§ 48-3-12 — Issuance of garnishments by tax collectors and tax commissioners; proceedings

(a) When any tax collector or tax commissioner can find no property belonging to a defendant on which to levy any tax execution in his hands, he shall make an entry to that effect on the execution. The tax collector or tax commissioner then may issue summons of garnishment against any person whom he believes to be indebted to the defendant or who has property, money, or effects in his hands belonging to the defendant. The summons of garnishment shall be served by the tax collector, tax commissioner, the sheriff, the sheriff's deputy, or any constable of the county in which the garnishee resides. The summons shall be served at least 15 days before the sitting of the court to which the summons is made returnable and shall be returned to either the superior court or the state court of the county in which the tax collector or tax commissioner holds office. (b) The tax collector or tax commissioner shall enter on the execution the names of the persons garnished and shall return the execution to the appropriate court. All subsequent proceedings shall be the same as provided by law regarding garnishments in other cases when judgment has been obtained or execution issued.