Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 642.5 (2026)

Sheriff may take answers

✓ current as of July 2026

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1. When the plaintiff, in writing, directs the sheriff to take the answer of the garnishee, the sheriff shall put to the garnishee the following questions: [1] Are you in any manner indebted to the defendant in this suit, or do you owe the defendant money or property which is not yet due? If so, state the particulars. [2] Have you in your possession or under your control any property, rights, or credits of the said defendants? If so, what is the value of the same? State all particulars. [3] Do you know of any debts owing the said defendant, whether due or not due, or any property, rights, or credits belonging to the defendant and now in the possession or under the control of others? If so, state the particulars. [4] Do you compensate the defendant in this suit for any personal services whether denominated as wages, salary, commission, bonus or otherwise, including periodic payments pursuant to a pension or retirement program? If so, state the amount of the compensation reasonably anticipated to be paid defendant during the calendar year.

2. The sheriff shall serve to the garnishee the notice of garnishment in the same manner as an original notice by personal service, certified mail service, first class mail, or electronic\n\nTue Dec 09 21:58:20 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 642 (30, 0) 3 GARNISHMENT, §642.11\n\nmeans. The recipient of the garnishment notice may return service in the same manner as the notice was received. The garnishee shall submit answers within twenty-one days of service.

3. The sheriff conducting the garnishment shall also notify the sheriff of the county where the action is being enforced.

4. The sheriff shall file the answers to the examination within seven business days of receiving the answers. [C51, §1864, 1865; R60, §3200, 3201; C73, §2980; C97, §3939; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §12162; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §642.5] 84 Acts, ch 1239, §9; 2011 Acts, ch 25, §76; 2015 Acts, ch 79, §2; 2021 Acts, ch 153, §1 Referred to in §642.2, 642.14A, 642.21 \n

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 5 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1982–2025 · leading case: Koethe v. Johnson, 328 N.W.2d 293 (Iowa 1982).

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Koethe v. Johnson, 328 N.W.2d 293 (Iowa 1982). · cites it 2× “Water Works answered the garnishment questions, Iowa Code § 642.5 , stating that it owed Johnson $127.”

In Re the Marriage of Eklofe, 586 N.W.2d 357 (Iowa 1998). · cites it 2× “12, or when those earnings are reasonably expected to be in excess of twelve thousand dollars for that calendar year as determined from the answers taken by the sheriff or by the court pursuant to section 642.5, subsection 4. When the employee's earnings are reasonably expected…”

Allison-Bristow Cmty. Sch. Dist. v. Iowa Civil Rights Comm'n, 461 N.W.2d 456 (Iowa 1990). · cites it 2× “12, or when those earnings are reasonably expected to be in excess of twelve thousand dollars for that calendar year as determined from the answers taken by the sheriff or by the court pursuant to section 642.5, subsection 4. When the employee’s earnings are reasonably expected…”

L.F. Noll, Inc. v. Premiere Bus. Solutions, LLC (Iowa Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 8× “See Iowa Code § 642.5 (1) (2020). In its answer, Premiere admitted it 3 compensates Zahnd for personal services but denied it was indebted to her or possessed any of her property.”

Green Belt Bank & Trust v. Unverferth Mfg. Co., Inc. (Iowa Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 2× “12, or when those earnings are reasonably expected to be in excess of twelve thousand dollars for that calendar year as determined from the answers taken by the sheriff or by the court pursuant to section 642.5, subsection 1, question number four.”

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