Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in California

First, creditors have to file lawsuits and obtain judgments before levying against bank accounts. Moneys from certain government assistance programs are exempt. However, since the sheriff is not aware that funds in bank accounts are from, say, SS disability, it would take a little while to have a court listen to your exemption, while the funds are tied up. Of course, if the debts are older than 4 years, then the creditors might be barred from suing because of the statute of limitations.