Minnesota Halts Consumer Garnishments Until Further Notice
On Monday, May 4, 2020, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issued executive order 20-50, which suspends garnishment on CARES Act payments and similar government COVID-19 financial assistance.
“Beginning immediately, the provisions in Minnesota Statutes 2019, Chapters 571, which permit service of a garnishment summons on a consumer debtor or consumer garnishee, are suspended. For the purposes of this Executive Order, the terms “Consumer Debtor” and “Consumer Garnishee” have the definition of “debtor” and “garnishee” as used in Minnesota Statutes section 571.712, subdivisions 2(b) and 2(c), when applied to debtors and garnishees who are natural persons and whose debt originated from the purchase of goods or services purchased primarily for a personal, family, or household purpose, and not for a commercial, agricultural, or business purpose.”
The garnishment order remains in effect until the “peacetime emergency” declared in Executive Order 20-01 is terminated, or until it is rescinded.