What is garnishment?

Garnishment is a legal action used by creditors to collect money from debtors in the state of Washington. It is a method of deducting money from a debtor’s bank account or wages in order to pay off a debt. This method of debt collection is also known as wage garnishment. When a debtor fails to pay off a debt, a creditor can take court action against them, and the court may issue a garnishment order. This requires the debtor’s employer to withhold a portion of the debtor’s wages and send it directly to the creditor. The amount of money that can be taken is determined by the court and varies depending on the type of debt. In Washington, federal law sets restrictions on how much of a debtor’s wages can be garnished. Generally, creditors cannot garnish more than 25% of a debtor’s disposable income or the amount by which a debtor’s wages exceed 30 times the federal minimum wage, whichever is less. Creditors may also garnish money from a debtor’s bank account. Before funds can be taken from an account, the creditor must obtain a garnishment order from the court. The court will order a bank to freeze the debtor’s bank account, and the amount will then be released to the creditor. Garnishment is one of the ways creditors can collect money from debtors in Washington. It is a powerful tool that can help creditors recoup their losses, but it should be used in extreme cases.

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