Will paying a judgment in full immediately stop wage garnishment?

We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms.

September 1, 2026 / 10:20 AM EDT / CBS News

For borrowers carrying overdue debt, finding room in the budget to catch up has become increasingly difficult in today's economic landscape. Household debt is rising quickly, and credit card balances alone climbed by $21 billion during the second quarter of 2026, clocking in at a total of $1.26 trillion. And with prices also rising and everyday expenses now taking up a larger share of many borrowers' incomes, falling behind can have consequences that extend well beyond mounting interest and late fees.

And that's particularly true when an unpaid debt escalates from collection calls and letters to a lawsuit — and ultimately results in a court judgment. At that point, a creditor may have access to collection tools that can put even more pressure on your monthly finances, including taking a portion of your wages directly from your paycheck. If you're able to pull together enough money to resolve the judgment, getting rid of that drain on your finances may quickly become the priority.

But paying what you owe on a…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/moneywatch/