Supplementary Proceedings Guide | Compel Judgment Debtors to Disclose Assets

📖 What Are Supplementary Proceedings?

Supplementary proceedings, also known as post-judgment discovery, proceedings supplementary, debtor’s examinations, or judgment debtor examinations depending on the state, are a court-authorized process that allows a judgment creditor to compel a judgment debtor to appear before the court and answer questions about their income, assets, employment, property, and financial condition under oath. The purpose is simple: to identify assets that can be seized, garnished, or levied to satisfy the outstanding judgment.

Winning a judgment is only half the battle. Courts do not automatically collect money on your behalf. Once you have a judgment, the burden falls entirely on you, the judgment creditor, to locate the debtor, identify their assets, and use the legal tools available to force payment. Supplementary proceedings are one of the most powerful tools in this process because they compel the debtor to participate in their own collection. The debtor must appear, must answer questions truthfully, and faces contempt of court sanctions including potential jail time if they fail to appear or lie under oath.

📌 The Critical First Step: Before you can initiate supplementary proceedings, you must know where the debtor is. The court requires that the debtor be properly served with the order to appear. If you do not have the debtor’s current address, the proceedings cannot begin. This is where professional skip tracing becomes essential. Our investigators locate judgment debtors and deliver verified current addresses, phone numbers, and employer information in 24 hours or less, giving you the foundation you need to initiate supplementary proceedings and begin the collection process.

Many judgment creditors, especially individuals and small business owners, are unfamiliar with supplementary proceedings and do not realize how powerful this tool can be. If you have been wondering what to do when you win a judgment but can’t collect, supplementary proceedings are likely the answer. Combined with professional skip tracing to locate the debtor and their assets, this process transforms an uncollectible judgment into a realistic recovery opportunity.

🔍 Debtor Examination Guide 📋 How to Prepare 🗺️ Collection by State 💸 Cost of Not Collecting

⚙️ How Supplementary Proceedings Work: Step by Step

The supplementary proceedings process follows a structured legal path. Understanding each step helps judgment creditors prepare effectively and maximize the information they obtain from the debtor.

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🔍 Locate the Judgment Debtor

The first and most critical step is determining the debtor’s current address. The court order compelling the debtor to appear must be properly served, which requires a verified current address. If the debtor has moved, changed jobs, or deliberately hidden from creditors, professional skip tracing is essential. Our investigators find judgment debtors who moved and provide results in 24 hours or less.

2

📝 File the Application with the Court

The judgment creditor (or their attorney) files a motion or application with the court that issued the judgment requesting an order for the debtor to appear for examination. Most states have specific forms and procedures for this application. Some states require a showing that previous collection efforts have been unsuccessful, while others allow supplementary proceedings as a matter of right after a certain period following the judgment.

3

📨 Serve the Order on the Debtor

Once the court issues the order to appear, it must be served on the judgment debtor in accordance with the service of process requirements of your state. Personal service is typically required, meaning someone must hand the order directly to the debtor. If the debtor is in another state, interstate service may be necessary. If the debtor cannot be found for personal service, some states allow substituted service.

4

🏛️ The Examination Hearing

The debtor appears before the court or a court-appointed referee and is placed under oath. The judgment creditor or their attorney then asks detailed questions about the debtor’s finances: employment and income, real property owned, vehicles, financial accounts, business interests, personal property of value, debts owed to the debtor by third parties, and any recent transfers of property. Our debtor examination preparation guide provides a comprehensive list of questions to ask.

5

⚡ Execute on Discovered Assets

Once assets are identified through the examination, the judgment creditor pursues collection through the appropriate enforcement mechanism: wage garnishment for employment income, judgment liens on real property, levy of assets on tangible property and financial accounts, or a writ of execution directing the sheriff to seize and sell property.

🔄 Repeatable Process: In most states, supplementary proceedings can be repeated at regular intervals, typically every 120 or 180 days. This means that if the debtor has no seizable assets today, you can bring them back to court in a few months to determine if their financial situation has changed. People get new jobs, receive inheritances, buy property, and accumulate assets over time. Each new examination provides a fresh opportunity to identify assets for collection. The judgment itself also grows with post-judgment interest accruing between examinations.

🔍 Why Skip Tracing Is Essential for Supplementary Proceedings

The entire supplementary proceedings process depends on one fundamental requirement: you must know where the judgment debtor is. Without a current, verified address, supplementary proceedings cannot even begin.

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Service of the Court Order

The order compelling the debtor to appear must be served at their current address. An outdated address means failed service, which means no hearing, which means no discovery of assets. Our skip tracing provides verified current addresses so service succeeds on the first attempt.

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Pre-Hearing Intelligence

Going into a debtor examination with advance intelligence about the debtor’s employment, property ownership, and known associates makes your questions far more effective. You can confront the debtor with specific information rather than asking open-ended questions that allow them to evade. Our reports include employer information for wage garnishment and property data.

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Asset Pre-Discovery

Before the hearing, our investigators can identify real property owned by the debtor, vehicles registered in their name, business entity affiliations, and other asset indicators. This advance intelligence helps you prepare targeted questions and provides a baseline against which to evaluate the debtor’s sworn testimony. If the debtor denies owning property that records show they own, you have grounds for further action.

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Third-Party Examination Support

Many states allow judgment creditors to subpoena third parties who may hold the debtor’s assets or owe money to the debtor. Employers, business partners, tenants, and others can be ordered to appear and answer questions. Our skip tracing identifies these third parties and provides the addresses needed for subpoena service.

