Garnishments in Georgia can feel confusing and overwhelming, especially when money suddenly disappears from your paycheck or bank account. Many people call me in a panic when they realize their wages or funds are being garnished, and I understand why. The truth is that by the time a garnishment begins, there is often very little a lawyer can do to stop it. But understanding how garnishments work in Georgia, and how judgments lead to them, can help you take action before a creditor has the power to garnish your income. This is why understanding garnishments in Georgia is critical before a judgment is entered.

But that doesn’t mean the conversation is over. My goal with this post is to explain what garnishments are, why they happen, and, most importantly, what you can do before it gets to that point.

Short answer: In Georgia, a garnishment allows a creditor to take money from your wages or bank account after they’ve obtained a court judgment. Garnishments do not happen without a lawsuit first.

A garnishment happens after a judgment has already been entered against you in court. In other words, the creditor has already won.

Being sued by a debt collector? What you do next matters – read more here

There are two main types:

A creditor can’t just garnish your wages out of the blue. First, they file a lawsuit. If you don’t respond or if they win, the court issues a judgment. Once a judgment exists, the creditor has the legal leverage to garnish.

And here’s the kicker: judgments don’t just sit still. In Georgia, they accrue post-judgment interest, which is currently around 10%. That means the longer it sits, the bigger it grows.

Understanding how long judgments last in Georgia is crucial for avoiding future garnishments.

This is one of the biggest misconceptions I hear: “The debt is too old they can’t collect anymore.”

Here’s the truth:

So even if you think, “I’ll deal with it later,” you may be setting yourself up for a nasty surprise years down the road.

This isn’t just theory. I recently spoke with WSB-TV Channel 2 News about a woman whose story highlights how serious judgments can be.

Her identity was stolen more than a decade ago and used to sign an apartment lease. She never lived there, but when the rent wasn’t paid, the apartment complex sued her. A judgment was entered without her knowledge.

More than 10 years later, her wages were suddenly being garnished for $700 per paycheck. Even though she had IRS documents proving she was a victim of identity theft, the court still enforced the garnishment.

As I explained to WSB-TV:

Once there’s a judgment in place, you have to undo the judgment to even get to assert those defenses. And that can be an insurmountable hurdle.

This case is extreme, but it shows how powerful and long-lasting judgments can be in Georgia.

For more information about what you may be able to recover, visit our FDCPA rights page.

There are some protections:

But the money has to be clearly identifiable (e.g., direct deposit labeled from the Social Security Administration). If you deposit cash or checks into your account, the bank may not recognize it as exempt.

Once a garnishment is in place, options are limited. Creditors hold all the leverage, and any “deal” they offer is usually close to the full judgment amount.

The better strategy? Act early.

The text article below is originally published here.

Garnishments are scary, and unfortunately, there’s usually not much anyone can do once they’ve started. But you don’t have to feel helpless. The real key is to get advice before a judgment is entered.

If you’ve been served with a lawsuit, or if you’re worried about a debt collector coming after you, don’t wait. Reach out now and learn your options.

If you’re dealing with a garnishment order in Georgia, it’s important to understand your rights and options.