Queen
No one has been able to add any ideas since my first post. I think that is because there are no more ideas.
I hate to see you file bankruptcy for a relatively small amount of money. But, go ahead and talk to a bankruptcy attorney -- most will give you a free consultation to see if it makes sense for you. Some attorneys will let you pay their fee in installments.
Or, call the local United Way. Ask if they have a legal referral service. Call the county bar association and ask for a referral to a pro bono attorney. Call nearby law schools and ask if they have a legal clinic. The United Way may also have a resource to help you with utilities and rent while you make this transition -- I am just not optimistic you are going to get funds released anytime soon.
I don't think that an attorney will be able to help you a lot. Once the judgment has been granted, the damage is done and is hard (not impossible) to undo. I have no way to know how much success you can have.
I am not an expert in the law of your state. My experience tells me that the only funds in a bank account that are exempt are those that came from a government source (social security, retirement, public assistance, etc). Money from general wages sitting in a bank account are hardly ever exempt.
Final thought. You need to stop that payroll direct deposit. Any new money going into the account is also frozen.
For DC -- I grant you dispensation on the Robert's Rules of Order. Just be sure you are on the straight and narrow on the second law of thermodynamics!
For Chien -- I'll check your Jeremiah reference. I may change it to Proverbs. I recall one verse about sleeping on your roof when your wife gripes.
I am becoming a frequent poster on another board infested with all sorts of nonsense about DV, limited C&D, never talk to a collector on the phone and such. It is not as vituperative as some of the alien visitors we occasionally see here. But I am constantly accused of being a collector when I refute an off-base post. I had one guy in particular who really got just out of control so I wrote that disclaimer just funnin' with him. Then I decided it had a rhythm I liked. Unfortunately, the sig cannot be longer than 500 characters -- I had some other stuff about commandments and amendments and international treaties and waterboarding and the Indian torture of being buried up to your head next to an anthill. Anyway, I had to leave some things out.