Section 15-10-50. Propounding of interrogatories to judgment debtor; form; contempt; authorized discovery procedures

   (a) In aid of any judgment or execution issued by any court in this state upon which the unpaid balance does not exceed the jurisdictional amount for civil claims in magistrate court as provided in paragraph (5) of Code Section 15-10-2, the judgment creditor or his successor in interest when that interest appears of record, may, in addition to any other process or remedy provided by law, examine the judgment debtor by propounding the interrogatories specified in this Code section in the manner provided in this Code section.

(b) If the judgment or execution concerning which interrogatories are being propounded was issued by the magistrate court, the judgment creditor may, after the entry of judgment, file the form interrogatories specified in this Code section with the clerk of the same magistrate court, along with costs of $10.00. Interrogatories filed under this subsection shall be served upon the judgment debtor by certified mail or statutory overnight delivery.

(c) Interrogatories propounded pursuant to a judgment entered in any other court shall be filed as a new civil action and shall be accompanied by the filing and service fees required for civil actions in that magistrate court. Interrogatories propounded under this subsection shall be served upon the judgment debtor in the manner provided for service of process in civil actions in magistrate court.

(d) The interrogatories, verification, and notice shall be in substantially the following form:
 
 
                      Magistrate Court of                County                       
                               State of Georgia                                
 
 
 
 

                  
 
   Plaintiff                 Current Civil Action
                                      File No.         
 
   Address
                  
 
 
 

 
       v.                    Original Civil Action
 
                             File No.         
                  
 
   Defendant                 Court where original
 
                             judgment entered:
                                                
 
   Address
                  
 
 
                                INTERROGATORIES                                

      TO:         , Defendant in the above-styled action:
      The Plaintiff in the above-styled action requests that you answer the 
   following interrogatories separately, fully, and under oath and serve such 
   answers on said plaintiff at plaintiff's address shown above by mail or 
   hand delivery within 30 days after the service of these interrogatories.
         1. List your full name, home phone number, and address, including 
      apartment number and ZIP Code.
         2. List the name, address, and phone number of your employer(s).
         3. Describe and state the location of each piece of real estate in 
      which you own any interest.
         4. Give the name, address, phone number, and a description of the 
      nature of any business venture in which you own any interest.
         5. List the names, addresses, and phone numbers of all persons who 
      owe money to you and specify the amounts owed.
         6. List the names and addresses of all banks or savings institutions 
      where you have any sums of money deposited and identify the accounts by 
      number.
         7. List and give the present location of all items of personal 
      property owned by you that have a value of more than $100.00.
 
 
                                 VERIFICATION                                  

   STATE OF GEORGIA, COUNTY OF                                                
              , being first duly sworn on oath, says the foregoing are true 
   and complete answers to the interrogatories propounded by plaintiff to 
   defendant.
 
 
 

   Sworn and subscribed
   before me, this    
   day of    ,     .
 
 
 

                                                                               
   Notary public                                                      Defendant
   or attesting
   official
 
 
                                    NOTICE                                     

      YOU ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE COMPLETE ANSWERS TO THE ABOVE-STATED 
   QUESTIONS TO THE PLAINTIFF WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER SERVICE OF THESE 
   INTERROGATORIES UPON YOU. IF YOU DO NOT ANSWER, OR DO NOT ANSWER 
   COMPLETELY, YOU MAY BECOME SUBJECT TO THE SANCTIONS PROVIDED BY LAW FOR 
   CONTEMPT OF COURT. IF YOU NEED FURTHER INSTRUCTION OR IF YOU NEED 
   ASSISTANCE IN ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS CONTACT THE COURT AT ONCE.

(e) The court in its discretion may limit the number of times interrogatories may be propounded upon a judgment debtor, may relieve a judgment debtor of the obligation to answer one or more propounded interrogatories, and may for good cause shown enlarge the time for answering any interrogatory. The court may if necessary compel the answering of interrogatories, but the sanction of contempt shall be applied only after notice and an opportunity for hearing and a showing of willful failure to answer or willful failure to answer fully and truthfully.

(f) An evasive or incomplete answer to an interrogatory shall be treated as a failure to answer.

(g) Notwithstanding the provisions of Code Section 15-10-42, the judgment creditor or a successor in interest when that interest appears of record may, in addition to any other process or remedy provided by law, utilize the discovery provisions set forth in Code Section 9-11-69.

Code 1981, § 15-10-50, enacted by Ga. L. 1985, p. 1003, § 2; Ga. L. 1988, p. 267, § 1; Ga. L. 1990, p. 886, §§ 1, 2; Ga. L. 1996, p. 365, § 1; Ga. L. 1999, p. 81, § 15; Ga. L. 2000, p. 1589, § 3; Ga. L. 2008, p. 824, § 5/HB 958.