(a) When the garnishee, by his answer as originally filed or by any supplemental answer thereafter, alleges, at any time before final judgment against him, that he has been notified that another person claims title to, or an interest in, the debt, demand, money, or effects which, by his answer, he has admitted to be due or owing or to be in his possession, the clerk must issue notice to the suggested claimant to appear within 30 days after service of the notice and propound his claim and contest with the plaintiff the right to such debt, demand, money or effects.
lawyer at desk

Ask a litigation question, get an answer ASAP!
Thousands of highly rated, verified litigation lawyers.
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

Terms Used In Alabama Code 6-6-463

  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Garnishment: Generally, garnishment is a court proceeding in which a creditor asks a court to order a third party who owes money to the debtor or otherwise holds assets belonging to the debtor to turn over to the creditor any of the debtor
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • writing: includes typewriting and printing on paper. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
(b) If he appears, he must be required to propound his claim in writing and make oath thereto, upon which the plaintiff must take issue in law or in fact, and the issue in fact must be tried by a jury, if required by either party. If the issue is found for the plaintiff, judgment must be entered against the garnishee on his answer or, if for the contestant, the garnishee must be discharged.
(c) If the contestant is a nonresident, the contest must be stayed 60 days and the same proceedings had as in the case of a nonresident defendant.
(d) If two notices to the resident contestant be returned “not found,” a judgment must be entered against the garnishee on his answer.
(e) The interposition of these collateral issues does not affect the jurisdiction of the court obtained by levy of the attachment or service of garnishment.
(f) Upon the trial of these collateral issues, either party may appeal any question, and judgment for costs must be entered against the unsuccessful party.
  Previous section
Next section  
 Division 5 Contents