Where you live and the relationship you have with your joint account co-signer in large part determines whether or not your joint account can be levied by a debt collector. Generally speaking, if the joint account is held by you and your spouse and you live in a community property state, then a debt collector can garnish your joint bank account. Going one step further, because debts incurred in community property states are the responsibility of both spouses, the debt collector can also garnish your separate bank account for your spouse’s debt (except in Texas). Community property states are Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin.