Texas Collection Laws

Learn Texas's Rules For Garnishment, Liens, and Foreclosure

If you owe debt and reside in Texas, it is crucial to understand your rights and liabilities. It is even more important if a creditor threatens to file a lawsuit against you.

A lender, collection agent, or law firm that owns a collection account is a creditor. Texas law gives creditors several means of collecting a delinquent debt. These methods include wage garnishment, account levy, and, in some cases, seizing personal property.

Before a creditor may use these legal tools in Texas, the creditor must go to court to receive a judgment against you. See the Bills.com article Served Summons and Complaint to learn more about this process, and how to fight a lawsuit.

A court will hold a hearing after a creditor files a lawsuit. A hearing may result in a judgment awarded to the creditor. A judgment is a court’s declaration the creditor has the legal right to demand:

• Wage garnishment
• Account levy
• Lien on real property
• Seize personal property

The law calls these remedies. A creditor granted a judgment is called a judgment-creditor. Which tool a judgment-creditor uses depends on the circumstances and Texas law. We discuss each of these remedies below, plus these rules and issues Texas consumers need to know:

• Texas statute of limitations for debt
• Texas collection agent laws
• Spousal debt and community property in Texas
• Texas foreclosure
• Payday loan collections in Texas

Texas Wage Garnishment

The most common method used by judgment-creditors to enforce judgments is wage garnishment. A judgment-creditor contacts your employer and requires the employer to deduct a specific portion of your wages each pay period and send the money to the creditor.

Texas Garnishment rules are found in Title 3, Chapter 63. Under CP § 63.004 “Except as otherwise provided by state or federal law, current wages for personal service are not subject to garnishment.” In other words, Texas outlaws wage garnishment for most debts, but not for delinquent child support, tax, or federal student loan payments.

Generally speaking, 401(K) or other retirement funds are exempt from garnishment. It is advisable to have those funds deposited into a separate bank account to ensure financial accounting if you are concerned about garnishment on those payments.

Texas Account Levy

A levy means that the creditor has the right to take whatever money in a debtor’s account and apply the funds to the balance of the judgment. Again, the procedure for levying bank accounts, as well as what amount, if any, a debtor can claim as exempt from the levy, is governed by state law. Many states exempt certain amounts and certain types of funds from bank levies, so a debtor should review his or her state’s laws to find if a bank account can be levied. In some states levy is called attachment or account garnishment. The names may vary but the concept is the same.

In Texas, a levy or attachment is allowed under Title 3, Subtitle A, Chapter 59. Levy is allowed if the plaintiff possesses a legal instrument such as a notice of levy commanding the financial institution for a claim against the account. Texas offers many exemptions for consumers:

• Homesteads: Generally 100% exempt, except for:
  • Purchase money liens
  • Mechanic’s and materialman’s liens for work on that property
  • Taxes
  Urban homesteads shall not exceed 10 acres and rural homesteads 200 acres for a family, or 100 acres for a single adult.
• Automobiles: Generally 100% exempt from the claims of third party creditors.
• Pensions and retirement accounts
• Tools of the Trade: Tools, equipment, books, machines used in a trade or profession.
• Jewelry: Not to exceed 25% of the dollar limit for personal property, which is $60,000 for a family, $30,000 for a single adult.
• Home furnishing, heirlooms, food farming and ranching vehicles, firearms, sporting equipment and certain animals.
• A dollar cap on exempt personal property: $60,000 for a family and $30,000 for a single adult.
• Workers' compensation claims (Texas Labor Code 408.201)

See Texas Property Code 42 to learn more about the exemptions in the Lone Star State. If you reside in another state, see the Bills.com Account Levy resource to learn more about the general rules for this remedy.

Texas Lien

A lien is an encumbrance — a claim — on a property. For example, if the debtor owns a home, a creditor with a judgment has the right to place a lien on the home, meaning that if the debtor sells or refinance the home, the debtor will be required to pay the judgment out of the proceeds of the sale or refinance. If the amount of the judgment is more than the amount of equity in your home, then the lien may prevent the debtor from selling or refinancing until the debtor can pay off the judgment.

Texas lien law is tricky and tipped in favor of consumers. Texas allows a lien for a money judgment under Title 5, Subtitle B, Chapter 51. Under Title 5, Subtitle B, Chapter 53, mechanics and contractors (and similar laborers and professionals) a have the right to place a lien on a property. This also includes creditors for unsecured debt (credit cards, auto loans, and so on), see Texas law Title 3, Chapter 24.

Texas homeowners can protect their residence by filing a homestead declaration. A Texas homestead is not a flawless shield against creditors, however. A homestead is not exempt from liens, but is exempt from any seizure or forced sale attempting to enforce the lien (Exocet, Inc. v. Cordes, 815 S.W.2d 350, 352 (Tex. App. ? Austin 1991, no writ)).

If you reside in another state, see the Bills.com Liens & How to Resolve Them article to learn more.

Texas Statutes of Limitations

Each state or commonwealth has its own statute of limitations on civil matters. Here are some of Texas’s statute of limitations for consumer-related issues:

When the statute of limitations clock starts depends on the circumstances and the particular statute. In most states, the clock starts after the cause of action accrues. Texas follows the general rule (Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.004(a)). The clock may be paused (called "tolled") under some circumstances, or renewed (Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.063).

See the Bills.com resource Statute of Limitations on Debt if you reside in another state.

Texas Collection Agent Laws

When a debt collector tries to collect a debt from a Texas resident, it must comply with both Texas debt collection law and the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. A violation of the Texas law may result in criminal or civil penalties. A violation of Texas Title 5 Chapter 392 is also a violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, which provides for triple money damages in certain circumstances.

Collection agents need not be licensed in Texas or their home state. A collection agent collecting in Texas must file a $10,000 surety bond with the Texas secretary of state before engaging in debt collection. The secretary of state offers a Debt Collector Search form consumers can use to learn if the collection agent contacting them filed a bond properly. File a complaint with the Texas attorney general’s office if a debt collector or credit bureau violated Texas Chapter 392 by engaging in a false, misleading, or deceptive practices.

Spousal Debt in Texas & Community Property

Texas follows the common law doctrine of necessaries. This means each spouse is legally liable for the expenses necessary to support the other spouse. Examples of necessary expenses include required medical care, shelter, and food. Parents are legally liable to support their minor children.

Texas is a community property state. This means that Texas presumes property purchased, wealth created, and debts incurred while married are community property. However, Texas recognizes separate property acquired before and during marriage. Generally, pre-marital debt is considered "separate property" and does not become community property automatically upon marriage. Community property rules can be tricky and altered by pre-nuptial agreements, so consult with a Texas lawyer who has family law experience if you have a question about Texas family law.

See the Bills.com article Texas Community Property to learn more about your potential liability for your Texas spouse's debt.

Texas Foreclosure

Texas foreclosure laws are found in Title 5, Subtitle B, Chapter 51, Section 003 to learn more about the rules surrounding foreclosure in this state, including deficiency balances (Property code § 51.003-51.005). Texas has no anti-deficiency rule. See also the Bills.com resource Texas Mortgage Deficiency Balance to learn more.

Texas Payday Loan Collection

See the Bills.com resource Payday Loans & Hot Checks in Texas to learn how Texas law protects consumers of payday loans.

Recommendation

Consult with a Texas attorney experienced in civil litigation, consumer law, or bankruptcy to receive precise answers to your questions about liens, levies, and garnishment in Texas.