Winning a small claims case is half the battle. Converting that judgment into cash can be difficult. Here are some general steps that you can take to enforce or collect on your judgment.
1
Docket your judgment
The second you get your order of judgment -- be it in the mail or from the small claims judge or commissioner, you need to walk back down to the clerk of court's office and ask to speak to the clerk in charge of docketing judgments. You should docket the judgment in each Wisconsin county where the judgment debtor (person whom you sued) owns property. Then, if the debtor does not pay you, if the debtor's property is sold -- by docketing your judgment it will become a judgment lien against the property, and may help you get paid at the closing of the sale of the property. There will be a docketing fee associated with this filing. Remember - if the judgment is paid, you need to file a satisfaction of judgment in each county where you docketed the judgment!!
2
See if you can get paid voluntarily
My advice is to send a letter to the judgment debtor, certified mail, return receipt requested, with a copy of the order for judgment and a request for payment within a stated time period. Indicate that if payment has not been received by the deadline or a reasonable payment plan has not been agreed to, that you will commence post-judgment collection efforts to the fullest extent of the law.
3
Post-judgment collection options
If the judgment debtor ignores your letter and the deadline passes without contact, you will need to assess your options in collection. Generally stated, these options are: (1) retain a collection agency which will usually take 1/3 of the amount collected; (2) have the sheriff seize property of the debtor (will usually involve additional process and your payment of a bond); (3) take no action and hope the debtor sells real estate and that your lien shows up on the title and you get paid at the closing; or (4) garnish the wages or bank accounts of the debtor -- which involves additional processes which can be complex.
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