Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Texas
North Carolina / Texas Wage Garnishment/Seizure?
I have a judgement against me in the state of North Carolina for an unpaid unsecured credit card debt. This judgement was made a little over 2 years ago. I have lived in the state of Texas for a little over 3 years. (I still had the credit card account for about a year after I moved to Texas) Can the state of North Carolina garnish my wages and/or seize my bank account(s) even though I live in Texas? I just opened a bank account with a Federal Credit Union in Texas and the State Employee's Credit Union in North Carolina has the judgement against me. Are credit unions connected in some manner? Will the fact that I joined a credit union in Texas make it easier for the credit union in North Carolina to garnish my wages and/or seize my new credit union bank account in Texas?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: North Carolina / Texas Wage Garnishment/Seizure?
The short answer is yes, the credit card company may file a postjudgment writ of garnishment against your bank account here in Texas. First, however, they must file the North Carolina judgment in Texas, wait thirty days, and only then can they file the writ of garnishment. I don't know whether credit unions exchange such information, but all they would have to do is hire an asset search person to find your bank account and it is easily done. You might consider calling the attorney who obtained the judgment in North Carolina and making a payment arrangement. Or just make payments anyway, without an agreement. Send them certified mail, return receipt requested, make payments by money order so you don't just give them information about your bank account and keep track of the payments. Once the judgment is paid in full, they must give you a release of judgment.