DebtDecoded publishes general consumer-rights education about debt collection in the United States. It is not legal, tax, or financial advice for your specific situation, and it is not a substitute for a licensed attorney, a certified public accountant, or a nonprofit credit counselor reviewing your actual paperwork.
Every deadline, limitations period, and exemption on this site is published with its statute or regulation citation and a checked-on date. Where a figure could not be confirmed against the official text during research, the page flags it as resting on a secondary source. Court rules for counting days vary by court and by how papers were served; when you have been sued, the summons itself and the court clerk are the final authorities on your deadline.
Federal references include the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. §1692 et seq.), Regulation F (12 CFR Part 1006), the Consumer Credit Protection Act's garnishment cap (15 U.S.C. §1673), the federal-benefits protection rule (31 CFR Part 212), and the forgiven-debt reporting rule (IRC §6050P). If your situation involves a lawsuit, a garnishment already taking money, or a debt you believe is not yours, consider a consumer attorney — many offer free consultations, and strong violation cases are often taken with fees paid by the collector under the FDCPA.