Collecting Judgments & Orders of Seizure

Small Claims Judgments

The Sheriff's Office can attempt to collect on an outstanding Small Claims Judgment on your behalf if the defendant does not pay within thirty (30) days of the judgment.

If after the thirty day period the defendant does not pay, you may bring or mail your judgment to us and we will attempt to collect the amount of the judgment, plus interest, fees and poundage. The fee for this is $25.00.

In order to have any success in collecting your judgment, you must provide as much information as possible to assist in our attempt to collect. The more information you can provide, the better the chance we will be able to satisfy your judgment.

If you have asked the Sheriff to execute a judgment to seize assets, you must provide as much information about the location of the debtor's assets as possible, such as:

• Bank accounts (bank names, account numbers, savings/checking);
• Brokerage accounts and securities holdings (companies, account numbers);
• Real estate holdings (addresses);
• Vehicles owned (makes/models, years, license plate numbers); and
• Business holdings (Does debtor own any businesses? Names, addresses).

You may know some of this information or be able to find it on statements, canceled checks, bills, or other papers you have in your records. You can check with the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles to find out if the judgment debtor owns a car that is registered in the state. Most important, you can obtain an "Information Subpoena," which is a legal document that requires a person (or business entity) to answer questions about their assets. The Small Claims Court Clerk can advise you about this process.

For more information, visit the New York City Small Claims Court website.

Please note: There are additional fees involved if the Sheriff must seize personal property for auction to satisfy the judgment. Some of these costs can be substantial. This will not be done unless costs are paid in advance.

Certain property is exempt from being seized to satisfy a judgment.

Judgments from a Small Claims Court outside of New York City are not valid in New York City unless docketed in a New York State Supreme Court.

What you need to bring/send us:

• Copy of the Judgment
• Completed Request for an Execution
• Completed Creditor's Advisory
• Check or Money Order for $25.00 made out to "NYC Sheriff"
• Send to County Office where Debtor is located

Civil Court Judgments

The Sheriff's Office can attempt to collect on a NYC Civil Court Judgment on your behalf.

You may bring or mail your judgment to us and we will attempt to satisfy the amount of the judgment, plus interest, fees and poundage. The fee for this is $40.00.

In order to have any success in satisfying your judgment, you must provide as much information as possible to assist in our attempt to collect. The more information you can provide, the better the chance we will be able to satisfy your judgment.

If you have asked the Sheriff to execute a judgment to seize assets, you must provide as much information about the location of the debtor's assets as possible, such as:

• Bank accounts (bank names, account numbers, savings/checking);
• Brokerage accounts and securities holdings (companies, account numbers);
• Real estate holdings (addresses);
• Vehicles owned (makes/models, years, license plate numbers); and
• Business holdings (Does debtor own any businesses? Names, addresses).

You may know some of this information or be able to find it on statements, canceled checks, bills, or other papers you have in your records. You can check with the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles to find out if the judgment debtor owns a car that is registered in the state. Most important, you can obtain an "Information Subpoena," which is a legal document that requires a person (or business entity) to answer questions about their assets. The Civil Court Clerk can advise you about this process.

Please note: There are additional fees involved if the Sheriff must seize personal property for auction to satisfy the judgment. Some of these costs can be substantial. This will not be done unless costs are paid in advance.

Certain property is exempt from being seized to satisfy a judgment.

Judgments from Civil, City, or District Courts outside of New York City are not valid in New York City unless docketed in a New York State Supreme Court or County Court.

A NYC Civil Court Judgment is not valid for seizing Real Property(land, houses, etc...) unless it is docketed in the Supreme Court in the county where Civil Court is located, and then transcribed to the Supreme Court where the property to be seized is located.

What you need to bring/send us:

• Copy of the Judgment
• Completed Request for an Execution
• Completed Affidavit in Support of Execution
• Check or Money Order for $40.00 made out to "NYC Sheriff"
• Send to County Office where Debtor is located

Supreme Court Judgments

The execution against property is a final process which directs the Sheriff to enforce a money judgment by seizing and selling at public auction such personal property capable of delivery or real property of the debtor as can be found within the county and subject to levy, and by levying upon the debtor's non-exempt debts and other assignable property, such as bank accounts, money loaned, money due on goods sold and delivered, and rents and royalties, but not salary and wages.

If needed, download a blank property execution. Please note that executions must be issued by either an attorney, or by the clerk of the court.

If the execution is against real property, judgment must be entered with the clerk of the county where realty is located, or a transcript of judgment must be docketed with that clerk.

There are additional fees involved if the Sheriff must seize personal property for auction to satisfy the judgment. Some of these costs can be substantial. This will not be done unless costs are paid in advance.

What you need to bring/send us:

• Cover letter detailing actions to be taken
• Check or Money Order for $40.00 made out to "NYC Sheriff"
• Send to County Office where debtor, garnishee, or debtor's property is located

Orders of Seizure

An order of seizure is a provisional remedy. It may be issued when the summons and complaint are issued or at any time prior to judgment in an action to recover specific personal property alleged to have been wrongfully taken or withheld from the person entitled to its immediate possession.

What you need to bring/send us:

• Certified copy, plus two copies of Order of Seizure and the papers upon which the order was granted including summons and complaint
• Undertaking fixed and approved by the Court for twice the value of the chattel as stated in the affidavit
• Cover letter detailing actions to be taken
• Check or Money Order for $116.50 made out to "NYC Sheriff"
• Send to County Office where defendant or defendant's property is located

Additional Information
Sheriff Civil Law Enforcement
Cigarette Tax Enforcement
Evictions
Making Arrests
Serving Process
Tax Evasion and Fraud
Towed Vehicles