Rule 3148.Content of judgment against garnishee; execution.
Adopted March 30, 1960 · Last amended March 30, 1960 · Last verified June 30, 2026
In one sentenceA judgment against a garnishee takes the form of a money judgment for a debt owed, a specification of other property held, or a charging order against a partnership interest, and the rule sets out how the plaintiff executes on each.
(a)A judgment entered against the garnishee under Rules 3146(b) or 3147, shall
(1)be in the form of a money judgment if the garnishee owes a debt to the defendant;
(2)specify any other property of the defendant in the possession of the garnishee; and
(3)be in the form of a charging order in the case of attachment against a partnership interest.
(b)If a money judgment is entered against the garnishee the plaintiff may have execution against the garnishee generally for the amount of the judgment.
(c)If judgment is entered against the garnishee for specific property of the defendant determined to be in the possession of the garnishee, the plaintiff may have execution against the property. If the garnishee fails to make the property available to the sheriff for execution, the plaintiff upon leave of court may have execution against the garnishee generally for the amount of the plaintiff’s judg- ment against the defendant, together with interest and costs, unless the garnishee shows good cause for nonproduction of the property, or that its value is less than the amount of plaintiff’s judgment, interest and costs, in which event judgment shall be entered for the lesser amount.
(d)If the garnishee is found to have a lien upon the property, the rights of all parties may be enforced by a conditional verdict or order.
Plain-English Summary
Once judgment is entered against a garnishee, this rule says what that judgment looks like and how it is enforced.
The judgment is a money judgment if the garnishee owes the defendant a debt, specifies any other property of the defendant in the garnishee’s possession, and takes the form of a charging order when the attachment is against a partnership interest. On a money judgment the plaintiff may execute against the garnishee generally.
For specific property, the plaintiff executes against the property; if the garnishee fails to produce it, the plaintiff may, by leave of court, execute against the garnishee generally for the plaintiff’s judgment unless the garnishee shows good cause or that the property is worth less, in which case judgment is for the lesser amount. A garnishee found to hold a lien can have its rights enforced by a conditional verdict or order.
Frequently Asked Questions
What form does a judgment against a garnishee take?
A money judgment for a debt owed, a specification of other property held, or a charging order against a partnership interest.
What if the garnishee will not turn over specific property?
The plaintiff may, by leave of court, execute against the garnishee generally, unless the garnishee shows good cause or that the property is worth less.
Official Note
Official Note: Adopted March 30, 1960, effective November 1, 1960.
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:content of garnishee judgmentcharging orderexecution against garnishee