Judgment Enforcement Demand Letters
You won the judgment — now collect it. Garnishment, bank levy, and lien enforcement demands.
Sergei Tokmakov, Esq.
California State Bar #279869
You Won. Now What?
Having a judgment is not the same as having money. Many judgment debtors ignore court orders, hide assets, or simply refuse to pay. The judgment is just the first step — enforcement is where the real work begins.
A well-crafted post-judgment demand letter often triggers payment without the cost and delay of enforcement proceedings. The debtor now knows you're serious, you have a court order, and enforcement tools are available.
Post-Judgment Enforcement Tools (California)
| Tool | What It Does | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Wage garnishment | Takes up to 25% of debtor's disposable earnings | Debtor has W-2 employment |
| Bank levy | Freezes and seizes funds in debtor's bank account | You know which bank they use |
| Property lien | Abstract of judgment recorded against real property | Debtor owns real estate |
| Debtor examination | Court-ordered disclosure of assets and income | You need to find assets |
| Assignment order | Court orders debtor's income streams to you | Debtor has rental income, royalties, commissions |
| Till-tap order | Sheriff collects from debtor's business cash register | Debtor has cash-intensive business |
| Keeper levy | Sheriff stays at debtor's business and collects receipts | Last resort for cash businesses |
My Post-Judgment Demand Letter Strategy
- Review the judgment: Confirm amount, interest rate, and any post-judgment costs awarded
- Calculate current balance: Judgment amount + 10% statutory interest (CA CCP §685.010) + accrued costs
- Send demand letter: Reference the judgment, state the current balance, and outline specific enforcement actions I'll take if not paid within 15-30 days
- If no response → enforce: File wage garnishment, bank levy, or schedule debtor examination
Anonymized Result: A client had a $12,000 small claims judgment that the debtor ignored for 6 months. I sent a post-judgment demand letter detailing the specific enforcement tools available — wage garnishment from their employer (which I identified), bank levy, and abstract of judgment on their home. The debtor called within 4 days and arranged to pay the full judgment plus $1,200 in accrued interest over 3 months.
Pricing
$575
Post-judgment demand letter
With enforcement analysis
$240/hr
Enforcement proceedings
Garnishment, levy, examination
25-33%
Contingency option
For judgments over $10,000
Have an Uncollected Judgment?
I'll send a demand letter and, if needed, enforce through garnishment, levy, or lien.
Email owner@terms.law