About the Author: Jon Alper is a nationally recognized expert in Florida asset protection and has been practicing law for over 50 years. He graduated with honors from the University of Florida Law School and holds a master’s degree from Harvard University.

When a creditor improperly garnishes a protected bank account, the debtor must get a court order dissolving the garnishment.

First, review the garnishment notice to understand the reason and legal basis for the garnishment. Determine whether the funds in your account are exempt from garnishment under state or federal law, such as Social Security benefits, unemployment payments, or other protected income.

Next, file a claim of exemption with the court that issued the garnishment order. You will need to provide evidence that the funds are exempt, and request that the court halt the garnishment.

Do not assume that the creditor knows you have exempt money in the account. For example, when the creditor sees an account in the debtor’s individual name, the creditor does not know that it may be a wage account.

Creditors that garnish joint accounts often do not know that the money may be exempt.

Not all accounts owned jointly with your spouse qualify for entireties accounts. For example, if a married couple does not put their names on the account at the same time, or if the current spouses first opened the account before they were married, the account technically is not a protected entireties account.

Florida law requires an expedited hearing to dissolve an improper garnishment.