Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 2716.21 (2026)

Garnishee's answer

✓ current as of May 2026

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(A) If the answer of a garnishee required by section 2716.05 or 2716.13 of the Revised Code is not made in writing as ordered by the court that issued the garnishment order, the answer shall be made before the clerk of the court of common pleas of the county in which the garnishee resides or, if the garnishee resides outside of the state, before the clerk of the county in which the garnishee was served or in which the action is pending. Upon receipt of an answer under this division, the clerk shall transmit it to the clerk of the court in which the action is pending, if different, in the same manner as depositions are required to be directed and transmitted. For the clerk's services, the clerk shall receive the fees allowed by law for taking depositions and to clerks for furnishing certificates with their seals of office attached.

(B) After the order of garnishment is served on a garnishee, as provided in section 2716.05 or 2716.13 of the Revised Code, the garnishee shall return the answer to the court that issued the garnishment order within five business days after receipt of the order if the order is served under section 2716.05 of the Revised Code or before the date set for the hearing as indicated on the order if the order is served under section 2716.13 of the Revised Code. The garnishee shall answer all questions addressed to the garnishee regarding the personal earnings of the judgment debtor or regarding the amount of money, property, or credits, other than personal earnings, of the judgment debtor that are in the garnishee's possession or under the garnishee's control at the time of service of the order, whichever is applicable. The garnishee shall truly disclose the amount owed by the garnishee to the judgment debtor whether due or not and, in the case of a corporation, any stock held in the corporation by or for the benefit of the judgment debtor. If a garnishee answers and it is discovered that, at the time of the service of the order upon the garnishee, the garnishee possessed any money, property, or credits of the judgment debtor or was indebted to the judgment debtor, the court may order the payment of the amount owed into court, or it may permit the garnishee to retain the money, property, or credits or the amount owed upon the garnishee's executing to the judgment creditor a bond with sufficient surety to the effect that the amount will be paid as the court directs.

(C) If, in a garnishee's answer, a garnishee admits an indebtedness to the judgment debtor and the court orders the payment of it in whole or in part to the judgment creditor, and if the garnishee fails to pay according to the order, execution may issue on the order.

(D) A garnishee shall pay the personal earnings owed to the judgment debtor or the money or value of the property or credits, other than personal earnings, of the judgment debtor in the garnishee's possession or under the garnishee's control at the time of service of the order of garnishment, or so much thereof as the court orders, into court. The garnishee shall be discharged from liability to the judgment debtor for money so paid and shall not be subjected to costs beyond those caused by the garnishee's resistance of the claims against the garnishee. A garnishee is liable to the judgment creditor for all money, property, and credits, other than personal earnings, of the judgment debtor in the garnishee's possession or under the garnishee's control or for all personal earnings due from the garnishee to the judgment debtor, whichever is applicable, at the time the garnishee is served with the order under section 2716.05 or 2716.13 of the Revised Code.

(E) If a garnishee fails to answer as required by this section, answers but fails to answer satisfactorily, or fails to comply with a proper order of a court in connection with a garnishment under this chapter, the court may proceed against the garnishee for contempt.

Upon the request of the judgment creditor, a special examination of a garnishee may be had by the judgment creditor if the garnishee fails to answer as required by this section, answers but fails to answer satisfactorily, or fails to comply with a proper order of a court in connection with the garnishment. That examination may be conducted in the county in which the garnishee resides.

(F)(1) If a garnishee fails to answer as required by this section, answers and the garnishee's answer is not satisfactory to the judgment creditor, or fails to comply with the order of the court to pay the money owed or deliver the property into court or to give the bond authorized under division (B) of this section, the judgment creditor may proceed against the garnishee by civil action. Thereupon, proceedings may be had as in other civil actions. Judgment may be rendered in favor of the judgment creditor for the amount of money owed the judgment debtor in the garnishee's possession at the time the garnishee was served with the order of garnishment under section 2716.05 or 2716.13 of the Revised Code and, if it appears on the trial that the garnishee's answer was incomplete, for the costs of the proceedings against the garnishee. An action authorized under this division shall be brought in the county in which the garnishee resides.

(2) A garnishee who acts, or attempts to act, in accordance with Chapter 2716. of the Revised Code is not liable for damages in any civil action for any action taken pursuant to that chapter in good faith or any omission made in good faith.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 27 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1984–2023 · leading case: First Bank of Marietta v. Mascrete, 708 N.E.2d 262 (Ohio Ct. App. 1998).

