Wash. Rev. Code » Title 6 · Chapter 6.27
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 6.27.200 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026
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If the garnishee fails to answer the writ within the time prescribed in the writ, after the time to answer the writ has expired and after required returns or affidavits have been filed, showing service on the garnishee and service on or mailing to the defendant, it shall be lawful for the court to render judgment by default against such garnishee, after providing a notice to the garnishee by personal service or first-class mail deposited in the mail at least ten calendar days prior to entry of the judgment, for the full amount claimed by the plaintiff against the defendant, or in case the plaintiff has a judgment against the defendant, for the full amount of the plaintiff's unpaid judgment against the defendant with all accruing interest and costs as prescribed in RCW 6.27.090: PROVIDED, That upon motion by the garnishee at any time within seven days following service on, or mailing to, the garnishee of a copy of the first writ of execution or writ of garnishment under such judgment, the judgment against the garnishee shall be reduced to the amount of any nonexempt funds or property which was actually in the possession of the garnishee at the time the writ was served, plus the cumulative amount of the nonexempt earnings subject to the lien provided for in RCW 6.27.350, or the sum of one hundred dollars, whichever is more, but in no event to exceed the full amount claimed by the plaintiff or the amount of the unpaid judgment against the principal defendant with all accruing interest and costs and attorney's fees as prescribed in RCW 6.27.090, plus the accruing interest and costs and attorneys' fees as prescribed in RCW 6.27.090 for any garnishment on the judgment against the garnishee, and in addition the plaintiff shall be entitled to a reasonable attorney's fee for the plaintiff's response to the garnishee's motion to reduce said judgment against the garnishee under this proviso and the court may allow additional attorney's fees for other actions taken because of the garnishee's failure to answer.
[ 2012 c 159 s 11; 2003 c 222 s 9; 1997 c 296 s 6; 1988 c 231 s 31; 1987 c 442 s 1020; 1970 ex.s. c 61 s 10; 1969 ex.s. c 264 s 19. Formerly RCW 7.33.190.]

Notes:

Rules of court: CR 55, JCR 55.
Severability—1988 c 231: See note following RCW 6.01.050.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1988–2026 · leading case: Bour v. Johnson, 864 P.2d 380 (Wash. 1993).
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Bour v. Johnson, 864 P.2d 380 (Wash. 1993). · cites it 9× “350" as required by RCW 6.27.200. The Court of Appeals held the automatic stay did not prevent those earnings from being included in the reduced amount because the judgment did not affect property of the debtor.”
Nationwide Ins. Enter. v. Ibanez, 246 S.W.3d 883 (Ark. 2007). · cites it 8× “39, pursuant to Wash. Rev. Code § 6.27.200 (2003). On October 20, 2005, Nationwide registered the Washington judgment in the Benton County Circuit Court, and the clerk of the Benton County Circuit Court sent a notice of filing a foreign judgment to Wal-Mart.”
Watkins v. Peterson Enter., Inc., 973 P.2d 1037 (Wash. 1999). · cites it 12× “If a judgment creditor serves a writ of garnishment upon a garnishee defendant, and the garnishee defendant does not answer the writ in a timely manner, and the judgment creditor does not obtain a default judgment against the garnishee defendant pursuant to RCW 6.27.200, may the…”
Bour v. Johnson, 910 P.2d 548 (Wash. Ct. App. 1996). · cites it 5× “In aid of execution of the judgment, Bour served a writ of garnishment on Deep Pacific, who owed the employee wages.”
Shreve v. Chamberlin, 832 P.2d 1355 (Wash. Ct. App. 1992). · cites it 6× “Scott does not dispute that during the next 7 days, it could have moved to reduce the judgment to the amount it owed Chamberlin, RCW 6.27.200, and that *730 it failed to do so.”
Watkins v. Peterson Enter., Inc., 973 P.2d 1037 (Wash. 1999). · cites it 12× “If a judgment creditor serves a writ of garnishment upon a garnishee defendant, and the garnishee defendant does not answer the writ in a timely manner, and the judgment creditor does not obtain a default judgment against the garnishee defendant pursuant to RCW 6.27.200, may the…”
Graves v. Duerden, 754 P.2d 1027 (Wash. Ct. App. 1988). “RCW 6.27.200. 4 RCW 7.20.100: "If any loss or injury to a party in an action, suit or proceeding prejudicial to his rights therein, have been caused by the contempt, the court or judicial officer, in addition to the punishment imposed for the contempt, may give judgment that the…”
Kenosha Hosp. & Med. Ctr. v. Garcia, 2004 WI 105 (Wis. 2004). · cites it 2× “, Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 6.27.200 (West 2003) (on garnishee's failure to answer writ of garnishment within requisite time provided, with proper notice, court may enter default judgment against garnishee for full amount claimed by plaintiff creditor against defendant debtor);…”
P.s.c., Inc., V. Purdys Pub. House, Llc (Wash. Ct. App. 2026). · cites it 20× “200 because Purdys filed the motion to reduce judgment within seven days after it received the writ of garnishment that P.”
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