(a) The procedure between the plaintiff and the garnishee shall, as far as practicable, be the same as though the interrogatories were a complaint and the answer of the garnishee were an answer in a civil action.
Rule 3145.Interrogatories; procedure.
Adopted March 30, 1960 · Last amended April 12, 1999 · Last verified June 30, 2026
In one sentenceGarnishment interrogatories are handled as if they were a complaint and the garnishee’s answer were an answer in a civil action, and under new matter the garnishee may raise exemption or immunity, its own defenses or counterclaims against the defendant, and claims against the plaintiff.
Full Text of Rule 3145
(b) The garnishee in the answer under ‘‘new matter’’ may include
(1) the defenses of the immunity or exemption of property;
(2) any defense or counterclaim which the garnishee could assert against the defendant if sued by the defendant but the garnishee may not assert any defense on behalf of the defendant against the plaintiff or otherwise attack the validity of the attachment;
(3) any claim which the garnishee could assert against the plaintiff if sued by the plaintiff.
Plain-English Summary
This rule treats the garnishment exchange like ordinary pleadings. The interrogatories function as a complaint and the garnishee’s answer as an answer, so far as practicable.
In the answer’s new matter, the garnishee may include the defenses of immunity or exemption of property, any defense or counterclaim it could assert against the defendant if sued by the defendant, and any claim it could assert against the plaintiff if sued by the plaintiff.
One limit matters: the garnishee may not assert a defense on the defendant’s behalf against the plaintiff or otherwise attack the validity of the attachment through these defenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the garnishment dispute litigated?
As far as practicable, the interrogatories are treated as a complaint and the garnishee’s answer as an answer in a civil action.
What can the garnishee raise in its answer?
Exemption or immunity of property, its own defenses or counterclaims against the defendant, and claims it could assert against the plaintiff.
Official Note
Official Note: Objections to the attachment, other than the defenses of immunity or exemp- tion, must be raised preliminarily. See Rule 3142.
Amendment History
The provisions of this Rule 3145 adopted March 30, 1960, effective November 1, 1960; amended December 16, 1983, effective July 1, 1984, 13 Pa.B. 3999; amended April 12, 1999, effective July 1, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 2281. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (243922).
Source & verification. Rule text, the Official Note, and the amendment
history are reproduced verbatim from the Pennsylvania Code, Title 231, the official compilation
of rules adopted by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Last verified June 30, 2026. ·
Official text
Also known as: interrogatories proceduregarnishee answernew matter garnishee