@RobertEG wrote:
Garnishment is not the only form of asset attachment/recovery.
True, but likely irrelevant to the posters situation. If the poster is living below the poverty line, they likely do not have any real property, and no signifigant savings. They stated they intend to use their tax refund and some help from family - neither of which are seizable assets AFAIK. Sure, they could go after their bank accounts (if any), but they have to find them first, and thats not so easy with modern internet banking.
With many debtors garnishment is the only realistic recourse.