Glossary - Tribunals and Courts

In Tribunals and Courts

A garnishee owes the debtor money, but is ordered by the court to pay it to that person’s creditor instead. For example, when wages are garnished, the garnishee is the employer that has to pay part of a person’s wages to the court. Another example of a garnishee is the bank that has an account belonging to the debtor.

In Debt and Consumer Rights, Employment and Work, Tribunals and Courts

Garnishment is one option for getting money from someone if they didn’t obey a court order to pay you. To do this, you have to fill out forms and follow the rules of the court that apply to this process.

You might be able to get money from:

• someone’s bank account
• payments they get, like rent cheques from a tenant
• their wages if they’re employed

There are some things that usually can’t be garnished, like:

• employment insurance
• social assistance
• pensions (unless the creditor is a government agency)