What Is A Writ?

My bank recently got served with a writ of garnishment for my bank account. What's a writ?

A writ is usually a piece of paper or a command that the court issues to the sheriff to command the sheriff to go and do something, or command somebody, anybody, some public officer, to go and do something.

So, a writ of garnishment tells the sheriff to go and go to the bank or go to the employer and say, "Hey, you've got to seize this asset that belongs to the judgment creditor." So that's a writ of garnishment, writ of execution tells the sheriff, we want you to go and tag and seize actual property, a boat, furniture, a house, something physical that is owned by a judgment debtor, and seize that so that it can be sold for the benefit of creditors.

So, a writ is a command that's usually given to the sheriff to go and do something that is going to be in furtherance of a court order or judgment.

Thoughts from a Maryland Bankruptcy Lawyer

Ronald J. Drescher
Drescher & Associates, P.A
4 Reservoir Circle
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Baltimore, MD 21208
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Practicing in Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Pennsylvania