I need help now

When a creditor has already acted, the questions get specific fast. These answers explain what each action means, how quickly it moves, and what can stop it.

Can bankruptcy stop a wage garnishment?Yes, in almost every case. Filing bankruptcy triggers an automatic stay that requires most creditors to stop garnishing immediately, and it usually takes effect within one or two pay periods.
I just got served with a debt collection lawsuit. What now?Don't ignore it; that's the only losing move. Most collection suits end in default judgments because nobody answers, and a judgment unlocks garnishment and bank levies. You typically have around three weeks to respond. Your realistic options: answer and make them prove it, negotiate, or, if this suit is one symptom of a bigger problem, file bankruptcy, which stops the case instantly.
My bank account was frozen or levied. What can I do?Act the same day if you can. Find out who levied and under what authority, because your protections depend on it. Some money is protected no matter what: Social Security and similar federal benefits, and state-exempt wages. Claiming those protections can free part or all of the account. Filing bankruptcy stops further levies immediately and can sometimes claw back what was just taken.
Can bankruptcy stop a foreclosure?Yes. Filing bankruptcy stops a foreclosure sale immediately, even the day before it is scheduled. Whether you keep the house afterward depends on the chapter: Chapter 13 lets you catch up on missed payments over three to five years, while Chapter 7 usually only delays the sale.
Can bankruptcy stop a repossession, or get my car back?Yes to stopping one: the moment you file, the automatic stay bars the repo man. And if the car was just taken but not yet auctioned, filing quickly, especially a Chapter 13 that provides for the loan, can often force the lender to return it. After the auction it's too late, so this is measured in days.
How fast can I file if something is days away?Same-day is possible. A bare-bones 'emergency' or 'skeleton' filing needs the petition, the list of creditors, and a credit counseling certificate you can earn online in an hour or two, and the automatic stay starts the moment it's filed. The rest of the paperwork is due within 14 days, and blowing that deadline gets cases dismissed, so an emergency filing is a sprint that must immediately become a marathon.
The automatic stay: bankruptcy's pause button, explainedThe moment any bankruptcy is filed, a federal injunction called the automatic stay snaps into place: garnishments, foreclosures, repossessions, lawsuits, levies, utility shutoffs, and collection calls must stop, immediately, without a judge signing anything. It's the reason bankruptcy can rescue emergencies. It has exceptions (mostly family support and criminal matters) and it can be shortened for repeat filers, but while it holds, it holds against everyone.
How Chapter 13 saves a house: curing mortgage arrearsChapter 13 stops a foreclosure the moment it's filed, even days before the sale, and then does what almost nothing else can: it forces the lender to accept the missed payments spread over three to five years while you resume regular payments. No lender approval needed. The catch is discipline: you must make both the plan payment and the ongoing mortgage payment, every month, to the end.
Keeping your car in Chapter 13 (and what a cramdown is)Chapter 13 stops a repossession and lets you pay for the car through your plan. If you've owned the car loan for more than 910 days (about two and a half years), the plan can 'cram down' the loan: you pay the car's current value instead of the full balance, usually at a lower interest rate, and the rest of the loan becomes unsecured debt that's mostly discharged.
How to find a bankruptcy attorney (and what it will cost)Look for someone who does consumer bankruptcy as their main work, in your district. The NACBA directory (the national consumer bankruptcy attorneys' association) is a good starting list; nearly all offer free consultations, so talk to two. Chapter 7 attorney fees are typically flat and quoted up front; most Chapter 13 fees are paid through the plan, which is why people with no cash can often still get into a 13. If you can't afford anyone, legal aid and pro bono programs exist.