In a garnishment situation, what does the warning inform the third party?

In a garnishment situation, the warning serves to inform the third party, often an employer or bank, not to pay the debts owed to the defendant until the court issues further instructions or until the garnishment process is resolved. This is crucial because the intent behind garnishment is to secure a portion of the debtor's assets or wages to satisfy a creditor's claim.

If the third party does not adhere to this warning and continues to pay the defendant, they may be held liable for the amounts that should have been withheld. This prevents the defendant from accessing those funds which are meant to satisfy the creditor's claim. The warning aims to protect the legal rights of the creditor while ensuring compliance with the court's directives regarding the defendant's financial obligations.

The other options misrepresent the purpose of garnishment. Returning property to the defendant or disposing of it immediately does not align with the procedural requirements of garnishment, as those actions would violate the court's order to withhold assets to satisfy a debt. Removing property from possession could imply an obligation to transfer it back to the debtor, which is not consistent with the intent and process of garnishment.