Everyday money · Jurisdiction DE

Protected account

A garnishment protection account protects a statutory allowance on the payment account from seizure. It does not repay debts.

In more detail

Section 850k of the Code of Civil Procedure governs the protected account. Each person may hold only one. The seizure-free basic amount covers a living need. If you pay maintenance to others under a legal duty, a certificate can raise the protected amount (Code of Civil Procedure sections 902, 903). As of 2026: Finmon names no euro amount. The allowance is announced and changes. Converting an account is a step at the bank under this section.

Background

A protected account is not debt advice and not an insolvency proceeding. It keeps part of the balance free from seizure while the conditions hold. Someone who can no longer sort their debts finds an independent place at debt advice. Consumer insolvency is a different path. Finmon files no application and names no advice agency.

An example

Wages sit in the account, and a creditor seizes. With a protected account the statutory allowance stays available, and the rest can be seized. Without a certificate for higher amounts, for example for maintenance or child benefit, generally only the seizure-free basic amount applies. How high it is in euro is in the current announcement, not here.

A common misconception

With the protected account, the debts are settled.

It only limits what can be seized. The claims remain until they are paid, waived or settled in another proceeding.

Source: ZPO § 850k. Last reviewed: 2026-10-27. Editorially reviewed on 2026-10-27. Next review 2027-10-27. Version 0.2.0. Finmon explains. It does not advise. Not investment, tax or legal advice.