Earlier this week, Governor Inslee issued a proclamation (akin to an executive order) that imposed a temporary moratorium on garnishments of wages and other income to collect judgments for consumer debt throughout Washington. The proclamation temporarily prohibits garnishments of wages and other income to collect judgments for consumer debt until 11:50 PM on May 14, 2020. Violation of the proclamation may result in criminal penalties.
Here’s a link to the proclamation:
https://www.governor.wa.gov/sites/default/files/proclamations/20-49%20-%20COVID-19%20Garnishment.pdf
Relatedly, the King County Clerk’s Office has advised that it temporarily will not issue writs of garnishment for any consumer debt-based judgment. Any applications for consumer debt-based writs of garnishment presented to the clerk for filing will not be accepted and will be returned to the filing party. This process will be in place in King County until May 15.
Stephen C. Willey
Steve represents plaintiffs and defendants in a wide range of commercial disputes, including intellectual property matters, business torts, contracts, securities claims, and employment-related issues. He tries cases, handles appeals, engages in ADR, and assists clients with litigation-related counseling.