Enforcing a Judgment Debt

Recovering Money under a Judgment Debt

If a court has made a decision and you do not comply with the orders made, the other person (who opposed you in court) can take action to have the decision enforced.

Enforcement of civil judgments

The most common options for enforcing a court judgment for an amount of money include a:

• garnishee order
  
• examination notice
• writ of execution, also called a writ for levy of property.

Garnishee order for Wages/Salary or Debts (Bank Account)

This is an order to a bank or employer to deduct money from the bank account or wages for the amount owing.

Examination notice

This is used to gather information about the financial circumstances of the person that owes the money.

Writ of execution or Writ for Levy of Property

This directs the sheriff to take and sell property of the person that owes the money. There are additional costs added to the amount owing when the sheriff takes action on a writ of execution.

For more information see Enforcing writs for levy of property or property seizure orders.

Further Information

For more information on the options for enforcing a judgment debt, see the Legal Aid website.