Option 4: Don't fight the wage garnishment

It's happened to me with an old student loan. I didn't fight it, they took some of my paycheck, the debt was gone in no time and everybody was happy.

You know how much it costs per hour to talk to someone about option 3? Even trying to prove how broke you are costs a lot of money.

Bankruptcy attorneys generally charge a fixed rate, and there are pretty stringent laws about what they can and can't charge.

Furthermore, the lawyer will do all further dealings with your creditors to get the amount owed cut down. If you're in the position where you can't pay your bills, you absolutely need to talk to an attorney.

Option 3 works unless it's a debt to the government, like student loans or tax debt.