What is the Automatic Stay?

Immediately stop debt collection and harassing phone calls with help from our Bellevue bankruptcy attorneys.


How does the automatic stay work? Our Bellevue bankruptcy lawyers have answers.


The automatic stay stops foreclosures, wage garnishments, automobile repossessions, and credit card debt collection dead in its tracks. We know you have questions about the bankruptcy process. Get in touch with our experienced Bellevue bankruptcy attorneys today for a FREE initial case evaluation today.

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Our Bellevue bankruptcy lawyers can help you achieve the King County debt relief you need.

If you fall behind on bills, creditors and debt collectors often start treating you like a common criminal. This hardly seems fair, especially when you have no control over the circumstances that lead to unpaid bills. It’s common for creditors and collection agencies to call you at home or work in an attempt to get their money. Other collection techniques are downright unscrupulous. If this goes on for weeks or months, you may not even want to pick up your phone when it rings.

Our Bellevue bankruptcy attorneys understand how embarrassing these situations can be. Take our word for it; as long as you owe money, creditors will never leave you alone. However, there is a way to immediately stop the midnight phone calls and get your finances back on track.

When you file for bankruptcy in Washington, an “automatic stay” is immediately implemented. Creditors and bill collectors are no longer able to contact you, otherwise they are in violation of the law. They can’t call your place of work or your home. All creditor harassment must stop, immediately. You won’t even have to wait for a judge to render a decision in your bankruptcy case. In some cases, you can still benefit from the automatic stay without qualifying for a discharge of debt via bankruptcy.

The automatic stay puts an end to virtually all debt collection, including automobile repossessions, wage garnishment, credit card debt, and foreclosures. Our Bellevue automatic stay attorneys can help you fight back against creditor harassment, and it all starts with a free consultation.

The automatic stay brings peace to your life so you can get a fresh start financially.

  • Almost all debt collection stops when the automatic stay goes into effect, including debt that cannot be discharged.
  • Creditors that violate the automatic stay by contacting you can be libel for your attorney’s fees and punitive damages.
  • Child support and certain fines may not be covered by the automatic stay.
  • Our Bellevue bankruptcy attorneys can help you get the most out of the automatic stay.

Call now to learn more about your legal rights and options. Our King County debt relief attorneys can help stop all creditor harassment forever. Having financial difficulties is embarrassing enough without having to worry about harassment from relentless creditors. You have legal rights that protect you from unfair harassment, and our Bellevue bankruptcy attorneys will ensure that they are fully protected.

Contact one of our King County debt relief attorneys today to find out whether filing for bankruptcy is your best option. If so, the automatic stay will put a stop all harassing phone calls and debt-related issues.

Stop the phone calls, clear your head, and press the financial reset button with help from our experienced Bellevue bankruptcy lawyers.

The automatic stay, Bellevue Washington, and you.

With a population of nearly 150,000, Bellevue is one of Washington’s larger communities. As a suburb of Seattle, there are endless employment opportunities. Entrepreneurs with the means also have little trouble starting up new businesses. In 2010, Bellevue was named the Number-One place to launch a business by CNNMoney, so it’s obviously got something special going for it. 

Bellevue is also a great place to enjoy a fine meal or take a stroll through the Botanical Gardens. Seattle’s close proximity means you can also indulge in everything the city has to offer. Just don’t go too hog wild on the expensive dinners and nights out on the town or you could find yourself with outrageous credit card debt that you just can’t overcome. 

Even the most financially successful can fall on hard times. A battle with an illness or losing one’s job can cause someone to fall behind on bills. Eventually, getting back on track may be impossible. If you end up filing for bankruptcy, your case will be heard in the United States Bankruptcy Court in the Western District of Washington. The second you file, your automatic stay will go into effect, so contact our conveniently located downtown Bellevue law office today and stop the endless cycle of unmanageable debt.

How secured debt is affected by the automatic stay.

Chapter 7 bankruptcies discharge all unsecured debt. However, you need to keep up with payments on secured debt to reap the benefits of the automatic stay. Secured debts are loans backed up with collateral. Chapter 13 bankruptcies involve a debt consolidation plan that may include property like a home or car. You must keep up with these payments and maintain insurance on the property so that the interests of the creditor are secured.

How long does the automatic stay last?

If you receive a discharge of debt in your bankruptcy case, you will no longer require the automatic stay. Your debt is permanently eliminated, but certain debt may not qualify for discharge including taxes and student loans. In situations involving Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you are protected for the full term, even if secured debt is not included in your payment plan.

Contact one of our Bellevue automatic stay lawyers for a free consultation about bankruptcy.

Get control of your finances and stop the harassing phone calls with help from our Bellevue bankruptcy lawyers. We offer a free consultation, so you can find out more about the automatic stay without any obligation.

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