1. Wait for the appeal period, then ask in writing
Many states give the losing side a short window to appeal or ask for a new hearing; collection usually has to wait until it passes. Then send a short letter with a copy of the judgment and a payment deadline. Many people pay at this point because the next steps add costs and can hurt their credit.
2. Find out what they own
Most states let you make the debtor come to court and answer questions under oath about their job, bank accounts and property. It's called a debtor's examination or similar. It tells you where to aim the next step.
3. Garnish wages
If the debtor has a job, the court can order the employer to send you part of each paycheck until the judgment is paid. Federal law caps how much can be taken, and some states protect more, but for steady earners this is usually the most reliable tool.
4. Levy a bank account
A sheriff or marshal can take money from the debtor's bank account up to the amount owed. Some money is protected, such as Social Security and certain benefits.
5. Put a lien on property
Recording the judgment with the county creates a lien on real estate the debtor owns. They usually can't sell or refinance without paying you first. It's slow, but judgments last for years and can often be renewed.
6. When they pay, close it out
Once you're paid in full, you're generally expected to file a satisfaction of judgment with the court: in some states automatically, in others when the debtor asks for it. Some states set a deadline and a penalty for not doing it.
Collection rules in every state
| State | How to collect |
|---|---|
| Alabama | The court doesn't collect for you. After the judgment, you can ask for a garnishment of wages or a bank account, or a writ of execution on property. A judgment lasts 10 years and can be recorded in the probate office as a lien. |
| Alaska | The court doesn't collect for you. If they don't pay, ask for a Writ of Execution to take money from wages, a bank account, or the debtor's Permanent Fund Dividend. |
| Arizona | If they don't pay, use a judgment debtor exam, wage or bank garnishment, or a writ of execution. Judgments last 10 years; file a satisfaction of judgment within 30 days once you're paid. |
| Arkansas | The court doesn't collect for you. Ten days after judgment you can garnish wages (up to 25% of net pay) or a bank account, or ask for a writ of execution on property. |
| California | The court doesn't collect for you. If they don't pay, you can use wage garnishment or a bank levy. |
| Colorado | The court doesn't collect for you. You can ask the court to make the debtor answer questions about income and property (JDF 252), then use a writ of garnishment on wages or a bank account. |
| Connecticut | The court doesn't collect for you. Ask for an execution ($105) so a state marshal can take wages, bank accounts or other property, or record a judgment lien on real estate. Executions can be used for 10 years. |
| Delaware | The court doesn't collect for you. If they don't pay, you can ask for wage attachment or a writ of execution so a constable can take property. Wage attachment is limited by Delaware law. |
| District of Columbia | The court doesn't collect for you. If they don't pay, you can ask for a writ to garnish wages or a bank account, or have the U.S. Marshal seize property. A judge can also set up installment payments. |
| Florida | If they don't pay, record the judgment as a lien, ask the clerk for a writ of execution, or garnish wages or bank accounts. The judge can order the debtor to fill out a Fact Information Sheet. |
| Georgia | After a contested judgment, wait 10 days, then ask for a writ of fieri facias (fi.fa.) and record it to create a lien. Then garnish wages or a bank account or ask the sheriff to levy property. |
| Hawaii | The court doesn't collect for you. If they don't pay, you can garnish wages or a bank account. File a Satisfaction of Judgment once you're paid. |
| Idaho | The court doesn't collect for you. If they don't pay, you can ask for a writ of execution or garnish wages or a bank account; lawyers can help with collection. |
| Illinois | If they don't pay, use a citation to discover assets, wage deduction, bank garnishment, or a lien on real estate. The judge can order installment payments. Judgments can be enforced for 7 years. |
| Indiana | The court doesn't collect for you. If they don't pay, file proceedings supplemental to make the debtor come to court and answer about their income and property. That can lead to wage garnishment or a bank levy. |
| Iowa | The court doesn't collect for you. If they don't pay, you can ask for a writ of execution, garnish wages or a bank account, or have the debtor examined about their assets. |
| Kansas | The court doesn't collect for you. Within 14 days after judgment, mail the debtor the Statement of Assets form; they must return it within 30 days. Then you can garnish wages or a bank account. |
| Kentucky | The court doesn't collect for you. Starting 10 days after judgment you can garnish wages or a bank account, ask the sheriff to seize property, or record a judgment lien. Small claims judgments can be enforced for 15 years. |
| Louisiana | The court doesn't collect for you. If they don't pay, you can ask for a judgment debtor exam, garnish wages or a bank account, or have the marshal or constable seize property. |
| Maine | The court doesn't collect for you. If they don't pay, ask for a disclosure hearing where the debtor must explain income and assets; the judge can order payments, and later steps include wage withholding and civil arrest. |
