What is garnishment?

Garnishment is specifically a legal procedure that allows a creditor to collect a portion of a debtor’s wages directly from their employer. This process typically occurs when the creditor has obtained a court judgment against the debtor and seeks to enforce that judgment through direct payments from the debtor’s earnings. It ensures that the creditor receives payment without requiring the debtor to voluntarily pay off their debt. This method of collection can be useful in situations where the debtor may not pay their debts willingly.

The other options described do not capture the essence of garnishment. The first option regarding the sale of property does not relate to wage garnishment but rather to other forms of debt recovery. The second option about the permanent reallocation of property confuses garnishment with transfers of ownership, which do not apply in this context. Lastly, the mention of bankruptcy proceedings refers to a separate legal process designed to address the debts of individuals or businesses, which is distinct from the garnishment of wages, as garnishment is a method of enforcing payment rather than a form of insolvency relief.