Rule 677.Costs
Last verified June 28, 2026
In one sentenceRule 677 provides that where a garnishee is discharged on its answer, the costs of the proceeding — including reasonable compensation to the garnishee — are taxed against the plaintiff.
Full Text of Rule 677
Where the garnishee is discharged upon his answer, the costs of the proceeding, including a reasonable compensation to the garnishee, shall be taxed against the plaintiff; where the answer of the garnishee has not been controverted and the garnishee is held thereon, such costs shall be taxed against the defendant and included in the execution provided for in this section; where the answer is contested, the costs shall abide the issue of such contest.
End
Plain-English Summary
Rule 677 allocates garnishment costs. Where the garnishee is discharged upon its answer, the costs of the proceeding, including a reasonable compensation to the garnishee, are taxed against the plaintiff — but where the answer is contested, the costs abide the outcome of the issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays the costs of a garnishment in Texas?
If the garnishee is discharged on its answer, the plaintiff pays the costs and the garnishee's compensation (Rule 677).
Who pays garnishment costs when the garnishee's uncontested answer shows a debt?
Rule 677 taxes those costs against the defendant and folds them into the execution.
Who pays costs when a garnishee's answer is contested in Texas?
Rule 677 has the costs follow the outcome of the contest — whoever loses the dispute over the answer pays.
Source & verification. Rule text and the official Notes and Comments are reproduced verbatim from the
Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (Tex. R. Civ. P. 677), published by the Texas Judicial Branch (txcourts.gov).
Promulgated by the Supreme Court of Texas. The plain-English summary is original and draws on official sources. Last verified June 28, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: costs garnishmentgarnishee compensationgarnishment costs against defendantcontested answer costsTRCP 677