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First Bank of Marietta v. Mascrete, 708 N.E.2d 262 (Ohio Ct. App. 1998). · cites it 24× “We believe that there is some competent, credible evidence to support the trial court’s finding that Roslovic failed to answer as required by R.C. 2716.21 when it responded to the court’s order.”

Januzzi v. Hickman, 572 N.E.2d 642 (Ohio 1991). · cites it 9× “R.C. 2716.21(B) further echoes the law construed in Secor by providing that the garnishee “shall answer all questions” and “shall truly disclose the amount owed by him to the judgment debtor whether due or not * * *.”

Doss v. Thomas, 919 N.E.2d 219 (Ohio Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 8× “{¶ 6} By judgment entered on July 28, 2008, the trial court granted plaintiffs motion for contempt under R.C. 2716.21, specifically finding that FCJFS, as “garnishee,” failed to properly answer and comply with the court’s order and notice of garnishment of December 21, 2007.”

Burhill Leasing Corp. v. Graham, 2022 Ohio 3757 (Ohio Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 25× “21(E), “the contempt option, provides for a ‘special examination of the garnishee’ at which, again, the garnishee may assert defenses to the garnishee’s liability to the underlying debtor.” Burhill asserts that the statutory language is “not inconsistent with the notion of…”

Goralsky v. Taylor, 571 N.E.2d 720 (Ohio 1991). · cites it 6× “At this point, it was the obligation of the garnishee to report that fact to the court pursuant to R.C. 2716.21. R.C. 2716.21(B) provides, in pertinent part, that: “* * * [t]he garnishee shall truly disclose the amount owed by him to the judgment debtor whether due or not * *…”

United States v. Morton, 467 U.S. 822 (1984). “1983); Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2716.21 (D) (Supp. 1983); Okla.”

L.G. Harris Fam. Ltd. P'ship I v. 905 S. Main St. Englewood, L.L.C., 2016 Ohio 7242 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 2× “On remand to the trial court for a hearing, the trial court granted judgment in the contractor’s favor, because the contractor had acted in good faith under R.C. 2716.21(F). Id. at ¶ 7-8. {¶ 57} In the subsequent appeal by the plaintiff, the Tenth District Court of Appeals…”

RLM Indus., Inc. v. Indep. Holding Co., 614 N.E.2d 1133 (Ohio Ct. App. 1992). · cites it 7× “21 expressly provides for two separate causes of action to be brought against the garnishee, where there is a failure on the part of the garnishee to pay the requested funds into court. The first is contempt, imposed by the court, pursuant to R.”

Hoover v. Prof'l & Exec. Mortg. Corp., 486 N.E.2d 1285 (Ohio Ct. App. 1985). · cites it 6× “A careful reading of R.C. 2716.21 indicates a twofold purpose for the five-day requirement, namely, to expedite garnishment proceedings and to provide remedies for recalcitrant garnishees.”

Tisdale v. ADP, L.L.C., 2021 Ohio 3827 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 4× “Analysis {¶ 8} By her assignments of error, appellant contends that appellee has wrongfully been garnishing her wages for a debt that was not valid. {¶ 9} The trial court dismissed the action, pursuant to Civ.”

Cherry v. Deleon, 676 N.E.2d 1277 (Ohio Ct. App. 1996). · cites it 6× “56534, unreported, 1990 WL 32615 (trial court given discretion to determine if garnishee is in contempt under R.C. 2716.21). When the court proceeds against a garnishee for contempt, that garnishee becomes party to the suit only for contempt purposes.”

Ducker v. First Nat'l Bank of Sw. Ohio (In Re Gray), 41 B.R. 374 (Bankr. S.D. Ohio 1984). · cites it 4× “21(B) (R.C. § 2716.21) specifically enables a court after “a garnishee appears and answers and on his examination it is discovered that at or after the service of the notice upon the garnishee, he possessed any money, property, or credits of the defendant or was indebted to the…”

Show all 27 citing cases →

— Ohio Rev. Code § 2716.21(B) — 11 cases

Goralsky v. Taylor, 571 N.E.2d 720 (Ohio 1991). “At this point, it was the obligation of the garnishee to report that fact to the court pursuant to R.C. 2716.21. R.C. 2716.21(B) provides, in pertinent part, that: “* * * [t]he garnishee shall truly disclose the amount owed by him to the judgment debtor whether due or not * *…”

First Bank of Marietta v. Mascrete, 708 N.E.2d 262 (Ohio Ct. App. 1998). “We believe that there is some competent, credible evidence to support the trial court’s finding that Roslovic failed to answer as required by R.C. 2716.21 when it responded to the court’s order.”

