How to Serve a Writ of Garnishment or Execution in Washington (RCW 6.27)

How Writs of Garnishment Work in Washington Under Chapter 6.27 RCW

Once a creditor obtains a money judgment in a Washington Superior Court or District Court, the most effective post-judgment collection tool is a Writ of Garnishment under Chapter 6.27 RCW. Washington recognizes two primary types of garnishment writs: a non-continuing Writ of Garnishment (commonly used to freeze and capture funds held in a bank or credit union account on the exact date and hour of service) and a Writ of Garnishment for Continuing Lien on Earnings (used to garnish a judgment debtor's non-exempt wages from their employer for 60 calendar days under RCW 6.27.350).

Because garnishment is an extraordinary statutory remedy that freezes third-party property, Washington courts require strict compliance with the service, fee-tendering, and debtor-notice rules of RCW 6.27.110 and RCW 6.27.130.

Serving the Garnishee (Bank or Employer) Under RCW 6.27.110

Under RCW 6.27.110(1), service of a Writ of Garnishment upon the garnishee (the bank, credit union, or employer) is invalid unless you serve the complete statutory packet together with the writ: (1) the original or certified copy of the Writ of Garnishment, (2) a First Answer form (as prescribed in RCW 6.27.190) for the garnishee to complete, and (3) a stamped return envelope addressed to the clerk of the court that issued the writ (plus an additional envelope addressed to the plaintiff's attorney or plaintiff).

Furthermore, under RCW 6.27.110(2), whenever a Writ of Garnishment is served on a bank, savings and loan association, or credit union, the server MUST tender a statutory $20.00 Answer Fee (by check or money order payable to the financial institution) at the time of service. Note: for a continuing wage garnishment served on an employer, the $20.00 fee is no longer required upfront; instead, the employer is authorized to deduct a processing fee from the debtor's earnings under RCW 6.27.340.

Why Personal Service Beats Certified Mail for Bank Garnishments

Although RCW 6.27.110 allows serving a garnishee by certified mail, collection attorneys strongly prefer personal hand-delivery by a registered process server—especially for bank account garnishments. Why? Because under RCW 6.27.120(1), a bank garnishment captures funds in the debtor's account at the exact moment the writ is served (plus the next business day).

If you mail a writ via USPS Certified Mail, delivery can take 4 to 7 days, and if the debtor receives their copy first, they will immediately empty their bank account via Zelle or ATM withdrawal before the bank processes the certified mailroom bin. When our process server hand-delivers the Writ of Garnishment and $20.00 check to the bank's designated Washington registered agent (such as C T Corporation System in Olympia for JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and U.S. Bank) or to a local Washington credit union branch manager, the exact hour and minute of service is locked in immediately.

Mandatory Notice to the Judgment Debtor Under RCW 6.27.130 & RCW 6.27.140

Whenever you serve a Writ of Garnishment on a bank or employer and the judgment debtor is an individual human being, RCW 6.27.130 imposes a strict concurrent notice requirement. On or before the day of service of the writ on the garnishee—or within 2 business days after service on the garnishee—you must mail (by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the debtor's last known residence) OR personally serve upon the judgment debtor:

• A copy of the Writ of Garnishment • A copy of the Application (Affidavit) for the Writ of Garnishment • If the debtor is an individual, the mandatory Notice of Garnishment and of Your Rights AND the Exemption Claim Form exactly as formatted in RCW 6.27.140.

Our office routinely coordinates synchronized two-part garnishment dispatches: serving the bank or employer on Day 1 and simultaneously serving or mailing the RCW 6.27.130 debtor exemption packet so your garnishment lien is 100% bulletproof.