How to Collect Your Judgment in District of Columbia

A District of Columbia judgment is enforceable for 12 years, and can be renewed before it expires. A DC judgment is enforceable by execution for 12 years from when execution may first issue (or from the last order of revival); after 12 years it ceases to have effect (D.C. Code 15-101). It may be revived before expiration by an order of revival, which extends enforcement (and the lien) for another 12 years (D.C. Code 15-103).

Yes. Garnishment in District of Columbia can reach 25% of the amount by which weekly disposable wages exceed 40x the DC minimum hourly wage (D.C. Code 16-572). Wages at or below 40x the DC minimum wage are fully exempt.. Exemptions: All disposable wages up to 40x the DC minimum wage per week are fully exempt; only 25% of the excess is attachable. Debtor may file a motion for undue financial hardship (D.C. Code 16-572.01) to exempt additional wages; court holds a hearing within 30 days.

Through Examination in Aid of Enforcement of Judgment (oral examination of judgment debtor) (Request for Order Directing Judgment Debtor (or Other Person) to Appear for Examination in Aid of Enforcement of Judgment (DC Superior Court Civil Division form; Super. Ct. Civ. R. 69)) — the court orders the debtor to appear and disclose their assets under oath. Creditor files the request; the court issues an order setting the appearance date. The debtor must be served (creditor has 30 days to serve) and appears to answer questions about assets under oath.

A DC Superior Court money judgment becomes a lien on the debtor's real property in the District; the creditor files/records a certified copy with the DC Recorder of Deeds. The lien runs with the 12-year enforceable life and extends on revival (D.C. Code 15-101/15-103). The lien lasts 12 years.

You pay the court and sheriff their own filing/levy fees directly (usually modest, and recoverable from the debtor). Our Judgment Collection service is a flat $299 — we prepare your District of Columbia-specific enforcement forms and a step-by-step filing playbook; you file them. Compared with collection firms that take 33–50% of what they recover, that's hundreds to thousands less on a typical judgment.

Some debtors are "judgment-proof" — no job, no bank account, no equity — and no tool can squeeze money that isn't there. The honest play is the debtor's exam to confirm what exists, then keep the judgment alive (it lasts 12 years and is renewable) and try again when their situation changes. We give you the tools, not a guaranteed payout.