§ 16-110-407 - Failure of garnishee to answer. - Arkansas Statutes

16-110-407. Failure of garnishee to answer.

(a) If any garnishee, after having been duly served with a writ of garnishment, shall neglect or refuse to answer the interrogatories exhibited to him or her, on or before twenty (20) days after service of the writ, the court, upon motion of the plaintiff, may issue a notice to the garnishee, requiring him or her to appear personally at a hearing not later than ten (10) days after receipt of said notice or at such other later date as the court may fix and answer the allegations and interrogatories of the plaintiff. Service of the notice may be made either by the clerk, or by the plaintiff, by any method prescribed by Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure for service of notice.

(b) The court, after hearing and reviewing the evidence and testimony of both parties, may then render judgment against the garnishee in such amount, if any, as the court finds the garnishee held at the time of service of the writ of garnishment, of any goods, chattels, wages, credits and effects belonging to the defendant, not otherwise exempt under state or federal law; together with attorney's fees and such other reasonable expenses incurred by the plaintiff, as the court may deem appropriate under the facts and circumstances.