garnishee

n.
A third party who has been notified that money or property in his or her hands but belonging to a defendant has been seized by legal writ.

tr.v., -eed, -ee·ing, -ees.

1. To seize by garnishment: garnishee a debtor's wages.
2. To serve with a garnishment: garnishee an employer.

Person, often an employer, who receives notice to retain custody of assets in his control that are owed to or belong to another person. The garnishee merely holds the assets until legal proceedings determine who is entitled to the property.

This entry contains information applicable to United States law only.

An individual who holds money or property that belongs to a debtor subject to an attachment proceeding by a creditor.

For example, when an individual owes money but has for a source of income only a salary, a creditor might initiate garnishment proceedings. If the creditor is successful, a certain portion of the debtor's salary will be automatically sent to the creditor from each paycheck. In such case, the debtor's employer is the garnishee.

IN BRIEF: n. - A wage earner who is served with a deduction v. - Take a debtor's wages on legal orders, such as for child support.

Tutor's tip: The bride insisted on the expensive meal not knowing her father would need to "garnishee" (withhold part of wages to repay a debt) his wages just to afford the "garnish" (food decoration).

Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The verb has one meaning:

Meaning #1: take a debtor's wages, such as for child support

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