conversation: User (persfinancethrowaway): "I hope this is the right sub. So...this is kind of a long story to get to a simple question so I apologize in advance.\n\nI graduated from college in December 2009. I took a circuitous route through school, but my parents didn't want to leave me high and dry when I got out. So they agreed to divide my student loans into thirds. I picked up all the student loans from semesters where I flunked a class or dropped them all, and they picked up the remaining 2/3 and split it between them. The total was about 41k, with collection costs and late fees they are telling me it's around 70k now. \n\nI took several years off and worked during my college years, and when I did my folks told me if I wanted to go back it was on me, so every loan is solely in my name. I began paying my third as soon as I was out, my mother did the same, but my father (in a move that really surprised no one) didn't. Last February they began garnishing my paycheck for the 1/3 that he wasn't paying and emptied my checking and savings accounts. I should have kept a closer eye on it, but I didn't. And I have tried everything to get this cleared up. \n\nI tried to rehab it as soon as the garnishment started. But they wanted $250 every two weeks in addition to the amount being garnished. Adding the two together was $1100 which was essentially an entire paycheck every month. That lasted about 3 months. I contacted the Dept of Ed. Ombudsman/men to see if they could help out and make the repayment more manageable.  (my parents are divorced and my mom was finishing up her PhD so all of my loans are federally guranteed) I gave them three months to help, and they didn't accomplish anything. I called my congressman(who is on some student loan committe in Washington) and, unsurprisingly, my call went ignored. So now I stand on the precipice of Bankruptcy.\n\nI've been in the banking industry since I graduated, and my goal has been to work my way up to a CFP or financial advisor. If I declare bankruptcy I can kiss that goodbye, no reputable firm or bank will sponsor me for my licenses, nor will I pass the government's financial responsibility guidelines. I have an appointment with an attorney on Friday, to help me decide what the best route is. I don't owe a ton on anything else. \n\nMy car is almost paid for, it will be done in September, I've got some furniture that will be paid off in about 6 months, and my credit card is paid off and typically sits unused since I don't have the money in my limited budget to make payments on anything else. Even a minimum payment of $25 would spiral me out of control. I haven't missed a payment on my car, or the furniture. Sometimes they are late, but they always get paid. \n\nI know a bakruptcy won't discharge my student loans, but it will stop the garnishment immediately and my loans will go into deferment until the bankruptcy is discharged. My question is whether a bankruptcy is the best option. I don't have a ton of assets or liabilities so I think Chapter 13 is the right choice if I go down that road. Theoretically hiring an attorney to sort this out will give me more options, if bankruptcy is the wrong choice what are my other options? I'm not trying to get out of what I owe. I want to pay it back. I borrowed the money, I owe the money, it deserves to be paid back. But I can't go on living on the budget I have. Sometimes it comes down to groceries or gas to get back and forth to work, and the stress is killing me. Whatever advice y'all can give would be very appreciated. \n\nTLDR: Dad didn't pay student loans with my name on them, paycheck garnished. Thinking about bankruptcy.\n\n"
  Self: "It is extremely rare for student loans to be discharged through bankruptcy.  If you are totally and permanently disabled, then you have a good chance to do so."
  User (persfinancethrowaway): "I'm aware of that. I'm trying to stop the garnishment, not discharge what I owe. I want to pay it back. "
  