bank garnishment in California

[pjknapp]

My bank accounts were seized by a law firm from a credit card company. I was never notified...I have moved since this debt (5 years ago) They took everything I had in the bank...about $100 not much but I am on unemployment. My son who is 16 has two accounts with the same bank and I am on the account because he is a minor. They took all his money too...he had $500 in the bank from working and it is going to his college fund. Can they do that to his accounts? Please help me...I havent told him yet and I dont know how to.

[Antigone*of*Greece]

Originally Posted by pjknapp

My bank accounts were seized by a law firm from a credit card company. I was never notified...I have moved since this debt (5 years ago) They took everything I had in the bank...about $100 not much but I am on unemployment. My son who is 16 has two accounts with the same bank and I am on the account because he is a minor. They took all his money too...he had $500 in the bank from working and it is going to his college fund. Can they do that to his accounts? Please help me...I havent told him yet and I dont know how to.

You need to tell your son. You owe him that money. If your name is on an account as an owner, then under most circumstances those funds are fair game.

[CourtClerk]

They can take anything that has your name on it.

As for how to tell your son, something like this:

Son, one part of being a responsible adult is to make sure you pay all of your bills and hold up to all of your obligations, especially the legal ones. I, unfortunately, didn't do that and as a result, the company I owed money to sued me and since I didn't pay them even after they received a judgment, they levied any account that had my name on it to pay back the people who I owed money to. That includes your account that you worked so hard to put money in. It is completely my fault and I will pay you back every dime I owe you.

This time, actually do it, or your son can get a guardian and sue you for his money as well.

[StephenH]

If you can prove that all the money deposited in the account to a judge that is your son's maybe they will refund it.