(a) At the time of service of a copy of the legal process on a third person, the levying officer shall request the third person to give the levying officer a garnishee’s memorandum containing the information required by this section. Within 10 days after the legal process is served, the third person shall mail or deliver the garnishee’s memorandum to the levying officer whether or not the levy is effective.
(b) The garnishee’s memorandum shall be executed under oath and shall contain the following information, as applicable:
(1) A description of any property of the judgment debtor sought to be levied upon that is not delivered to the levying officer and the reason for not delivering the property.
(2) A description of any property of the judgment debtor not sought to be levied upon that is in the possession or under the control of the third person at the time of levy.
(3) A statement of the amount and terms of any obligation to the judgment debtor sought to be levied upon that is due and payable and is not paid to the levying officer, and the reason for not paying the obligation.
(4) A statement of the amount and terms of any obligation to the judgment debtor sought to be levied upon that is not due and payable at the time of levy.
(5) A statement of the amount and terms of any obligation to the judgment debtor at the time of levy not sought to be levied upon.
(6) A description of claims and rights of other persons to the property or obligation levied upon that are known to the third person and the names and addresses of those other persons.
(7) A statement that the garnishee holds neither any property nor any obligations in favor of the judgment debtor.
(c) If a garnishee’s memorandum is received from the third person, the levying officer shall retain a copy and promptly mail or deliver a copy of the memorandum to the judgment creditor.
(d) Except as provided in subdivisions (e) and (f), if a third person does not give the levying officer a garnishee’s memorandum within the time provided in subdivision (a), or does not provide complete information, the third person may, in the court’s discretion, be required to pay the costs and reasonable attorney’s fees incurred in any proceedings to obtain the information required in the garnishee’s memorandum.
(e) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), when the levy is made upon a deposit account or upon property in a safe-deposit box, the financial institution need not give a garnishee’s memorandum to the levying officer if the financial institution fully complies with the levy and, if a garnishee’s memorandum is required, the garnishee’s memorandum needs to provide information with respect only to property that is carried on the records available at the office or branch where the levy is made provided that if a levy has been served at a central location designated by a financial institution in accordance with Section 684.115, the garnishee’s memorandum shall apply to all offices and branches of the financial institution except to the extent acceptance of the levy at those central locations is limited pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 684.115.
(f) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the third person need not give a garnishee’s memorandum to the levying officer if both of the following conditions are satisfied:
(1) The third person has delivered to the levying officer all of the property sought to be levied upon.
(2) The third person has paid to the levying officer the amount due at the time of levy on any obligation to the judgment debtor that was levied upon, and there is no additional amount that thereafter will become payable on the obligation levied upon.
(g) The garnishee may electronically transmit the garnishee’s memorandum to the levying officer pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 263) of Title 4 of Part 1.
(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 484, Sec. 11. (AB 2364) Effective January 1, 2013.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018