What is a garnishee?

A garnishee is defined as a third party who holds property or money that belongs to a debtor and is subject to a legal process for collection. In the context of garnishment, the court orders this third party, often an employer or a financial institution, to withhold a portion of the debtor's wages or account balance to satisfy a debt. This process is a means of ensuring that creditors can collect on judgments by tapping into the assets or income that the debtor may have, which the garnishee is in a position to provide.

The other options describe different legal concepts that do not accurately represent the definition of a garnishee. For instance, inheriting property relates to estate law, a judgment pertains to a decision made by a court regarding the resolution of a legal dispute, and a formal court decision can encompass various rulings but does not specifically address the role of a third party involved in the garnishment process.