On August 21, 2015, the California Employment Development Department reported California's unemployment rate dropped to 6.2 percent in July, compared to 7.4 percent a year ago. The figure is based on a survey but the definition of unemployment rate excludes people who have stopped looking for work or who work part-time but wanted to work full-time.
Here is the breakdown of unemployment rates of counties in California:
Sacramento County's unemployment rate is average at 6.2%; Placer County is above average at 5.2%, which includes cities like Roseville, Rocklin, Auburn; Yolo County is 6.3%, which includes cities like Woodland, Davis, Winters, West Sacramento; Solano County is 6.2%, which includes cities like Vacaville, Dixon, Fairfield, Benicia, Vallejo; Stanislaus County is below average at a whooping 9.4%, which includes cities like Modesto, Turlock, Oakdale, Patterson; and San Joaquin County is 8.9%, which includes cities like Tracy, Stockton, Ripon, Lathrop.
With more people finding employment, this is an opportunity for creditors to collect on delinquent debts. Wage garnishment can take a bite from your paycheck because under California law, wage garnishment can be up to 25% of your net income. This is a large amount for anyone of all tax brackets. At this point, negotiating with your creditors is difficult because they already spent the time and money on attorneys to get a judgment and wage garnishment order. They are unwilling to settle for anything lower because they can now collect on the debt plus cost and interest rate of 10 percent.
You can stop or prevent a wage garnishment by filing for Chapter 7 or 13 Bankruptcy only if that debt is dischargeable in bankruptcy. Chapter 7 Bankruptcy will eliminate the debt. If you do not qualify for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, you might want to consider filing Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy will restructure your debt with you paying a portion of the debt back. How much you must repay your creditors depends on a number of factors like value of assets and income less reasonable and necessary expenses. However, bankruptcy is not for everyone. That is why you need to consult an experienced Bankruptcy Attorney. Muoi Chea Bankruptcy Attorney has offices in Sacramento, Stockton, and Fairfield, California to determine if bankruptcy can stop wage garnishment for you.