Garnishment for Washington Employers

Westwood Pacific Law attorney Jeff Smoot is something of an expert on garnishment practice. Before becoming an attorney, Jeff worked as a litigation paralegal for more than 15 years, which included managing a consumer collection portfolio with more than 300 active cases that involved processing writs of garnishment to banks and employers on an almost daily basis. It also included handling phone calls from bewildered employers who had no idea how to respond to a writ of garnishment.

To help guide employers through the process, Jeff prepared a written how-to guide that he shared whenever a payroll clerk needed help answering a writ. At first it was a one-page outline, that was later published as an article in the Daily Journal of Commerce, and eventually updated and published as a legal guide on Avvo.com. In 2018, Jeff turned his legal guide into a book, Garnishment for Washington Employers: A Practical Guide to Garnishment Practice, Procedure, and Issues, that explains the Washington garnishment process from start to finish and provides step-by-step instructions to help employers respond to a writ of garnishment.

"It's a valuable resource for employers who don't deal with garnishments every day," Jeff says. "They are usually not familiar with the process and most likely to make a mistake."

It is also a practical guide for attorneys, who are often unfamiliar with the garnishment process when representing employers who have to respond to writs.

Jeff's book, which includes sample forms and practice tips, is available on Amazon ($9.95), although (hint) he gives a free copy to his business clients who ask for one.

https://www.amazon.com/Garnishment-Washington-Employers-Practical-Procedure/dp/179048961X

This blog is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or an offer of representation. No attorney-client relationship is intended or created by this article. If you wish to obtain legal representation, please contact Westwood Pacific Law PLLC at (206) 420-2466 or westwoodlawoffice@gmail.com.

Note: The 2018 edition is out of date. Garnishment and exemption statutes listed in the 2018 edition have been updated since publication; please review RCW 6.13, 6.15, and 6.27 for current law. Jeff is working on a second edition that is scheduled for publication in 2025. Stay tuned!