If Summoned, How Much Time Will I Have?

[ApresMoi]

I am headed to the bank to deposit the check. THANK YOU. I get better answers here than from the law firm, I swear.

A bank account levy is ONLY obtained AFTER you have a court judgment against you. Your bank account is safe UNTIL the judge signs the final judgment.

I gave the worst case timeline earlier:

1) You get a summons and have 20 days to file an answer.
2) You do not file an answer or appear for the hearing.
3) You get a default judgment.
4) The judgment creditor obtains a garnishment order from the court for your bank account. (Assuming they already know where you bank.)
5) The garnishment order is served on the bank by the sheriff or process server.
6) The bank freezes your funds in response to the court ordered garnishment order.

Steps 1-3 could take a little as 25 days.
Steps 4-6 could take as little as 2 days.

Hence, 4 about weeks minimum. Normally it is much longer because pre-trial hearings are not always scheduled the day after your summons response deadline. Judges often sign default judgments several days after a default heating, etc.

[ApresMoi]

I don't have any cross-collateralization issues. Not defaulting on any loans or cc's with my credit union.