2025 Code of Georgia
Title 18 - Debtor and Creditor (Chs. 1 — 5)
Chapter 4 - Garnishment Proceedings (Arts. 1 — 4)

Annotations

Notes

Editor’s notes.

Former Chapter 4, relating to garnishment proceedings, and consisting of Code Sections 18-4-1 through 18-4-135, was repealed by Ga. L. 2016, p. 8, § 1/SB 255, effective May 12, 2016. The former Chapter was based on Ga. L. 1976, p. 1608, §§ 1, 2; Ga. L. 1977, p. 159, §§ 1-3; Ga. L. 1977, p. 634, § 1; Ga. L. 1977, p. 783, § 1; Ga. L. 1980, p. 1769, §§ 1-8; Ga. L. 1981, p. 383, § 1; Ga. L. 1981, p. 804, § 1; Ga. L. 1982, p. 3, § 18; Ga. L. 1983, p. 454, § 1; Ga. L. 1983, p. 683, § 1; Ga. L. 1984, p. 370, §§ 1, 2; Ga. L. 1984, p. 1319, § 2; Ga. L. 1985, p. 149, § 18; Ga. L. 1985, p. 785, §§ 1, 2; Ga. L. 1985, p. 1632, §§ 1-5; Ga. L. 1990, p. 360, § 1; Ga. L. 1996, p. 317, § 1; Ga. L. 1997, p. 941, §§ 1-5; Ga. L. 1997, p. 1613, § 5; Ga. L. 1999, p. 81, § 18; Ga. L. 2000, p. 1589, § 3; Ga. L. 2006, p. 119, § 1/HB 149; Ga. L. 2009, p. 453, § 2-2/HB 228; Ga. L. 2012, p. 2, §§ 1-17/HB 683; Ga. L. 2014, p. 482, §§ 7-9/SB 386.

Garnishment and orders to withhold and deliver, Official Compilation of the Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia, Department of Human Services, Office of Child Support Recovery, Recovery and Administration of Child Support, § 290-7-1-.09.

JUDICIAL DECISIONS

Editor’s notes.

In light of the similarity of the statutory provisions, decisions under former Ga. L. 1855-6, pp. 36, 37, former Civil Code 1895, §§ 4705, 4709, and former Civil Code 1910, §§ 5265, 5268, and 5269, and Ga. L. 1976, p. 1608, § 1 et seq (former O. C. G. A. T. 18, C. 4) are included in the annotations for this chapter.

Due process compliance. —

Garnishment in attachment must comply with defendant’s due process rights under a valid garnishment statute. Coursin v. Harper, 144 Ga. App. 4, 240 S. E.2d 565, 1977 Ga. App. LEXIS 2557 (1977) (decided under former law).

Proceedings on garnishment in attachment which do not comply with statutory provisions violate defendant’s due process rights under United States and Georgia Constitutions. Coursin v. Harper, 144 Ga. App. 4, 240 S. E.2d 565 (decided under former law).

Constitutional requirements for garnishment proceedings. —

See North Ga. Finishing, Inc. v. Di-Chem, Inc., 419 U. S. 601, 95 S. Ct. 719, 42 L. Ed. 2d 751, 1975 U. S. LEXIS 24 (1975) (decided under former law).

Garnishment must be strictly pursued. —

Garnishment proceeding is a distinct suit against a separate party, and for an entirely new cause of action, and such proceeding, being purely statutory and in derogation of common law, must be strictly pursued. Anderson v. Ledbetter-Johnson Contractors, 62 Ga. App. 732, 9 S. E.2d 860, 1940 Ga. App. LEXIS 422 (1940) (decided under former law).

No constitutional right to jury trial. —

Former Georgia garnishment law was a special statutory proceeding enacted subsequent to the first Georgia Constitution and was in derogation of the common law. Thus, a garnishment action was not a civil action of such a nature in which a trial by jury was guaranteed. Mull v. Mull, 167 Ga. App. 687, 307 S. E.2d 675, 1983 Ga. App. LEXIS 2578 (1983) (decided under former O. C. G. A. T. 18, C. 4).

Garnishment constitutes a distinct suit against separate party for an entirely new cause of action. Ahrens & Ott Mfg. Co. v. Patton Sash, Door & Bldg. Co., 94 Ga. 247, 21 S. E. 523, 1894 Ga. LEXIS 58 (1894) (decided under former Ga. L. 1855-56, p. 36); Woods v. Massachusetts Mills, 17 Ga. App. 422, 87 S. E. 688, 1916 Ga. App. LEXIS 980 (1916); Lamb v. Whitman, 17 Ga. App. 687, 87 S. E. 1095, 1916 Ga. App. LEXIS 856 (1916); Jones v. Maril, 19 Ga. App. 216, 91 S. E. 445, 1917 Ga. App. LEXIS 66 (1917) (decided under former Civil Code 1910, § 5265).

