A judgment is just a piece of paper. The writ of execution is what makes the sheriff knock on doors, freeze bank accounts, and seize property. This is how you turn a court victory into real money.
A writ of execution is a court order that directs the sheriff to enforce your money judgment. It authorizes the levying officer (typically the county sheriff or marshal) to seize the debtor's property and assets to satisfy what they owe you.
Under California Code of Civil Procedure § 699.510, you can obtain a writ of execution after your judgment becomes final and enforceable. The writ is the legal document that gives the sheriff authority to act on your behalf.
With a writ of execution, the sheriff can levy (seize) almost any non-exempt property belonging to the judgment debtor:
Getting a writ is a straightforward clerical process - no hearing required. Here's the step-by-step procedure:
Fill out the Application for and Issuance of Writ of Execution (Judicial Council Form EJ-130).
Include principal, accrued interest (10% annually), and recoverable costs.
Submit to the clerk of the court that entered your judgment. No filing fee.
Take the issued writ to the county sheriff with levy instructions and deposit.
The court clerk issues the writ the same day or within a few days. Once you have the writ, you deliver it to the sheriff's civil division along with specific instructions for what property to levy.
California uses standardized Judicial Council forms for judgment enforcement. Here are the key forms you'll need:
| Form | Name | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| EJ-130 | Writ of Execution | Main application - requests the writ from the court |
| EJ-150 | Application for Earnings Withholding Order | For wage garnishment specifically |
| WG-001 | Earnings Withholding Order | Sent to employer to garnish wages |
| EJ-001 | Abstract of Judgment | Creates a lien on real property |
A writ of execution is valid for 180 days from the date of issuance under CCP § 699.530. After 180 days, you need to obtain a new writ from the court. There's no limit on how many writs you can get - you can continue obtaining new writs until the judgment is satisfied or expires.
Sheriff fees vary by county and levy type. Typical costs include:
You'll need to deposit estimated fees upfront. These costs are recoverable from the debtor and added to the judgment amount.
Yes. You can have multiple writs issued simultaneously to different counties. This is useful when the debtor has assets in multiple locations - you can pursue a bank levy in one county while garnishing wages in another. Each writ operates independently.
California provides powerful discovery tools for judgment creditors. You can:
See my Debtor Examination & Discovery guides for detailed procedures.
California protects certain essential property from levy under CCP § 704:
The debtor must actively claim exemptions within 10 days of receiving notice of levy. If they don't file a claim, the property can be seized.
Freeze and seize funds directly from their bank accounts.
Coming SoonTake up to 25% of every paycheck until paid in full.
Coming SoonForce the sale of their house or land to collect your judgment.
Coming SoonSeize vehicles, equipment, inventory, and cash on hand.
Coming SoonI handle California judgment enforcement from writ applications through asset seizure. Debtor examinations, bank levies, wage garnishment - technical work done right.