When serving a garnishment, who can be served at a business?

When serving a garnishment, who can be served at a business?

• A. The named defendant
• B. Anyone at the business except the named defendant
• C. The owner only
• D. The HR manager

Answer: (B)

When a garnishment goes to the employer (the garnishee), the goal is to notify someone at the business who can receive the legal papers and pass the instruction along to withhold wages or funds. You can serve on any person at the garnishee’s place of business who is authorized to receive process—essentially any employee or agent who can take responsibility for the notice. The important distinction is that you don’t serve the named defendant themselves at the business; the debtor is the subject of the action, not the person who must respond by withholding. So the best approach is to serve someone at the business other than the named defendant, ensuring proper notice to the employer to comply with the garnishment.

When a garnishment goes to the employer (the garnishee), the goal is to notify someone at the business who can receive the legal papers and pass the instruction along to withhold wages or funds. You can serve on any person at the garnishee’s place of business who is authorized to receive process—essentially any employee or agent who can take responsibility for the notice. The important distinction is that you don’t serve the named defendant themselves at the business; the debtor is the subject of the action, not the person who must respond by withholding. So the best approach is to serve someone at the business other than the named defendant, ensuring proper notice to the employer to comply with the garnishment.