Andrea practiced exclusively as a bankruptcy attorney in consumer Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases for more than 10 years before joining Upsolve, first as a contributing writer and editor and ultimately joining the team as Managing Editor. While in private practice, Andrea handled all bankruptcy matters from inception to case closure while also acting as managing attorney for her firm, Marco | Wimmer PLLC. Andrea has been a speaker at, among other events, ABI’s Southwest Bankruptcy Conference, Norton’s Bankruptcy Institute and the Arizona State Bar Convention. In 2017, she was selected as one of ABI's 40 under 40 honorees. She is a member of the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judge’s NextGen Class of 2016, and she received the 2014 Member of the Year Award and a Special Appreciation Award from a local consumer attorney group, as well as a Distinguished Service Award from ABAIC. She has published in NACBA’s Consumer Bankruptcy Journal and the State Bar of Arizona Bankruptcy Section Journal, and currently serves as treasurer of the Arizona Consumer Bankruptcy Counsel. She has also been a volunteer attorney with the Arizona Bankruptcy Court’s Self-Help Center, which provides assistance to pro se debtors.
Articles written by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Wage Garnishment Exemption Guide: Income You Can Keep
Written by Mae Koppes. Legally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated March 15, 2026
Certain types of income are protected from wage garnishment under federal and state law. This exempt income includes Social Security, unemployment benefits, and other public benefits — and in many cases, you can stop or reduce garnishment by filing a claim of exemption. This guide explains how exemptions work, how to protect your income before or after garnishment starts, and what to do if the debt is owed to the IRS or Department of Education. It also covers how bankruptcy can stop garnishments and help erase the debt causing them.
Read More →Is an Income-Contingent Repayment Plan Right for You?
Written by Mae Koppes. Legally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated March 13, 2026
The Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) Plan is one of four income-driven repayment options for federal student loans. It’s the only one of these four options that parent PLUS borrowers can utilize, which is one of the main upsides, if you have that kind of loan. The ICR has the longest repayment period of any income-driven plan at 25 years. This allows for lower monthly payments for borrowers but, the total amount paid over the loan's lifespan, including interest, is generally higher compared to other plans.
Read More →How To File Bankruptcy for Free: A 10-Step Guide
Written by Attorney Andrea Wimmer. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated March 13, 2026
Chapter 7 bankruptcy is a powerful debt relief tool. It helped almost 500,000 people get a fresh start last year (2024), and it's a lifeline for those who are drowning in debt and can't see a way out. Though bankruptcy requires a lot of paperwork and documentation, many people with simple cases file successfully on their own without a lawyer. We outline the 10 steps to file your case successfully.
Read More →California Debt Collection Laws
Written by the Upsolve Team. Legally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated March 12, 2026
California has two important laws — the Rosenthal Act and the Debt Collection Licensing Act — that protect California residents against original creditor and third-party debt collector harassment and abuse. Californians also benefit from the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which offers many protections and gives you certain rights. The statute of limitations for most consumer debt is four years in California.
Read More →How To Win a Debt a Lawsuit Against a Debt Collector
Written by Attorney Andrea Wimmer. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated March 12, 2026
Most debt collection suits in the U.S. end in default judgments. That’s a judgment entered against the alleged debtor because they either didn’t file an answer to the complaint or didn’t show up in court. This is bad news, partly because many of those cases could have been won. If you’re sued by a creditor, debt collector, or debt buyer, the worst thing you can usually do is ignore the lawsuit. This article will provide guidance on how to deal with a debt collection lawsuit.
Read More →Wage Garnishment in Pennsylvania
Written by Mae Koppes. Legally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated March 15, 2026
Wage garnishment is when money is taken from your paycheck to pay certain types of debt. Pennsylvania is unique because it doesn’t allow most creditors to garnish your wages for common consumer debts like credit cards, medical bills, or payday loans. Only specific debts—like unpaid rent, child support, taxes, and federal student loans—can lead to wage garnishment in the state. This article explains how wage garnishment works in Pennsylvania, what steps creditors must follow, and what you can do if you're at risk of having your wages garnished.
Wage Garnishment in Tennessee
Written by Ben Jackson. Legally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated March 14, 2026
Wage garnishment in Tennessee allows a creditor to take money directly from your paycheck to repay a debt, but most creditors must first sue you and get a court judgment. After that, the court can issue a garnishment order, which tells your employer to withhold part of your pay. Both federal and Tennessee laws limit how much can be taken and offer some extra protection if you have dependent children.
Wage Garnishment in California
Written by Mae Koppes. Legally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated March 14, 2026
Wage garnishment is a legal process that allows creditors to take money directly from your paycheck to repay certain types of debt. In California, most garnishments for consumer debt require a court judgment, and the state provides stronger wage protections than federal law. Once a creditor wins a lawsuit, they can serve paperwork to your employer to begin garnishing your wages, but you have the right to object or claim exemptions—usually within 10 days. There are also limits on how much of your paycheck can be garnished, and filing for bankruptcy is one way some people choose to stop garnishment and erase the debt altogether.
How To File Bankruptcy for Free in Arkansas
Written by Attorney Andrea Wimmer, Curtis Lee, JD. Legally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated March 13, 2026
If you're dealing with debt that feels impossible to get out from under, Chapter 7 bankruptcy may be the fresh start you need. It can erase eligible debts like credit cards, medical bills, and payday loans — and many Arkansans file without a lawyer or any filing costs. This guide covers everything you need to know to file in Arkansas.
How To File Bankruptcy for Free in Arkansas
Written by Attorney Andrea Wimmer, Curtis Lee, JD. Legally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated March 13, 2026
If you're dealing with debt that feels impossible to get out from under, Chapter 7 bankruptcy may be the fresh start you need. It can erase eligible debts like credit cards, medical bills, and payday loans — and many Arkansans file without a lawyer or any filing costs. This guide covers everything you need to know to file in Arkansas.
