Knowing how multiple garnishments work could be the difference between recovery and a major cash-flow issue. Getty Images/iStockphoto Borrowers are carrying more debt than ever right now, and it’s having a big impact on their overall financial health. Total household debt has climbed to its latest record high of over $18.5 trillion, and delinquency rates … Read more
If your bank account is frozen, the bills keep coming, and the consequences for missing them compound quickly. FrankvandenBergh/Getty Images Americans are currently carrying more debt than ever before. Total household debt surpassed $18.5 trillion in the final quarter of 2025, with credit card balances alone exceeding a total of $1.23 trillion nationwide, according to … Read more
Being judgment-proof doesn’t make you immune to debt lawsuits, but it does change how the issue plays out. Andranik Hakobyan/Getty Images Debt pressures have been building rapidly over the last few years amid a landscape dotted by high borrowing rates, inflationary pressures and other hurdles, and those challenges have continued to accelerate over the last … Read more
Stricken with severe abdominal pain, Randy Slaughter spent three days at a nonprofit hospital in College Station, Texas, in April 2024. But doctors couldn’t determine the cause and sent him home, Slaughter said, advising him to change his diet. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content. His … Read more
Knowing what happens after you ignore a debt lawsuit is critical if you want to protect your finances. Getty Images/iStockphoto Creditors and debt buyers file millions of debt collection lawsuits against borrowers each year and while there can be serious repercussions that stem from a debt-related lawsuit, the majority of borrowers never actually respond after … Read more
There’s a big difference between a tax debt and a tax lien (and it’s important to know what that is). Eduardo Monroy Husillos/Getty Images With the federal tax filing deadline just weeks away, many taxpayers are now getting a clearer picture of what they owe — and for some, that number is much higher than … Read more
A former staffer for Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, pleaded guilty Tuesday to siphoning over $20,000 from her former boss’s bank account to pay her own credit card bills. Courtney Hruska, 40, admitted to committing felony wire fraud at a court hearing in Alexandria, Virginia. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, … Read more
Protected income offers important safeguards, but it doesn’t necessarily make you untouchable to creditors. Twomeows/Getty Images Americans are carrying record levels of debt right now, which has caused an uptick in payment delinquencies, compounding interest charges and other issues for borrowers. Credit card rates also remain elevated at over 21%, on average, making it tough … Read more
Understanding what happens if you’re behind on debt in retirement can make a difference in how the situation unfolds. Wing-wing/Getty Images A significant number of seniors are being forced to carry high-rate credit card debt into retirement, and in many cases, those balances aren’t particularly small, either. One driving factor is that household debt is … Read more
You may have more options than you expect for dealing with your unpaid debt while on Social Security. Ekaterina Vasileva-Bagler/Getty Images For millions of retirees, Social Security serves as a financial foundation and a predictable source of income. That stability is being tested in today’s tough economic landscape, though, as many older borrowers are facing … Read more