- 1). Obtain a certified copy of your court judgment. While some states do not require certified copies of the initial judgment, having one available will often help you save time. Without a certified copy of your court judgment, you may have to wait for future courts to verify that you did obtain an initial judgment. The certified copy should include the exact amount of your judgment, including any filing fees or court costs that you were awarded.
- 2). Prepare and file a writ of execution with your court clerk. Provide the clerk with a copy of your court judgment because in some states, it will be needed before a judge will sign the writ of execution. Filing fees are required and are often between $25 and $75. Once the writ has been filed, the court clerk will forward the writ to a judge who will approve, sign and have it mailed to you.
- 3). Find the debtor's most recent bank account information. In order to enforce the writ of execution, you will need at least a bank address and the Social Security number of the debtor. Some banks will acknowledge the existence of a valid account if you show them a copy of your court judgment. In situations in which the debtor is hiding assets, it may be in your best interest to hire an investigator who has experience locating the bank accounts of debtors.
- 4). Mail the writ of execution and instructions (including the debtor's personal information and checking account number) to the sheriff in the debtor's county along with filing fees. The sheriff's office will then be able to attach the checking account, freezing all available funds before releasing the funds to you.
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