What is a bank account levy?

A bank account levy is one method for a judgment creditor to recover monies owed for a debt. The judgment holder files the writ of judgment with the clerk of the court where the judgment was entered against the judgment debtor as bank account levy. I If the judgment is allowed to be executed, the sheriff will serve the writ for levy (garnishment) of the debtor's account on the bank where the account is held. The bank can either honor the writ and release the funds up to the maximum of the judgment or request the court to "freeze" the account and decide whether or not the judgment writ is valid. When an account is joint and only one account holder is the judgment debtor, the bank will usually request the account to be frozen. It then becomes the responsibility of the non debtor account holder to provide documentation to the court proving the amount of funds belonging to them.