pfändet

Pfändet is a conjugated form of pfänden, the German verb meaning to seize or attach a debtor’s property to satisfy a claim. In legal and administrative texts it describes the act of attaching assets or income. As a verb form, pfändet can appear as the third-person singular present (er pfändet) or as the second-person plural present (ihr pfändet); it is not a noun on its own.

In German-speaking civil law, a creditor may seek enforcement of a claim through a court order that authorizes a seizure of assets. A Gerichtsvollzieher, or bailiff, executes the order by conducting the attachment. Common forms include wage garnishment (Gehalts- oder Lohnpfändung), attachment of bank accounts (Kontopfändung), and seizure of movable property. The procedure aims to satisfy the creditor while respecting the debtor’s rights.

Protective elements limit the impact of seizure. Pfändungsschutz provisions set minimum earnings that cannot be taken (Pfändungsfreibeträge), and many debtors use a Pfändungsschutzkonto (P-Konto) to ensure a basic level of funds remains accessible. The Pfändungstabelle, a published schedule, specifies these limits and adjusts them for family size and other circumstances.

The term pfändet appears primarily in formal or official language and legal discourse. In everyday German, speakers typically use pfänden in context or refer to the broader process of Pfändung. The exact meaning of pfändet depends on the subject and tense of the sentence.