Bank account garnishment laws in Georgia are established to regulate the process of collecting debts from individuals who owe money. These laws protect the rights of debtors while ensuring that creditors have a legal mechanism to recoup their outstanding balances. Various types of bank account garnishment laws exist in Georgia, including: 1. Georgia Code Title 18, Chapter 4 — Garnishment: This law outlines the general provisions for garnishing bank accounts in Georgia. It defines the procedures creditors must follow when seeking to garnish bank accounts, including filing a legal action to obtain a judgment against the debtor. The law also specifies the maximum amount that can be garnished from a bank account, which is typically a percentage of the debtor's disposable earnings. 2. Federal Consumer Credit Protection Act (CCPA): The CCPA, also known as the Wage Garnishment Law, provides protection to debtors by limiting the amount that can be garnished from their bank accounts or wages. Under this law, creditors are generally limited to garnishing a maximum of 25% of the debtor's disposable earnings or the amount by which their disposable earnings exceed 30 times the federal minimum wage, whichever is less. 3. Exemptions: Georgia law provides certain exemptions that protect specific types of funds from being garnished. For instance, Social Security benefits, unemployment benefits, and retirement funds are typically exempt from bank account garnishment. Additionally, income from public assistance programs, such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANK), is generally protected from garnishment. 4. Bank Levy: In Georgia, creditors can execute a bank levy to collect on debts owed. A bank levy allows a creditor to freeze the debtor's bank account and request the bank to surrender funds up to the amount owed. This type of garnishment occurs after the creditor has obtained a judgment against the debtor, and it is typically used when other collection attempts have failed. It is important to note that the specific procedures and limitations for bank account garnishment in Georgia may vary depending on the circumstances and the type of debt involved. Therefore, individuals facing the possibility of bank account garnishment should consult with a legal professional to understand their rights and potential courses of action. By familiarizing themselves with the relevant bank account garnishment laws in Georgia, both debtors and creditors can navigate this process effectively and in compliance with the law.