Alliance Legal Group

Alliance Legal Group Our mission is to operate a Christ-centered law practice, emphasizing and relying on biblical princi

05/29/2026

Can Bankruptcy Stop a Wage Garnishment That Is Already in Effect?

https://bit.ly/3u5Dx8j | (757) 482-5705

Can Bankruptcy Stop a Wage Garnishment That Is Already in Effect?

They Are Taking Money Out of Your Paycheck Right Now — Here Is How to Make It Stop Today

Wage garnishment is one of the most brutal collection tools that creditors have. It does not ask for your permission. It does not wait for you to call back. It reaches directly into your paycheck before you ever see the money — and it can take up to 25 percent of your disposable income under federal law.

For someone already struggling to cover rent, utilities, groceries, and transportation, losing a quarter of their take-home pay is not just stressful. It is catastrophic.

Federal law — specifically the Consumer Credit Protection Act — limits most wage garnishments to the lesser of 25 percent of disposable earnings or the amount by which weekly disposable earnings exceed 30 times the federal minimum wage. But even at those limits, the impact on a tight budget is devastating.

Bankruptcy stops wage garnishment immediately through the automatic stay. The moment a bankruptcy petition is filed with the court, the garnishment must cease. Your employer should receive notice, and any garnishment withheld after the filing date must typically be returned.

Here is a number that rarely gets discussed: according to a study by ADP Research Institute, approximately one in fourteen workers in the United States — about 7 percent of all employees — had wages garnished in a single year. That is millions of working people having money taken from their paychecks, many of whom do not realize that bankruptcy could stop it.

There is also a specific type of garnishment — bank account levies — where a creditor reaches directly into your checking account and takes funds. Bankruptcy stops those too.

If your wages are being garnished right now, time really does matter. Every week you wait is another week of missing money you needed to live. Our team at our four Virginia locations can often file a bankruptcy petition quickly when the situation calls for it. Please call us today. There is no cost for the first conversation.

For More Information and a FREE Consultation please call (757) 482-5705 or visit us online at https://bit.ly/3u5Dx8j

Can Bankruptcy Stop a Wage Garnishment That Is Already in Effect?

05/20/2026

How Long Does Bankruptcy Stay on Your Credit Report and Can Your Credit Recover? Portsmouth VA

https://bit.ly/3u5Dx8j | (757) 482-5705

How Long Does Bankruptcy Stay on Your Credit Report and Can Your Credit Recover? Portsmouth VA

Everyone Says Bankruptcy Destroys Your Credit Forever — Here Is Why That Is Only Half True

We hear this concern in nearly every first meeting we have. "Will bankruptcy ruin my credit for the rest of my life?" The honest answer — the one we have given clients for decades — is more complicated than the yes-or-no most people expect.

Yes, a bankruptcy filing appears on your credit report. Chapter 7 stays on a credit report for up to 10 years from the filing date. Chapter 13 stays on for up to 7 years. Those are facts. But here is what the fear-based framing leaves out: for most people who file bankruptcy, their credit score was already severely damaged long before they filed.

Missed payments, maxed-out credit cards, accounts in collections, judgments — all of these destroy credit scores just as effectively as a bankruptcy, and they stay on your report for 7 years too. The difference is that those items keep accumulating while the debt keeps growing. With bankruptcy, you get a clean break, and the rebuilding process can actually begin.

According to research cited by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, many bankruptcy filers see their credit scores begin to improve within 12 to 18 months of receiving a discharge. Some studies have found that within two years of a Chapter 7 discharge, many filers have credit scores that have recovered meaningfully — often to the point where new credit cards, car loans, and even mortgages become accessible again.

Here is a number that deserves more attention: a Federal Reserve study found that the average credit score of someone who files Chapter 7 is approximately 538 before they file. A score of 538 is already severely limited in what it can do for you. Bankruptcy does not take you from 750 to the gutter. It takes you from the gutter and starts building a ladder.

Our team has helped thousands of people in Virginia not just get through bankruptcy, but rebuild and thrive on the other side. If your credit is already suffering and debt keeps piling up, please call us. The path forward may be shorter than you think.

