---
title: O.C.G.A. § 18-4-22. Financial institution as garnishee; failure to answer.
collection: code
id: 18-4-22
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 18-4-22 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/18-4-22
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/18-4-22.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/18-4-22/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t18-t19-(v16)-2022-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=b0848ebd_0#page=220
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/18-4.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/18-4-21.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: DEBTOR AND CREDITOR / GARNISHMENT PROCEEDINGS / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 18-4-22. Financial institution as garnishee; failure to answer.

When a garnishee is a financial institution and fails or refuses to file a garnishee answer by the fifteenth day after the date of service of the summons of garnishment, such garnishee shall automatically be in default. The default may be opened as a matter of right by the filing of a garnishee answer within 15 days of the day of default and payment of costs. If the case is still in default after the expiration of the period of 15 days, judgment by default may be entered at any time thereafter against such garnishee for the amount remaining due on the judgment obtained against the defendant as shown in the plaintiff’s affidavit of garnishment.

## History

Code 1981, § 18-4-22, enacted by Ga. L. 2016, p. 8, § 1/SB 255.

## Law Reviews

For note discussing default by the garnishee, see 12 Ga. L. Rev. 814 (1978).