How Are Civil Judgments Enforced?

Obtaining a final judgment in your favor is an important step, but it does not automatically mean you have received what you are owed — if the party against whom judgment was rendered does not comply voluntarily, resorting to enforcement proceedings becomes necessary to actually collect on the judgment.

Enforcement proceedings typically begin by serving the judgment on the losing party and giving them a period for voluntary compliance; if they do not respond, the legally available means of compulsory enforcement can be pursued, which may include attaching the debtor's funds or property.

The procedures and time required for enforcement vary depending on the nature of the judgment (a monetary sum, eviction of a property, delivery of movable property, etc.) and the debtor's financial situation and degree of cooperation, which makes it difficult to state a single timeline that applies to every case.

Actively following up on an enforcement file and knowing the next legally available step at each stage is essential to actually collecting what you are owed, not just holding a judgment on paper. To get help pursuing enforcement of a judgment in your favor, get in touch with us.