Oregon Code § 18.780·Enacted ·Last updated March 01, 2026
Statute Text
Pleadings; default judgment.
(1) If the court orders a garnishee to appear for a hearing under ORS 18.782,
the garnishor must serve upon the garnishee written allegations not less than
20 days before the time set for the hearing or within such time as may be
specified in the order. The allegations must inform the garnishee that if the
garnishee fails to answer the allegations not less than 10 days before the time
when the garnishee is required to appear for hearing, default judgment may be
given against the garnishee for an amount no greater than the judgment against
the debtor, plus any costs awarded by the court in the proceeding. The
garnishor may also serve upon the garnishee, not less than 20 days before the
time set for the hearing or within such time as may be specified in the order,
written interrogatories concerning matters relating to the garnishment.
(2) Unless
further time is allowed for good cause, not less than 10 days before the time
when the garnishee is required to appear for hearing, the garnishee must file
with the court an answer to the allegations and interrogatories of the
garnishor and deliver a true copy of the answer to the garnishor. The answer
shall be on oath and shall contain a full response to all of the allegations
and interrogatories.
(3) The garnishor
may except to the answer of the garnishee for insufficiency, within such time
as may be allowed by the court. If the answer is adjudged insufficient, the
garnishee may be allowed to amend the answer.
(4) If the
garnishee fails to answer as required under subsection (2) of this section, the
creditor may have judgment against the garnishee for want of answer. In no case
shall default judgment be given against the garnishee for an amount greater
than the judgment against the debtor, plus any costs awarded by the court in
the proceeding. The judgment provided for in this subsection is in lieu of any
judgment under ORS 18.775. Any amounts other than costs collected from a
garnishee under a judgment entered pursuant to this subsection must be credited
against the debt owed by the debtor to the creditor. [2001 c.249 §53]