Garnishments
Garnishments in Washington State are regulated by RCW 6.27. Garnishments are not favored by the courts and should be used as a last resort to collect a debt or a judgment.
While there are many procedural rules to obtaining a Writ of Garnishment for wages or bank accounts, the most important is that a garnishment must be based on a valid judgment by a court. If you are being garnished, it is almost certain that there is a valid court judgment against you somewhere.
Many Writs of Garnishment are issued following a Default Judgment. A Default Judgment is one where the opposing side was awarded a judgment against you because you failed to appear in court. The validity of a Writ of Garnishment may be attacked by attacking the Default Judgment upon which the Writ is based. This can be done even if it has been years since the Default Judgment was entered against you, especially if you were not properly served with notice of the original lawsuit.
If you are served with notice of a lawsuit based on an unpaid debt, or if you are served with notice of a Writ of Garnishment, don’t wait. Contact an attorney immediately. If you cannot find an affordable attorney to assist you, contact me and I will discuss the matter with you. It is important that you are represented before your money is taken.