How to Pay Off a Garnishment

A garnishment is a means to collect an unpaid debt. It's generally the result of a court judgment against a debtor. The judgment orders a third party, like an employer, to garnish from your payroll check until the debt is satisfied. However, if you receive a notice of a court order to garnish your wages or bank account and you would prefer to pay it off, you have multiple options to do so.

Instructions

1

Contact the attorney who filed the court order to garnish your wages or bank account. Pay the amount in full.

2

Contact the creditor to make a settlement offer if you cannot pay the full amount. The creditor may or may not agree to a reduced settlement, but you have nothing to lose. If the original creditor agrees to a settlement, your creditor may direct you to the attorney handling the case.

3

Contact the creditor's attorney who filed the court order for a garnishment, and request a written statement. The document should clearly indicate that the settlement satisfies the judgment.

4

Make sure the creditor's attorney files a document called "Satisfaction of Judgment" once the funds clear the bank and the judgment amount is satisfied. The document is generally filed with the court clerk of the court where the original lawsuit was filed. The court clerk then stamps the court records as "satisfied" and the case is closed. This step is important regardless of whether you pay the full amount or pay a reduced settlement.