A money judgment is a court order, not a payment. If the defendant does not write a check voluntarily — and many do not — the burden shifts to you to enforce it. California gives judgment creditors a powerful toolbox, but none of the tools work automatically. This article explains what a judgment is actually worth, how long it lasts, and the enforcement mechanisms California law provides.
A judgment is the start of collection, not the end
Courts do not collect money for you. Once judgment is entered, the court's role is largely finished unless you come back and ask it to act. The judgment gives you three things: a legally established debt, the right to use California's enforcement statutes, and interest that generally accrues at 10% per year under Code of Civil Procedure section 685.010. A 5% rate applies to certain judgments arising from medical expenses or personal debt under section 685.011. Everything after that depends on how aggressively and intelligently you pursue the debtor's assets. Firms that focus on debt collection spend most of their time on this post-judgment phase, because it is where cases are actually converted into money.
How long a California judgment lasts
A California money judgment is generally enforceable for 10 years from the date of entry (CCP § 683.020). Before that period expires, an eligible judgment can be renewed for another 10 years by filing an application for renewal. Further renewals are generally available, but California law restricts renewal of certain judgments arising from medical expenses or personal debt. Renewal also capitalizes the accrued interest, so the renewed judgment amount includes everything the debtor owes as of the renewal date.
Two practical warnings. First, for a judgment eligible for renewal, the renewal deadline is unforgiving: if the 10 years lapse without renewal, the judgment expires and cannot be revived. Calendar it early. Second, a judgment lien recorded against real property has its own life tied to the judgment, so a certified copy of the renewal application should be recorded promptly to keep the lien intact.
Step one: find the assets
Enforcement starts with information. California lets you compel the debtor to appear in court and answer questions under oath about assets through a judgment debtor examination (CCP § 708.110). You can also serve written interrogatories and document demands on the debtor, and subpoena third parties — banks, employers, business partners — who know where the money is. A debtor who ignores an examination order risks a bench warrant, which tends to focus attention.
Useful targets to identify early:
- Bank and brokerage accounts
- Real property in any California county
- Wages and other earnings
- Accounts receivable, rents, royalties, and other income streams
- Vehicles, equipment, and business inventory
The main enforcement tools
- Abstract of judgment. Recording an abstract with a county recorder creates a lien on all real property the debtor owns — or later acquires — in that county (CCP § 697.310). The lien gets paid when the property is sold or refinanced, and it accrues interest while it waits.
- Bank levy. A writ of execution delivered to the sheriff lets you seize funds directly from the debtor's bank account. Timing matters; accounts can be emptied quickly once a debtor senses pressure.
- Wage garnishment. An earnings withholding order requires the debtor's employer to send a portion of each paycheck to the sheriff until the judgment is satisfied (CCP § 706.010 et seq.).
- Till tap and keeper. For cash businesses, the sheriff can collect money directly from the register or remain on site for a period collecting receipts.
- Assignment order. A court can order payment streams — commissions, rents, royalties, certain receivables — assigned to you as they come due (CCP § 708.510).
- Charging order. If the debtor owns an interest in an LLC or partnership, a charging order intercepts distributions that would otherwise flow to the debtor.
When the debtor plays games
Some debtors transfer assets to relatives, move money into new entities, or claim poverty while living well. California's Uniform Voidable Transactions Act allows creditors to unwind transfers made to hinder, delay, or defraud them, and in appropriate cases you can pursue the recipients of those transfers. Where a business debtor is a shell for its owner, alter ego doctrines may let you reach the individual. These claims often require separate motions or litigation, so it helps to work with counsel experienced in business litigation as well as collection mechanics.
Exemptions also matter: California shields certain wages, retirement funds, and a homestead amount from enforcement. A realistic enforcement plan accounts for what is actually reachable, so you spend effort where it can produce recovery.
Move early, document everything
The best predictor of collection success is speed. Record your abstract of judgment immediately after entry, start asset discovery before the debtor reorganizes, and keep precise records of every credit and cost — memorandum of costs filings let you add many enforcement expenses to the judgment. A judgment sitting in a drawer earns interest on paper only; a judgment being enforced earns leverage.
Talk to a California business attorney
If you hold a judgment that has not been paid, an enforcement strategy tailored to the debtor's assets can make the difference between paper and payment. Schedule a free consultation or call (949) 418-2113.
This article is attorney advertising and provides general information only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney–client relationship. Facts matter; consult a lawyer about your specific situation.