Issuance of successive summons of garnishment is permissible. Born v. Williams & Bro., 81 Ga. 796, 7 S. E. 868, 1888 Ga. LEXIS 423 (1888); Pratt v. Young, 90 Ga. 39, 15 S. E. 630, 1892 Ga. LEXIS 117 (1892), (decided under former Ga. L. 1855-56, p. 37).

Original summons is served, rather than a copy thereof, and it is unnecessary that a copy be put on file. 397 U. S. 1008, 90 S. Ct. 1236, 25 L. Ed. 2d 421 (1970) (decided under former Civil Code 1910, § 5269).

Only evidence record showing to whom summons directed and to what court returnable is officer’s entry. Tifton Compress Co. v. Robinson, 31 Ga. App. 350, 120 S. E. 701, 1923 Ga. App. LEXIS 943 (1923) (decided under former Civil Code 1910, § 5269).

Waiver. —

Appearance and pleading waives all objections to process and return of officer. Flournoy & Epping v. Rutledge, 73 Ga. 735, 1884 Ga. LEXIS 213 (1884) (decided under former Ga. L. 1855-56, p. 37).

Defective service waived by appearance of garnishee. Dooly v. Miles, 101 Ga. 797, 29 S. E. 118, 1897 Ga. LEXIS 330 (1897) (decided under former Civil Code 1895, § 4709).

Summons returnable to justice court, when main suit pending in the superior court, is void. Durden v. Belt, 61 Ga. 545, 1878 Ga. LEXIS 178 (1878) (decided under former Ga. L. 1855-56, p. 37).

Reliance on officer’s promise to notify garnishee when to answer. —

Promise by officer that the officer would notify garnishee when to answer, coupled with sheer ignorance on part of latter, was not an excuse. Jones v. Bibb Brick Co., 120 Ga. 321, 48 S. E. 25, 1904 Ga. LEXIS 541 (1904) (decided under former Civil Code 1895, § 4709).

Attorney at law of corporation cannot verify answer. Plant & Son v. Mutual Life Ins. Co., 92 Ga. 636, 19 S. E. 719, 1893 Ga. LEXIS 219 (1893) (decided under Ga. L. 1855-56, p. 37).

Failure to make timely answer. —

Garnishee cannot attack judgment for causes anterior to rendition when garnishee failed to make timely answer. Henderson v. Mutual Fertilizer Co., 150 Ga. 465, 104 S. E. 229, 1920 Ga. LEXIS 204 (1920) (decided under former Civil Code 1910, § 5269).

Damages when plaintiff fails in original suit. —

When the plaintiff fails to recover in original suit, the defendant may recover as damages the premium on, and expenses paid in procuring dissolution bond, and reasonable attorneys fees. Collins v. Myers, 30 Ga. App. 151, 117 S. E. 265, 1923 Ga. App. LEXIS 324 (1923) (decided under former Civil Code 1910, § 5268).

Defendant’s unliquidated claim for damages against garnishee. —

Claim, debt, or demand owing by garnishee to the defendant, to be subject to process of garnishment cannot be an unliquidated claim for damages against the garnishee. Curtis v. Bailey, 51 Ga. App. 119, 179 S. E. 633, 1935 Ga. App. LEXIS 591 (1935) (decided under former Civil Code 1910, § 5265).

Debt due jointly to defendant and nonparty, by weight of authority, cannot be garnished. Bryant v. McCrary, 40 Ga. App. 685, 151 S. E. 236, 1929 Ga. App. LEXIS 712 (1929) (decided under former Civil Code 1910, § 5265).

Effect on lien of garnishment of subsequent bankruptcy proceeding. —

See Henley v. Colonial Stages S., Inc., 56 Ga. App. 722, 193 S. E. 905, 1937 Ga. App. LEXIS 214 (1937) (decided under former Civil Code 1910, § 5265).

Garnishment proceedings are purely statutory and cannot be extended to property not subject to process. Weston v. Beverly & McCollum, 10 Ga. App. 261, 73 S. E. 404, 1912 Ga. App. LEXIS 451 (1912) (decided under former Civil Code 1910, § 5265).

