§ 6204 Discharge of garnishee's obligation

When a bank, employer, or other third party hands over money or property to the sheriff because of an attachment order, they are legally off the hook with the defendant for that amount.

For example, if a bank holds $5,000 of a defendant's money and turns it over to the sheriff, the bank no longer owes the defendant that $5,000. The same goes for anyone who owes the defendant a debt and pays it to the sheriff instead.

This rule protects third parties who follow attachment orders. They do not have to worry about the defendant later claiming they still owe the money or property that was already handed over to the sheriff.