Stop Creditor Harassment — Take Back Control and Find Relief
When you’re behind on bills and debts, the constant calls, letters, threats, and lawsuits from creditors can make every day feel like a battle. Many people spend months or even years dodging calls and losing sleep, afraid to open the mail or answer the phone. The Las Vegas bankruptcy lawyers at Larson & Zirzow want you to know that life doesn’t have to be this way.
Federal bankruptcy law gives you powerful protections against creditor harassment, and those protections begin the moment you file your bankruptcy petition. Whether you’re dealing with relentless collection calls, wage garnishments, lawsuits, or the threat of losing your home or car, bankruptcy can put a stop to it — fast — and give you space to breathe again.
We help individuals and families across Las Vegas use these legal protections to regain control, silence harassing creditors, and build a clear path forward. If you’re tired of feeling powerless, we’re ready to help.
Immediate Relief With the Automatic Stay
The moment you file for bankruptcy, whether Chapter 7 or Chapter 13, the Bankruptcy Code immediately imposes an Automatic Stay, legally prohibiting creditors and debt collectors from continuing nearly all collection activities against you. It’s not just a polite request; it’s a court-enforced shield with real consequences for creditors who ignore it.
Once the Automatic Stay is in place, creditors and collectors must stop:
- Calling, texting, emailing, or sending letters demanding payment
- Filing or continuing lawsuits to collect debts
- Garnishing wages or collecting from bank accounts
- Repossessing vehicles
- Moving forward with foreclosure proceedings
- Cutting off your utilities because of unpaid bills
The Automatic Stay acts like a legal pause button, giving you time and space to address your debts through bankruptcy without being constantly chased or threatened.
What Happens if Creditors Keep Calling?
Most legitimate creditors understand that violating the Automatic Stay is serious offense with big consequences. If a creditor contacts you after you file, all you have to do is give them your case number and our firm’s contact information. In most cases, that’s enough to stop further calls or letters immediately.
But if a creditor keeps trying to collect despite knowing you filed for bankruptcy, they may be found in violation of federal law. When this happens, we act quickly to protect you. Creditors who willfully ignore the Automatic Stay can be ordered to pay for their actions and forced to pay damages including your attorney’s fees and costs for getting the violations to stop. We don’t tolerate harassment, and neither should you.
Ending Garnishments and Lawsuits
Wage garnishments are one of the most stressful forms of creditor collection. Having 25% of your paycheck taken before you even see it can make it impossible to cover even the most basic living expenses, creating a downward spiral that’s hard to escape.
When you file for bankruptcy, the Automatic Stay immediately stops wage garnishments and pending lawsuits. In many cases, we can even recover wages garnished shortly before your filing and return that money to you, giving you a fresh start and more room to pay your living expenses.
Stopping Harassment for Good — The Discharge
The Automatic Stay gives you immediate breathing room, but the ultimate goal of bankruptcy is to eliminate the debt that caused the harassment in the first place. Once your bankruptcy case is complete, you receive a discharge — a court order that permanently wipes out qualifying debts and makes it illegal for creditors to ever try to collect those debts again.
After discharge, those endless calls and threats don’t just pause; they’re gone for good. If a discharged creditor tries to collect, they may be found in violation of the discharge injunction. Like violations of the Automatic Stay, willful violations of the discharge injunction has serious consequences for creditors, including damages and contempt sanctions. We do what it takes to hold creditors accountable for their actions.
Which Debts Can Bankruptcy Help With?
Chapter 7 bankruptcy can wipe away most unsecured debts, including:
- Credit card balances
- Medical bills
- Personal loans
- Payday loans
- Deficiencies owed on repossessed vehicles
- Old utility bills and lease agreements
- Some older tax debts, depending on your circumstances
Certain debts, like recent tax obligations, child support, or criminal fines, generally cannot be discharged. However, filing for bankruptcy can still help by freeing up money you were using to pay junk debt, like credit cards, so you can stay current on the obligations that can’t be eliminated. Chapter 13, meanwhile, can help you save your home from foreclosure and protect other valuable property while adjusting existing debts and forcing creditors to abide by an affordable payment plan that works for you, with a discharge of debts when the plan is complete.
When Harassment Crosses the Line
Even before you file for bankruptcy, you have rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). This law limits what debt collectors can do and say when trying to collect a debt. They can’t threaten violence, use obscene language, call you at all hours, or lie about what you owe. They also can’t threaten actions they can’t legally take.
When creditors cross the line, whether you’ve filed for bankruptcy yet or not, we help our clients stand up to unlawful harassment. We send cease-and-desist letters, speak with creditors directly so you don’t have to, and take legal action if necessary.
Why Work With Larson & Zirzow?
Stopping creditor harassment is about more than silencing the phone. It’s about ending the stress for good and giving you a chance to breathe, regroup, and rebuild your future.
At Larson & Zirzow, we don’t push people through a generic filing process. We take time to listen, look at your entire financial situation, and design a bankruptcy plan that works, not just today, but for the long haul. We know how to use the law to the fullest extent to protect you from harassment, preserve your assets, and put you on the strongest possible footing for a new life after bankruptcy.
Because our firm is boutique and highly focused on individual results, you get the benefit of decades of bankruptcy expertise, personal attention from experienced attorneys, and a partner who’s truly in your corner, exploring all options and implementing the best solutions for your particular situation. We handle the paperwork, deal with the creditors, and take the stress off your shoulders, so you can finally rest easy.
Don’t Wait Another Day
If you’re living in constant fear of collection calls, garnishments, or lawsuits, you don’t have to face it alone, and you don’t have to put up with it anymore. Bankruptcy can provide immediate, powerful relief and a path to a fresh start.
Let’s talk about how we can protect you, stop the harassment, and help you move forward. Contact Larson & Zirzow in Las Vegas today for a confidential consultation. We’ll explain your options clearly and help you decide if bankruptcy is the right solution for you.