| Maryland | The court doesn't collect for you. If they don't pay, you can garnish wages or a bank account, or record a lien on real estate. |
| Massachusetts | The court doesn't collect for you, but if they don't pay you can ask for a payment hearing, where the court can order payments and hold a debtor who can pay but refuses in contempt. |
| Michigan | The court doesn't collect for you. Starting 21 days after the judgment, you can garnish wages or bank accounts or seize property; each step needs its own forms and fees. |
| Minnesota | The court doesn't collect for you. Wait 20 days after the decision is mailed, then have the judgment entered in District Court so you can garnish wages or a bank account or have the sheriff levy property. |
| Mississippi | The court doesn't collect for you. If they don't pay, you can ask the clerk about wage or bank garnishment, which has its own fee. |
| Missouri | The court doesn't collect for you. If no appeal is filed within 10 days, you can ask for wage or bank garnishment with a Request for Execution. A small claims judgment doesn't become a lien on real estate. |
| Montana | The court doesn't collect for you. You can ask for a writ of execution, put a lien on the debtor's property, or use a collection agency. |
| Nebraska | The court doesn't collect for you. If they don't pay, you can use garnishment or other collection steps through the county court. |
| Nevada | The court doesn't collect for you. After judgment you can use wage garnishment or a bank levy through the constable or sheriff. |
| New Hampshire | The defendant has 30 days to pay. If they don't, you can ask for a periodic payment hearing ($25), and later contempt or an arrest order if they skip it. You can also put a lien on their real estate. |
| New Jersey | If they don't pay, ask for a writ of execution to levy a bank account or property, or a wage execution. Unpaid car-accident judgments over $500 can lead to license suspension. |
| New Mexico | The court doesn't collect for you. If they don't pay, you can ask for a writ of execution to seize property or a writ of garnishment for wages or a bank account. |
| New York | The court doesn't collect for you. In NYC, hire a City Marshal or the Sheriff to garnish wages or bank accounts. Judgments last 20 years and earn 9% interest a year. |
| North Carolina | After the 10-day appeal period, ask the clerk for a writ of execution so the sheriff can seize non-exempt property. Judgments last 10 years and can be renewed once. |
| North Dakota | The loser has 30 days from the Notice of Entry of Judgment to pay. After that, you can use a writ of execution through the sheriff, a lien on real estate (not the home), or wage garnishment. |
| Ohio | If the judgment is unpaid after 30 days, ask the court to order the debtor to list assets. Then use wage or bank garnishment, a lien on real estate, or property seizure. |
| Oklahoma | If they don't pay, you can ask for a hearing on assets, garnish wages or a bank account, or have the sheriff seize property. |
| Oregon | The court doesn't collect for you. If they don't pay, you can use a writ of garnishment on wages or a bank account, or ask the court to order the debtor to come in and answer questions about their assets. |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania generally doesn't allow wage garnishment for ordinary debts. After 30 days, ask for an Order of Execution so a constable can seize property, or transfer the judgment to create a lien on real estate. |
| Rhode Island | If they don't pay, you can ask for a writ of execution, a wage attachment, or a hearing about their ability to pay (citation in supplementary proceedings). |
| South Carolina | Record the judgment with the Clerk of Court (about $35) to make it a lien for 10 years, then ask for an execution against property. South Carolina generally doesn't allow wage garnishment for ordinary debts. |
| South Dakota | The court records the judgment as a lien but doesn't collect for you. After 30 days you can ask the sheriff to seize property (execution) or use garnishment. |
| Tennessee | After the 10-day appeal period, ask the clerk for wage garnishment (up to 25% of disposable pay), a bank levy or a writ of execution, or record a lien on real estate. Judgments last 10 years and can be renewed. |
| Texas | If they don't pay, ask for a writ of execution, file an abstract of judgment to put a lien on real estate, or garnish a bank account. Wages generally can't be garnished in Texas. |
| Utah | The court doesn't collect for you. If they don't pay, you can garnish wages or bank accounts or seize property. |
| Vermont | The court doesn't collect for you. If they don't pay within 30 days, ask for a financial disclosure hearing, wage garnishment (trustee process) or a writ of execution. |
| Virginia | If they don't pay, use a Summons to Answer Interrogatories (DC-440), wage or bank garnishment (DC-451), a writ to seize property, or a lien on real estate. |
| Washington | If the loser doesn't pay within 30 days, you can garnish wages or bank accounts or seize property, and the judge can add collection costs. Judgments can be enforced for 10 years. |
| West Virginia | The court doesn't collect for you. If they don't pay, you can ask for an execution against property or a suggestion (garnishment) of wages or bank accounts. |
| Wisconsin | The court doesn't collect for you. You can docket the judgment, garnish wages, or ask for a writ of execution against property. |
| Wyoming | The court doesn't collect for you. If they don't pay, ask the clerk about garnishment or execution against property. |
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