unsecured debt in Texas

I have several "huge" credit cards bills (visa, department stores) due to being unemployed for 5 months. The intrest is climbing, and most of these companies have been unwilling to work with me. (reduced payments, etc.) Even the bills I have managed to keep current have started to close my credit lines, and/or raise my intrest rates. We have already exhausted our retirement funds, trying to pay. In Texas, CAN they get a judgement for credit card debt??? Can they take the monthly paycheck. My house is homesteaded, My husband took a job out of the country so we could just exist. Out of his income, I have to save money for federal taxes, and future living expenses...(no unemployment if you work out of the U.S.)This makes bankruptsy NOT an option right now. I know garnishments are difficult to get here, but what CAN they take? I would like to know the law for Texas, and would gladly look it up on the net, if I knew where, what I could get access to, and what to look for.
.....and why bankruptsy if debt rolls of the credit report in 7 years?
Terrified in Houston

Why is bankruptcy not an option? Have you ivestigated Chapter 13? The bankruptcy court can order your creditors to accept what you are able to pay, provided it is reasonable.

Also, I understand some of the consumer credit agencies have been more successful at persuading creditors to make agreements with
debtors thab te individual debtors themselves.

I LIVE IN MIDLAND TEXAS AND FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY IN 1998. LET ME TELL YOU, THE CREDIT CARDS ARE AN UNSECURED DEBT AND THEREFORE THEY CANNOT GET A JUDGEMENT, LIEN OR ANYTHING ELSE. ITS JUST WHAT IT SAYS, AN UNSECURED DEBT. IF YOU DON'T WANT THE COLLECTION AGENCY TO CALL YOU, TELL THEM IN WRITING NOT TO CALL YOU. I WOULD CONTACT A CREDIT COUNSELING SERVICE AND THE WILL GUIDE YOU ALONG THE WAY, AND WITH THE NEW BANKRUPTCY LAWS, THEY CAN TELL YOU WITH THE GIVING OF A MEANS TEST WHETHER YOU CAN QUALIFY FULL FULL OR PARTIAL BANKRUPTCY. THE CREDIT CARD COMPANIES ARE BEHEIND THIS. THEY WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE CREDIT YOU NEED, BUT DON'T TRY TO WALK ON IT. THEY WILL ALSO SELL THE ACCOUNTS THEY WRITE OFF AS BAD TO DEBTS TO OTHER FIRMS WHO WILL OFFER YOU DEALS TO PAYOFF AND YOU WILL GET LETTERS FROM THEM.