For More Information and a FREE Consultation please call (757) 482-5705 or visit us online at https://bit.ly/3u5Dx8j

How Long Does Bankruptcy Stay on Your Credit Report and Can Your Credit Recover? Portsmouth VA

05/19/2026

What Is the Automatic Stay in Bankruptcy and How Does It Stop Creditors Immediately? Portsmouth VA

https://bit.ly/3u5Dx8j | (757) 482-5705

What Is the Automatic Stay in Bankruptcy and How Does It Stop Creditors Immediately? Portsmouth VA

You Filed Bankruptcy This Morning — and By This Afternoon Every Creditor in Your Life Is Legally Required to Stop Calling

There is one moment in a bankruptcy case that almost every client tells us was a physical relief. The moment they learn about the automatic stay.

The automatic stay is a provision of federal bankruptcy law — specifically 11 U.S.C. Section 362 — that goes into effect the instant a bankruptcy petition is filed with the court. Not after a judge reviews it. Not after a hearing. Instantly. From that moment forward, creditors are legally prohibited from taking any action to collect a debt.

What does that actually mean in real life? Phone calls from debt collectors must stop. Wage garnishments must stop. Bank account levies must stop. Foreclosure proceedings must stop. Repossessions must stop. Lawsuits and judgments against you in civil court must stop. Utility shutoffs for non-payment must stop (for at least 20 days). The list is extensive.

Creditors who violate the automatic stay can be held in contempt of court. They can be required to pay damages, including attorney fees, to the person they violated. The stay has teeth.

Here is something almost nobody talks about: the automatic stay applies even if a creditor does not yet know the bankruptcy was filed. If a creditor attempts to garnish your wages the day after you file, and they have not yet received notice, they must still undo that action once they learn of the filing. The protection is immediate and retroactive.

According to data compiled by legal researchers, wage garnishment is one of the leading triggers for bankruptcy filings — people whose paychecks are being docked are often left with not enough to survive on. The automatic stay stops that garnishment in its tracks.

Our firm has been filing bankruptcies for people across Virginia for decades. We know how to move quickly when you need the automatic stay protection right now. If creditors are making your life unbearable, call us today. Relief may be just one filing away.

For More Information and a FREE Consultation please call (757) 482-5705 or visit us online at https://bit.ly/3u5Dx8j

What Is the Automatic Stay in Bankruptcy and How Does It Stop Creditors Immediately? Portsmouth VA

05/16/2026

Can Bankruptcy Eliminate Medical Debt and Hospital Bills?

https://bit.ly/3u5Dx8j | (757) 482-5705

Can Bankruptcy Eliminate Medical Debt and Hospital Bills?

You Did Not Choose to Get Sick. You Should Not Have to Stay Buried in Medical Bills for the Rest of Your Life

Medical debt is the single most common reason people come to see us. Not reckless spending. Not bad decisions. Just illness — or a surgery, or an accident, or a diagnosis that nobody planned for — and a pile of bills that grew faster than anyone could manage.

Here is the reality that the healthcare industry rarely advertises: medical bills are dischargeable in bankruptcy. All of them. Hospital bills, surgeon bills, anesthesiologist bills, imaging bills, physical therapy bills — when you receive a Chapter 7 discharge, these debts are legally eliminated.

The numbers behind medical debt in America are staggering. A survey published by KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation) found that roughly 100 million Americans — close to one in three adults — carry some form of medical or dental debt. Of those, approximately 12 million owe more than $10,000. And here is the part that almost never gets discussed: the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) reported that medical bills make up the majority of all debt in collections on credit reports.

Medical debt does not work like credit card debt. You did not agree to the prices. You often had no choice but to receive the care. The charges were frequently not disclosed in advance. The billing system in American healthcare is Byzantine and confusing by design. And yet people feel shame and guilt about medical debt as though they did something wrong.

You did not do anything wrong. You got sick or hurt. That is all.

The 2022 changes to credit reporting rules that removed most medical debt from credit reports for amounts under $500 was a step forward — but it did not eliminate the underlying debt or the collection activity that can follow it.

