Maryland bans stimulus payments from being garnished

As stimulus payments begin to land in bank accounts, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan signed an order that they cannot be garnished by the courts. The governor’s order, issued Monday, states that banks cannot use money in customers’ accounts from the stimulus payments to satisfy debts that are subject to legal garnishment. Hogan’s order states that it is “reasonable” to prohibit garnishments “to ensure that Marylanders may use the full benefit of that financial assistance to protect their lives and property.”