If a bailiff turns up at your door or your bank tells you that your account has been seized, an orderly response matters most. An account seizure means that a creditor, backed by a court order, accesses your balance at the bank. What you can do depends on whether you already have a garnishment protection account and which letters you have received.
In short: If your account is seized, secure all letters, note the deadlines and ask your bank to convert the account into a garnishment protection account (P-Konto). If funds are already seized, the conversion takes effect at the start of the fourth business day after your request (section 850k(2) ZPO). The basic amount of the garnishment exemption has been 1,587.40 euros per month since 1 July 2026. Last updated: November 2026.
Key points at a glance
- An account seizure and a bailiff visit are two different things: with a seizure the bank balance is blocked, a visit concerns objects or information.
- You can ask for a garnishment protection account at any time, even after the seizure (section 850k(1) and (2) ZPO).
- For a seized balance of a natural person, the bank may pay the creditor at the earliest one month after the transfer order has been served (section 835(3) ZPO).
- Against the manner of enforcement you can lodge an objection under section 766 ZPO, which the enforcement court decides.
- The objection does not settle whether the claim is justified. You resolve that with the creditor or in court.
What is the difference between an account seizure and a bailiff visit?
In an account seizure the bank, as third-party debtor, receives an order that covers the debtor’s balance. Section 835 ZPO ties in with the service of the transfer order on the bank. As the account holder you often notice the seizure because the bank no longer executes payments or informs you in writing. A bailiff visit is a separate enforcement step that concerns objects, for example. Both can run side by side.
What matters for you: if you receive a letter or a visit, do not pay or sign on impulse. Ask to see the title and the claim, note the date and names, and then work out the next steps calmly. Whether and when a bailiff may enter your home is governed by separate rules. Have a debt counselling service explain this before any appointment.
What do I do in the first days after a seizure?
- Secure all letters from the court, creditor, bailiff and bank and note the date of receipt and the deadlines.
- Ask your bank in writing to convert the account into a garnishment protection account (section 850k ZPO) and get the receipt confirmed.
- Check whether you already hold a P-Konto at another bank, because only one is allowed (section 850k(3) ZPO).
- Reduce your payments to what you urgently need for rent and living costs and clarify open amounts with the creditor.
- Visit a debt counselling service and bring letters, bank statements and proof of income.
- Check whether an objection under section 766 ZPO makes sense, and act promptly.
How to apply for the P-Konto in detail is covered in P-Konto einrichten: Schritt für Schritt zum Pfändungsschutz (in German).
Which deadlines and points in time matter?
| Point in time or deadline | What applies | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| At any time | Request conversion to a garnishment protection account, even with a negative balance | Section 850k(1) ZPO |
| Fourth business day after your request | Conversion of an account with already seized funds | Section 850k(2) ZPO |
| One month after service of the transfer order | Earliest time the bank may pay or deposit a natural person’s seized balance to the creditor | Section 835(3) ZPO |
| The three following months | Unused remainder of the protected amount can be carried over | Information sheet, Freising local court |
| At least four business days before month end | Conversion back to an ordinary account | Section 850k(5) ZPO |
The one-month period is a window for action: in that time you can set up the P-Konto, obtain certificates and negotiate with the creditor. Do not wait until the end, because the conversion takes time.
How much stays protected on the account?
According to the notice on the garnishment thresholds (in German), the basic amount of the garnishment exemption has been 1,587.40 euros per month since 1 July 2026. Protection rises for dependants: 597.42 euros for the first person and 332.83 euros for each further one. How much is protected on your account in practice depends on these factors and on the type of incoming payments. A certificate under section 903(1) ZPO can raise the basic protection, as the Freising information sheet explains. For an overview see Pfändungsfreigrenze 2026: Was auf deinem Konto geschützt bleibt (in German), and for wage garnishment see Lohnpfändung: Wie viel vom Gehalt tatsächlich bleibt (in German).
What is the objection under section 766 ZPO and when does it help?
The objection under section 766 ZPO (in German) targets the manner of enforcement or the procedure followed by the bailiff. The enforcement court decides on it. It comes into question if an enforcement measure does not match the order or is formally flawed, for instance with disputed bailiff costs. Under section 766(2) ZPO the enforcement court also decides if a bailiff refuses to accept an enforcement order or does not carry it out in line with the order. The statute (retrieved 2 November 2026) names no fixed deadline, but you should still act quickly because measures continue.
The objection is not a tool to attack the claim itself. Whether you owe the creditor money is settled with the creditor, with a counselling service or before the competent court. For the wording and the prospects in your case you need legal advice. This guide cannot replace it.
How do I deal with the creditor?
Many seizures can be defused if you seek a conversation. Offer the creditor an instalment plan you can really afford and have the agreement recorded in writing. Payment promises on the phone without checking the claim are risky. A debt counselling service can sort your income and expenses with you and check which protective rights you have. For high debt there are further routes, described in Restschuldbefreiung als Student (in German).
How do I avoid getting into this situation?
The most common trigger is unattended reminders. If you leave post from a court or a collection agency unopened, you miss deadlines. Keep a folder for letters and check your statements regularly. Plan reserves for unavoidable expenses so that the overdraft is not used permanently. How costly an overdraft gets is shown in Dispokredit für Studierende (in German).
Frequently asked questions
Can the bailiff empty my entire account?
With a garnishment protection account a basic amount stays protected, which is 1,587.40 euros per month as a base since 1 July 2026. Without a P-Konto the situation is much worse, so the conversion is the most important first step.
Can I take action against the seizure itself?
Against the manner of enforcement there is the objection under section 766 ZPO. Whether the claim is justified is a different question that you settle with the creditor or in court. Get advice on this.
What if I cannot pay the claim?
Talk to the creditor and propose instalments. A debt counselling service supports you and knows the procedures at creditors and courts.
Do I have to see the bailiff or let them in?
For appointments and summonses you should keep deadlines and consult a counselling service. Whether and under which conditions the bailiff may enter your home is governed by separate rules. Have this explained beforehand.
Can the bank pay the money to the creditor immediately?
For a seized balance of a natural person, the bank may pay or deposit to the creditor at the earliest one month after the transfer order has been served (section 835(3) ZPO). You can act during that time.
What to do now
- Secure and sort all letters and enter the deadlines in your calendar.
- Ask in writing for the conversion to a garnishment protection account.
- Visit a debt counselling service before you promise any payment.
- Check with legal advice whether an objection under section 766 ZPO makes sense.
Related guides
- Geld, Konto und Kredit: Der Überblick für junge Erwachsene (in German)
- P-Konto einrichten: Schritt für Schritt zum Pfändungsschutz (in German)
- Pfändungsfreigrenze 2026: Was auf deinem Konto geschützt bleibt (in German)
- Lohnpfändung: Wie viel vom Gehalt tatsächlich bleibt (in German)
- Organise Student Finances: Account, Reserve and Deadlines
Sources: Section 850k ZPO, Gesetze im Internet; Section 835 ZPO, Gesetze im Internet; Section 766 ZPO, Gesetze im Internet; Notice of the garnishment thresholds from 1 July 2026, Gesetze im Internet; Information on the garnishment protection account, Freising local court.
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
