Start with your bank's records and the court paperwork

When money disappears from your checking account without your permission, your bank has a record of who took it. Call your bank's customer service line or visit a branch in person and ask for details on any recent garnishments or levies. The bank will tell you the name of the creditor or court that ordered the withdrawal, the date it happened, and the amount. Write down all of this information — you will need it.

Your bank should also have sent you a notice before or shortly after the garnishment. Check your mail, including your spam folder if you get email statements, for a letter from your bank explaining the withdrawal. This notice will name the creditor or court and may include a case number or contact information. If you cannot find the notice, the bank can print a copy for you.

The creditor or court that ordered the garnishment will have filed paperwork with the court in your county. That paperwork — called a garnishment order, levy, or writ of execution depending on your state — is a public record. You can visit the courthouse in the county where you bank or where you live and ask the clerk to search for cases under your name. Many counties now let you search online through their court records system.

Key Takeaways

  • Your bank can tell you the creditor's name, the garnishment date, and the amount taken, and must provide this information on request.
  • The bank should have mailed or emailed you a notice before the garnishment; check your mail and spam folder for this letter.
  • The court paperwork behind the garnishment is public record and searchable at your county courthouse, either in person or online.
  • If you do not recognize the creditor, search online for the company name and phone number, or call the courthouse clerk to ask what the case is about.
  • Once you know who garnished you, you can challenge the garnishment, negotiate a payment plan, or file a claim of exemption if the money was protected.

Search your county courthouse records online

Most counties now post court records on a public website. Go to your county's official website and look for a link to "court records," "case search," or "public records." Enter your name and the system will show you any active or recent cases. Look for entries labeled "garnishment," "levy," "writ of execution," or the name of a debt collection company or creditor you do not recognize.

If your county does not have online records, you will need to visit the courthouse in person. Bring a photo ID and ask the clerk at the civil division desk to search for cases under your name. The clerk can print copies of the garnishment order and any related documents. There is usually a small fee per page, typically 25 cents to $1.

The court paperwork will show the creditor's name, their attorney's name and phone number if they have one, the amount they claimed you owed, and the date the judge or court approved the garnishment. It will also show whether you were notified of the lawsuit before the garnishment happened. If you were not notified, you may have grounds to challenge it.

Call the creditor or their attorney directly

Once you have the creditor's name from your bank or the court records, search for their phone number online. If they have an attorney, call the law firm instead — the attorney's number will be on the court paperwork. Tell them you received a garnishment and want to know the details of the debt they claim you owe.

The creditor or attorney must tell you the original debt amount, what it was for (credit card, medical bill, personal loan, etc.), and when it was incurred. They should also tell you the current balance, any interest or fees added since the garnishment, and whether they are willing to negotiate a payment plan or settlement instead of continuing to garnish your account.

Write down the name of the person you spoke to, the date and time of the call, and what they told you. This record will help if you later dispute the debt or need to prove you tried to resolve it.

Check if the garnishment was done legally

Garnishments must follow specific rules in your state. Most states require the creditor to win a court judgment against you first — meaning you had a chance to defend yourself in court. If the court paperwork shows you were never notified of the lawsuit, the garnishment may be invalid and you can ask the court to reverse it.

Some debts, like child support or federal student loans, can be garnished without a court judgment. If the garnishment notice says it is for one of these, the rules are different and the creditor did not need to sue you first. Check your state's laws or ask a legal aid attorney whether the garnishment followed the correct process.

Certain types of income are protected from garnishment in most states — typically Social Security, disability benefits, unemployment, and some retirement accounts. If the money taken was from a protected source, you can file a claim of exemption with the court and ask for the money back. You will need to prove the source of the funds, so gather bank statements showing deposits from Social Security, your benefits provider, or your employer's payroll system.

Request a copy of the garnishment order from the court

If you want an official copy of the garnishment order for your records, go to the courthouse or call the civil division clerk and ask for a certified copy. Provide your name, the creditor's name, and the case number if you have it. The clerk will mail or give you the document, usually for a fee of $5 to $15 depending on the county.

A certified copy is useful if you plan to challenge the garnishment, negotiate with the creditor, or file a claim of exemption. It is also proof of the debt if you later need to show a court or creditor that you already paid part of what you owed through the garnishment.

What to do if you do not recognize the creditor

If the name on the garnishment order is unfamiliar, it may be a debt collection company that bought your debt from the original creditor. Search the company name online along with the word "scam" or "complaint" to see if others have reported problems with them. Check the Better Business Bureau and your state's attorney general website for complaints.

Call the collection company and ask for proof that they own the debt — they must send you written verification within 30 days of your request. This verification should show the original creditor's name, the original debt amount, and proof that they bought the debt from the original creditor. If they cannot provide this, you may be able to challenge the garnishment in court.

If you believe the debt is not yours or has already been paid, tell the creditor or collection company in writing. Keep a copy of your letter. Then contact a legal aid office in your county — they can review the court paperwork for free and tell you whether you have grounds to challenge the garnishment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a bank tell me who garnished my account without a court order?

Yes. Your bank is required to tell you who ordered the garnishment and when it happened. This is your own account information. You do not need a court order to get it — just call customer service or visit a branch and ask for details on the recent withdrawal.

What if the garnishment happened months ago and I just noticed?

Contact your bank and the court immediately. Depending on your state, you may still be able to challenge the garnishment or file a claim of exemption if the money was protected. The court clerk can tell you the deadline for filing a challenge in your county.

Do I have to pay the creditor if I disagree with the debt?

No, but the creditor can continue to garnish your account until you resolve the dispute or the court orders them to stop. If you believe the debt is wrong, send the creditor a written dispute and ask them to prove they own the debt. Consider contacting a legal aid attorney for help.

Can I stop a garnishment once it has started?

Yes, by filing a claim of exemption if the money is protected, by paying the debt in full, by negotiating a settlement with the creditor, or by challenging the garnishment in court if it was done illegally. The court clerk can tell you which option applies to your situation.

Will the garnishment show up on my credit report?

The underlying judgment usually shows on your credit report, but the garnishment itself may not. The judgment will stay on your report for seven years in most states. Paying off the debt does not remove it immediately, but you can ask the creditor to report it as paid.