensive intermediaries taking a cut.

Here’s what makes this approach different:

• Settle debts of any size, not just debts over $15,000
• Active settlement attempts instead of passive waiting
• Built-in legal defense if creditors sue during negotiations
• Transparent pricing with no hidden fees

The process is simple. You enter your debt information. The software helps you craft settlement offers. Creditors respond through the platform. You negotiate back and forth until you reach an agreement.

Everything happens online. You control the process. You decide which offers to accept or reject.

Resolve Your Debt and Protect Your Paycheck

Losing 25% of your weekly income hurts. You can’t afford that kind of hit. Your family depends on your full paycheck.

Don’t wait for a court judgment. Take action now while you still have options. Settling your debt stops the lawsuit before it goes further.

You have the power to resolve this situation. Pay off the debt if you can. Settle for less if you can’t. Either way, you stop wage garnishment dead in its tracks.

Act today to protect your income tomorrow. The sooner you start, the faster you’ll resolve your debt.