Bankruptcy can. Completely. If medical bills are crushing you, please call our team. We have been helping people get out from under medical debt for decades, from our four Virginia locations. You deserve a fresh start.

For More Information and a FREE Consultation please call (757) 482-5705 or visit us online at https://bit.ly/3u5Dx8j

Can Bankruptcy Eliminate Medical Debt and Hospital Bills?

05/15/2026

How Does Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Work and Can It Save Your Home from Foreclosure?

https://bit.ly/3u5Dx8j | (757) 482-5705

How Does Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Work and Can It Save Your Home from Foreclosure?

The Bank Already Scheduled Your Foreclosure Sale — Chapter 13 Can Stop It. Here Is Exactly How

Chapter 13 bankruptcy does something that almost no other legal tool can do: it can stop a foreclosure — sometimes within hours of filing — and give a homeowner the ability to catch up on missed mortgage payments over time while keeping their home.

This is not a loophole. It is exactly what the law was designed to do.

When you file any bankruptcy case, something called the "automatic stay" goes into effect immediately. It is a federal court order that legally requires all collection activity to stop. That means foreclosure proceedings stop. Wage garnishments stop. Harassing phone calls stop. Repossessions stop. It happens the moment the bankruptcy petition is filed with the court.

In Chapter 13, you propose a repayment plan — typically three to five years — that allows you to repay mortgage arrears (the missed payments) through the plan while continuing to make your regular mortgage payments going forward. If you complete the plan, you get to keep your home, and the arrears are taken care of.

According to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Chapter 13 filings represent roughly 35 to 40 percent of all consumer bankruptcy filings in recent years. The majority of people filing Chapter 13 are doing so specifically to save their homes or their vehicles.

Here is a stat that very few sources discuss openly: research on Chapter 13 completion rates suggests that roughly 30 to 40 percent of Chapter 13 plans are completed successfully. That number sounds low — but the flip side is critically important. Even people who do not complete their plan often benefit enormously from the time the automatic stay buys them to negotiate with lenders or explore other options. And with experienced legal counsel guiding the process, completion rates are significantly higher.

Our team has guided families through Chapter 13 cases across Virginia for decades. We know this process inside and out. If you are behind on your mortgage and scared about what comes next, please call us today. There may be more time than you think.

For More Information and a FREE Consultation please call (757) 482-5705 or visit us online at https://bit.ly/3u5Dx8j

How Does Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Work and Can It Save Your Home from Foreclosure?

05/10/2026

Who Qualifies for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy and What Debts Does It Erase?

https://bit.ly/3u5Dx8j | (757) 482-5705

Chapter 7 is the most commonly filed type of bankruptcy in the United States, and for good reason. It is the fastest, most direct path to a complete discharge of qualifying debts — meaning those debts are legally eliminated. Gone. You no longer owe them, and creditors can never legally try to collect them again.

According to data from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Chapter 7 filings consistently account for roughly 60 to 65 percent of all consumer bankruptcy cases filed in the country. In a single recent year, that represented several hundred thousand families using this tool to get a fresh start.

What kinds of debt does Chapter 7 wipe out? Credit card debt — including all the interest and fees that have piled up. Medical bills, which are one of the leading drivers of bankruptcy filings in America. Personal loans. Utility bills. Most civil judgments. Old lease obligations. The list is longer than most people realize.

Here is the number almost no one discusses publicly: a 2019 study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that medical debt is a contributing factor in roughly 66 percent of bankruptcy filings. That means the majority of people who file are not there because of reckless spending. They are there because they got sick, got hurt, or got a diagnosis — and the bills were simply unsurvivable.

To qualify for Chapter 7, you must pass what is called the "means test" — a calculation that looks at your income against the median income for your household size in your state. If your income is below the median, you generally qualify automatically. If it is above, there is a more detailed analysis, but many people still qualify.

What Chapter 7 does not eliminate: student loans in most cases, recent taxes, child support, alimony, and debts from fraud. But for the kinds of debt that are crushing most people — credit cards and medical bills — it is extraordinarily powerful.

We have helped people just like you through this process for decades. Call us. Let us run the numbers together.