Januzzi v. Hickman, 572 N.E.2d 642 (Ohio 1991). “R.C. 2716.21(B) further echoes the law construed in Secor by providing that the garnishee “shall answer all questions” and “shall truly disclose the amount owed by him to the judgment debtor whether due or not * * *.”

Ingram v. Hocking Valley Bank, 708 N.E.2d 232 (Ohio Ct. App. 1997).

Burhill Leasing Corp. v. Graham, 2022 Ohio 3757 (Ohio Ct. App. 2022). “21(E), “the contempt option, provides for a ‘special examination of the garnishee’ at which, again, the garnishee may assert defenses to the garnishee’s liability to the underlying debtor.” Burhill asserts that the statutory language is “not inconsistent with the notion of…”

— Ohio Rev. Code § 2716.21(C) — 2 cases

Inv. Rsch. Inst., Inc. v. Sherbank Mktg., Inc., 731 N.E.2d 690 (Ohio Ct. App. 1998).

Ducker v. First Nat'l Bank of Sw. Ohio (In Re Gray), 41 B.R. 374 (Bankr. S.D. Ohio 1984). “21(B) (R.C. § 2716.21) specifically enables a court after “a garnishee appears and answers and on his examination it is discovered that at or after the service of the notice upon the garnishee, he possessed any money, property, or credits of the defendant or was indebted to the…”

— Ohio Rev. Code § 2716.21(D) — 3 cases

Ingram v. Hocking Valley Bank, 708 N.E.2d 232 (Ohio Ct. App. 1997).

Cherry v. Deleon, 676 N.E.2d 1277 (Ohio Ct. App. 1996). “56534, unreported, 1990 WL 32615 (trial court given discretion to determine if garnishee is in contempt under R.C. 2716.21). When the court proceeds against a garnishee for contempt, that garnishee becomes party to the suit only for contempt purposes.”

Battery One-Stop Ltd. v. Atari Corp. (In re Battery One-Stop Ltd.), 155 B.R. 727 (N.D. Ohio 1993).

— Ohio Rev. Code § 2716.21(E) — 12 cases

Doss v. Thomas, 919 N.E.2d 219 (Ohio Ct. App. 2009). “{¶ 6} By judgment entered on July 28, 2008, the trial court granted plaintiffs motion for contempt under R.C. 2716.21, specifically finding that FCJFS, as “garnishee,” failed to properly answer and comply with the court’s order and notice of garnishment of December 21, 2007.”

RLM Indus., Inc. v. Indep. Holding Co., 614 N.E.2d 1133 (Ohio Ct. App. 1992). “21 expressly provides for two separate causes of action to be brought against the garnishee, where there is a failure on the part of the garnishee to pay the requested funds into court. The first is contempt, imposed by the court, pursuant to R.”

— Ohio Rev. Code § 2716.21(F) — 8 cases

L.G. Harris Fam. Ltd. P'ship I v. 905 S. Main St. Englewood, L.L.C., 2016 Ohio 7242 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016). “On remand to the trial court for a hearing, the trial court granted judgment in the contractor’s favor, because the contractor had acted in good faith under R.C. 2716.21(F). Id. at ¶ 7-8. {¶ 57} In the subsequent appeal by the plaintiff, the Tenth District Court of Appeals…”

— Ohio Rev. Code § 2716.21(F)(1) — 1 case

Monroe Retail, Inc. v. Charter One Bank, N.A., 624 F. Supp. 2d 677 (N.D. Ohio 2007).

— Ohio Rev. Code § 2716.21(F)(2) — 1 case

Tisdale v. ADP, L.L.C., 2021 Ohio 3827 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021). “Analysis {¶ 8} By her assignments of error, appellant contends that appellee has wrongfully been garnishing her wages for a debt that was not valid. {¶ 9} The trial court dismissed the action, pursuant to Civ.”

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