What is the purpose of garnishment as a legal tool?

The purpose of garnishment as a legal tool is primarily to provide creditors with a remedy to collect debts owed to them. Garnishment allows a creditor to legally obtain a portion of a debtor’s wages or bank account to satisfy a debt. This process is typically used after a creditor has obtained a judgment through the court and seeks to enforce it.

Garnishment serves as a powerful mechanism for creditors because it can ensure that they receive payments directly from the income or assets of the debtor, thus increasing the likelihood of recovering the owed amount. This tool is particularly effective because it can occur without the voluntary cooperation of the debtor and takes precedence over other claims against the debtor’s assets.

In contrast, the other options do not align with the function of garnishment. Filing for bankruptcy is a separate legal process intended to discharge debts or to reorganize them, while disputing worker's compensation claims pertains to handling disagreements over workplace injury claims. Licensing attorneys involves the regulatory processes that govern the practice of law, which is unrelated to debt recovery methods.