For More Information and a FREE Consultation please call (757) 482-5705 or visit us online at https://bit.ly/3u5Dx8j

05/09/2026

What Is Bankruptcy and How Can It Help You Get Out of Debt?

https://bit.ly/3u5Dx8j | (757) 482-5705

Let us start with something we tell almost every person who walks through one of our four Virginia office doors for the first time: filing bankruptcy is not giving up. It is using a legal right that the United States Constitution literally guaranteed from the very beginning. Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution directs Congress to establish uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies. This was not an accident. The founders understood that people needed a path out of impossible debt.

And the numbers tell you just how many people use that path. The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts reported that over 430,000 bankruptcy cases were filed nationwide in a single recent twelve-month period. That is real people — families, small business owners, retirees, people who lost jobs, people who got sick — making a legal decision to stop drowning and start over.

Here is a number almost nobody talks about: according to federal court data, the vast majority of people who file bankruptcy — particularly Chapter 7 — receive their discharge within three to six months. That means in less time than most people spend worrying about their debt, the legal process can be complete and done.

There are several types of bankruptcy, and understanding which one fits your situation matters enormously. Chapter 7 is often called "liquidation" bankruptcy and is typically the fastest path for individuals with limited income. Chapter 13 allows people to reorganize debt and keep property like a home by repaying some or all of what they owe over three to five years. Chapter 11 is primarily used by businesses but can apply to high-debt individuals too. Chapter 12 is specifically designed for family farmers and fishermen.

Our team has been handling bankruptcy cases for decades across four Virginia locations. We have seen it all — and we have helped thousands of people find the right path. If debt is keeping you up at night, please call us. The first conversation is free, and it just might change everything.

For More Information and a FREE Consultation please call (757) 482-5705 or visit us online at https://bit.ly/3u5Dx8j

05/02/2026

Your First Step is Free. Here is What to Bring.

https://bit.ly/3u5Dx8j | (757) 482-5705

Are you ready to fix your finances? The first step is a free consultation with The Alliance Legal Group.

People ask us, "What do I need to bring?"

To give you the best advice, we just need a clear picture of your life. Bringing these 3 things helps a lot:

Pay stubs from the last 6 months (so we can check the Means Test).
A list of your debts (or a credit report if you have one).
A list of your assets (like your car, house, or retirement account).
That’s it! No judgment, no stress. Just an honest conversation about how to get your life back.

We have offices in Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Suffolk. Pick the one closest to you and let's get started.

For More Information and a FREE Consultation please call (757) 482-5705 or visit us online at https://bit.ly/3u5Dx8j

05/02/2026

Divorcing After 50? You Are Not Alone.

https://bit.ly/3u5Dx8j | (757) 482-5705

We are seeing a huge rise in "Grey Divorce"—couples splitting up after 20, 30, or 40 years of marriage.

The kids are grown, so there is no custody battle. But the financial stakes are huge. You don't have 20 years to rebuild your retirement savings.

In these cases, we focus heavily on Social Security benefits, pensions, and health insurance. We make sure you will be secure in your golden years.

It is never too late to be happy.

For More Information and a FREE Consultation please call (757) 482-5705 or visit us online at https://bit.ly/3u5Dx8j

04/29/2026

I Didn’t Even Know He Had That Credit Card!

https://bit.ly/3u5Dx8j | (757) 482-5705

Divorce isn't just about splitting assets. It is about splitting debt.

If your spouse ran up $20,000 on a secret credit card, do you have to pay half?

Maybe.

If the money was used for the family (groceries, vacations), it is usually marital debt. But if they used it for gambling, an affair, or a secret addiction, that is "waste." We can argue that they should be stuck with that bill, not you.

We dig through the statements to find out where the money went. You shouldn't have to pay for their bad choices.

For More Information and a FREE Consultation please call (757) 482-5705 or visit us online at https://bit.ly/3u5Dx8j

Address

133 Mount Pleasant Road
Chesapeake, VA
23322

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 7pm
Tuesday 9am - 7pm
Wednesday 9am - 7pm
Thursday 9am - 7pm
Friday 9am - 7pm
Saturday 12pm - 3pm

Telephone

+17574825705

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