Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 6.27.350 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026

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(1) Where the garnishee's answer to a garnishment for a continuing lien reflects that the defendant is employed by the garnishee, the judgment or balance due thereon as reflected on the writ of garnishment shall become a lien on earnings due at the time of the effective date of the writ, as defined in this subsection, to the extent that they are not exempt from garnishment, and such lien shall continue as to subsequent nonexempt earnings until the total subject to the lien equals the amount stated on the writ of garnishment or until the expiration of the employer's payroll period ending on or before sixty days after the effective date of the writ, whichever occurs first, except that such lien on subsequent earnings shall terminate sooner if the employment relationship is terminated or if the underlying judgment is vacated, modified, or satisfied in full or if the writ is dismissed. The "effective date" of a writ is the date of service of the writ if there is no previously served writ; otherwise, it is the date of termination of a previously served writ or writs.

(2) At the time of the expected termination of the lien, the plaintiff shall mail to the garnishee one copy of the answer form prescribed in RCW 6.27.340. The plaintiff shall replace the text of section I of the answer form with a statement in substantially the following form: "ANSWER SECTION II OF THIS FORM WITH RESPECT TO THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF EARNINGS WITHHELD UNDER THIS GARNISHMENT, INCLUDING THE AMOUNT, IF ANY, STATED IN YOUR FIRST ANSWER, AND WITHIN TWENTY DAYS AFTER YOU RECEIVE THESE FORMS, MAIL OR DELIVER THEM AS DIRECTED IN THE WRIT."

Nonexempt amount due and owing stated in first answer	$ . . .
Nonexempt amount accrued since first answer	$ . . .
TOTAL AMOUNT WITHHELD	$. . . .

(3) Within twenty days of receipt of the second answer form the garnishee shall file a second answer, either in the form as provided in subsection (2) of this section, stating the total amount held subject to the garnishment, or otherwise containing the information required in subsection (2) of this section and a calculation indicating the total amount due and owing from the garnishee defendant to the defendant, the defendant's total earnings, allowable deductions, disposable earnings, exempt earnings, deductions for superior liens such as child support, and net earnings withheld under the writ.

[ 2012 c 159 s 14; 2003 c 222 s 14; 1997 c 296 s 7; 1988 c 231 s 35; 1987 c 442 s 1034; 1970 ex.s. c 61 s 7. Formerly RCW 7.33.370.]

Notes:

Severability—1988 c 231: See note following RCW 6.01.050.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 9 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1993–2026 · 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 10× “Deep Pacific contends the reduced judgment should not include Johnson's nonexempt earnings from a second fishing trip because the bankruptcy stay precluded those earnings from being "subject to the hen provided for in RCW 6.27.350" as required by RCW 6.27.200.”

Landmark Dev., Inc. v. City of Roy, 980 P.2d 1234 (Wash. 1999). “That is to say, inclusion in one chapter of the RCW excludes the same by inference in a totally different chapter. This is error. See, e.”

Nationwide Ins. Enter. v. Ibanez, 246 S.W.3d 883 (Ark. 2007). “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…”

Bartel v. Zucktriegel, 112 Wash. App. 55 (Wash. Ct. App. 2002). “RCW 6.27.350. And the statutory procedures governing garnishment must be strictly complied with.”

Watkins v. Peterson Enter., Inc., 973 P.2d 1037 (Wash. 1999). “iling to, the garnishee of a copy of a writ of execution or a 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…”

Bartel v. Zucktriegel, 47 P.3d 581 (Wash. Ct. App. 2002). “RCW 6.27.350. And the statutory procedures governing garnishment must be strictly complied with.”

Landmark Dev., Inc. v. City of Roy, 980 P.2d 1234 (Wash. 1999). “That is to say, inclusion in one chapter of the RCW excludes the same by inference in a totally different chapter.”

P.s.c., Inc., V. Purdys Pub. House, Llc (Wash. Ct. App. 2026). “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…”

— Wash. Rev. Code § 6.27.350(1) — 3 cases

Bour v. Johnson, 864 P.2d 380 (Wash. 1993). “Deep Pacific contends the reduced judgment should not include Johnson's nonexempt earnings from a second fishing trip because the bankruptcy stay precluded those earnings from being "subject to the hen provided for in RCW 6.27.350" as required by RCW 6.27.200.”

Landmark Dev., Inc. v. City of Roy, 980 P.2d 1234 (Wash. 1999). “That is to say, inclusion in one chapter of the RCW excludes the same by inference in a totally different chapter.”

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