If any garnishee, having been duly summoned, shall fail to file and deliver or mail the answer as required by Sections 1172.2, 1178, 1178.1 or 1178.2 of this title, to appear for deposition or to answer interrogatories as provided in Section 1183 of this title, the court shall enter an order to the garnishee to file and deliver or mail the answer, to appear for deposition, or to answer the interrogatories within a time prescribed by the court, not to be less than seven (7) days, in the order and also to deliver within the same period of time to the court or the judgment creditor any money or property of defendant that the garnishee is required to pay or deliver under this title. The court shall also direct the manner in which notice of the order shall be given to the garnishee. The order for giving notice shall specify a manner of giving notice which is calculated to be most likely to give actual notice to the garnishee or its managing officers, directors, or agents. The order shall specifically inform the garnishee that the garnishee has failed to respond to the summons and shall specifically advise the garnishee that judgment will be rendered against it in the principal amount of the judgment against the defendant plus costs, which amounts will be specified, upon failure to conform with the requirements of the order. If the garnishee shall fail to file and deliver or mail the answer affidavit as required in the order, appear for deposition, or to answer interrogatories as provided in the order, then the court shall render judgment against the garnishee for the amount of the judgment and costs due the judgment creditor from the defendant in the principal action together with the costs of the garnishment, including a reasonable attorney's fee to the judgment creditor for prosecuting the garnishment. The garnishee may also be subject to punishment for contempt; provided, however, the court shall have power to vacate or modify any order issued pursuant to this section in the manner provided in Sections 1031 or 1031.1 of this title.
§ 1179.Failure of Garnishee to Answer
Chapter 21: Garnishment and Attachment · Last amended November 1, 1995 · Last verified August 3, 2026
In one sentenceSection 1179 lets the court order a garnishee who missed the answer, deposition, or interrogatory deadline to comply within at least seven more days, warning that judgment for the full amount owed will follow noncompliance, and authorizes that judgment plus attorney's fees and contempt if the garnishee still fails.
Full Text of § 1179
Amendment History
R.L. 1910, § 4829; Amended by Laws 1965, HB 877, c. 297, § 9; Amended by Laws 1976, HB 1927, c. 87, § 8, emerg. eff. 5/4/1976; Amended by Laws 1992, HB 2118, c. 156, § 1, eff. 9/1/1992; Amended by Laws 1995, HB 1324, c. 338, § 12, eff. 11/1/1995.
Plain-English Summary
A garnishee who ignores a summons doesn't get to walk away from the debt. Section 1179 lets the court, once a duly summoned garnishee fails to file and deliver or mail the required answer, appear for deposition, or answer interrogatories, order the garnishee to do so within a court-set deadline of at least seven days, and to hand over any money or property owed to the defendant within that same window. The court decides how to notify the garnishee, choosing whatever method is most likely to reach the garnishee or its officers, directors, or agents, and the order must warn the garnishee that judgment will follow, for the full amount of the underlying judgment plus costs, if the garnishee still doesn't comply.
If the garnishee keeps failing to answer, appear, or respond to interrogatories as the order directs, the court renders judgment against the garnishee for the amount of the judgment and costs owed by the defendant, plus the costs of the garnishment itself, including a reasonable attorney's fee for prosecuting it. The garnishee can also face contempt. The court retains the power to vacate or modify an order under this section the same way it can vacate or modify other judgments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if a garnishee just ignores a garnishment summons in Oklahoma?
The court can order the garnishee to answer, appear for deposition, or respond to interrogatories within at least seven days, warning that judgment for the full underlying debt will follow if the garnishee still doesn't comply.
Can a garnishee be held liable for the entire judgment against the defendant?
Yes, if the garnishee keeps failing to answer or respond after the court's order, the court can render judgment against the garnishee for the full amount owed by the defendant, plus costs and a reasonable attorney's fee.
Can a noncompliant garnishee face contempt?
Yes. Section 1179 says the garnishee may also be subject to punishment for contempt.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes, enacted by the Oklahoma Legislature.
Last verified August 3, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: garnishee failed to answer oklahomajudgment against garnishee oklahoma12 O.S. § 1179