Tort for conversion must be reduced to final judgment before garnishment will lie. Southern Ry. v. Hodgson Bros. Co., 148 Ga. 851, 98 S. E. 541, 1919 Ga. LEXIS 83 (1919) (decided under former Civil Code 1910, § 5265).

Garnishment lies in suit on dormant judgment. Bridges v. North, 22 Ga. 52, 1857 Ga. LEXIS 109 (1857) (decided under Ga. L. 1855-6, p. 36); Atlanta & W. P. R. R. v. Farmers' Exch., 6 Ga. App. 405, 65 S. E. 165, 1909 Ga. App. LEXIS 318 (1909) (decided under former Civil Code 1895, § 4705).

Research References & Practice Aids

Cross references.

Executions and judicial sales, T. 9, C. 13.

Use of garnishment to collect taxes, § 48-2-55.

Garnishments, Uniform Rules for the Superior Courts of Georgia, Rule 15.1.

Law reviews.

For article as to federal restrictions on garnishment, see 21 Mercer L. Rev. 495 (1970).

For article, “Garnishment Restrictions Under Federal Law,” see 6 Ga. St. B. J. 399 (1970).

For comment discussing due process problems with Georgia’s prejudgment procedures prior to the adoption of the 1976 Acts on garnishment, in light of Hall v. Stone, 229 Ga. 96, 189 S. E.2d 403 (1972), see 9 Ga. St. B. J. 336 (1973).

For note discussing the constitutionality of former Georgia garnishment laws, see 28 Mercer L. Rev. 341 (1976).

For article critically analyzing the various elements constitutionally required for prejudgment seizure of a debtor’s property, focusing on § 9-503 of the U. C. C., see 28 Mercer L. Rev. 665 (1977).

For note discussing notice and judicial supervision in postjudgment garnishment in Georgia, see 26 Emory L. J. 597 (1977).

For note discussing intervention by defendants and third persons into garnishment proceedings, see 12 Ga. L. Rev. 814 (1978).

For article on the 2016 enactment of this chapter, see 33 Ga. St. U. L. Rev. 41 (2016).

RESEARCH REFERENCES C.J.S.

38 C. J. S., Garnishment, §§ 1 et seq., 60 et seq., 209 et seq.

ALR.

Right of one to summon or charge himself as garnishee, 31 A. L. R. 711, 61 A. L. R. 1458.

Liability of garnishee to garnishing creditor for depreciation in value of property pending contest, 32 A. L. R. 572.

Attachment or garnishment of goods covered by negotiable warehouse receipt, 40 A. L. R. 969.

Judgment as subject to garnishment in another court of the state in which it was rendered, 43 A. L. R. 190.

Garnishee’s duty as to protection of rights of principal defendant or third person, 45 A. L. R. 646.

Garnishment of carrier in respect of goods shipped, 46 A. L. R. 933.

Garnishment of fire insurer, 53 A. L. R. 724.

Foreign attachment or garnishment upon which jurisdiction is dependent resting upon property coming into hands of garnishee, or obligations having their inception, after service of the writ, 53 A. L. R. 1022.

Garnishment of salaries, wages, or commissions not expressly exempted by statute, 56 A. L. R. 601.

Accounts in one’s hands for collection as subject of garnishment, 60 A. L. R. 884.

Expiration of period of life of judgment as affecting pending garnishment proceeding by judgment creditor against one indebted to judgment debtor, 75 A. L. R. 1359.

Interest of mortgagor or pledgor in property in possession of mortgagee or pledgee as subject of garnishment, 83 A. L. R. 1383.

Attachment or garnishment as interference with foreign or interstate commerce, 85 A. L. R. 1395.

Effect as between garnishor and principal defendant in garnishment of judgment against garnishee, 103 A. L. R. 839.

Home Owners’ Loan Corporation or other similar agency as subject to garnishment, 108 A. L. R. 705.

Affidavit of substantial defense to the merits in an attachment or garnishment proceeding as a general appearance, 116 A. L. R. 1215.

Garnishment as remedy in case of violation of bulk sales law, 155 A. L. R. 1061.

Removability to federal court of garnishment proceedings, 22 A. L. R.2d 904.

Garnishee’s pleading, answering interrogatories, or the like, as affecting his right to assert court’s lack of jurisdiction, 41 A. L. R.2d 1093.

Right of garnishee, other than bank holding deposit, to set off claims not due or certain when garnishment is served, 57 A. L. R.2d 700.

Recovery of damages for mental anguish, distress, suffering, or the like, in action for wrongful attachment, garnishment, sequestration, or execution, 83 A. L. R.3d 598.

Hierarchy Notes:

O. C. G. A. Title 18