🎯 The Skip Trace Advantage in Debtor Examinations

Judgment creditors who arrive at a debtor examination armed with professional skip tracing intelligence recover significantly more than those who go in blind. When you already know the debtor’s employer, you can ask specific questions about their income and pursue wage garnishment immediately. When you know about property they own, you can place judgment liens before they try to transfer it. When you know about business interests, you can pursue the business assets as well. Professional skip tracing transforms a debtor examination from a fishing expedition into a targeted enforcement action. Our hidden assets guide provides additional strategies for uncovering concealed wealth.

📋 What Information Can You Obtain in Supplementary Proceedings?

The scope of inquiry in supplementary proceedings is broad. Courts generally permit questions about any topic reasonably related to the debtor’s ability to pay the judgment. Here are the key categories of information you can and should pursue.

💰 Employment & Income

The debtor’s current employer, job title, salary or hourly wage, frequency of pay, bonuses, commissions, overtime, and any other sources of employment income. Also inquire about past employers if the debtor has recently changed jobs, and future anticipated income changes. Employment information directly supports wage garnishment proceedings. Our skip tracing can identify the debtor’s current employer before the hearing even takes place.

🏠 Real Property

All real estate owned by the debtor, including primary residence, rental properties, vacant land, and any interest in real property such as a beneficial interest in a trust. Ask about the current market value, existing mortgages or liens, and any recent transfers. Real property is subject to judgment liens and, in some cases, forced sale through a writ of execution. However, be aware that the debtor’s primary residence may be partially or fully protected by homestead exemptions depending on the state. If property is held in an LLC or trust, our LLC and trust investigation capabilities uncover the connections.

🚗 Vehicles & Personal Property

All vehicles, boats, motorcycles, trailers, and other titled personal property owned by the debtor. Ask about make, model, year, value, outstanding loans, and where the vehicles are located. Also ask about valuable personal property including jewelry, art, collectibles, equipment, and tools. Many states allow levy and sale of vehicles and personal property through the asset levy process, subject to exemption limits.

🏢 Business Interests

Any ownership interest in a business, whether sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, or corporation. Ask about the business name, type, location, income, assets, and the debtor’s ownership percentage. Business interests can be a significant source of recovery, and our investigators can investigate businesses to determine their viability and asset base. If the debtor has used business entities to shelter personal assets, piercing the corporate veil and alter ego liability theories may allow collection from the business.

💳 Debts Owed to the Debtor

Money that third parties owe to the judgment debtor, including outstanding invoices, notes receivable, loans made to others, tax refunds expected, insurance claims pending, and any other money owed to the debtor from any source. These debts can potentially be garnished or assigned to the judgment creditor through the supplementary proceedings.

🔄 Recent Transfers & Conveyances

Any property, money, or assets transferred by the debtor to any person or entity within the past several years. This is critically important because debtors who know a judgment is coming often transfer assets to family members, friends, or newly created entities to put them beyond the reach of creditors. These transfers may constitute fraudulent conveyances that can be reversed by the court, returning the assets to the debtor’s estate where they become available for collection.

      ⚠️ Perjury Warning: All testimony in supplementary proceedings is given under oath. A debtor who lies about their assets, conceals property, or provides false testimony is subject to prosecution for perjury, which is a criminal offense. Additionally, courts can hold debtors in contempt for deliberately misleading testimony, which can result in fines and even jail time. This is what makes supplementary proceedings so effective: the legal consequences of dishonesty are severe, which encourages truthful disclosure.
    

🚨 What Happens When the Debtor Doesn’t Show Up?

One of the most powerful aspects of supplementary proceedings is the enforcement mechanism. Unlike informal collection efforts that debtors can simply ignore, supplementary proceedings carry the full force of a court order.

⚖️ Contempt of Court

When a judgment debtor is properly served with a court order to appear for supplementary proceedings and fails to appear, the court can issue a contempt citation. Contempt of court for failing to obey a court order can result in fines, sanctions, and even arrest and incarceration. The threat of contempt is a powerful motivator that brings even the most evasive debtors to the examination table. This enforcement mechanism is what separates supplementary proceedings from voluntary collection attempts. If you need to find someone to serve the contempt order, we help locate people who owe you money and who have fled to avoid their obligations, including those who have changed their name or left the country.

🔍 Bench Warrants

In many jurisdictions, when a debtor fails to appear after being properly served, the judge can issue a bench warrant for the debtor’s arrest. This means law enforcement is authorized to arrest the debtor and bring them before the court. While creditors cannot put someone in jail simply for owing money, they can absolutely be jailed for defying a court order to appear. The distinction is important: the debtor is not being punished for the debt itself, but for refusing to comply with a lawful court order.

📋 Body Attachment Orders

Some states use body attachment orders, which function similarly to bench warrants but are specifically designed for civil proceedings. A body attachment order directs law enforcement to take the debtor into custody and bring them before the court. These orders are typically available only after the debtor has been properly served and has failed to appear, demonstrating that less drastic measures have been insufficient.

📌 The Key Requirement: Proper Service

All of these enforcement mechanisms, contempt, bench warrants, and body attachment orders, depend on one critical prerequisite: proof that the debtor was properly served with the order to appear. If service cannot be proven, the court cannot hold the debtor in contempt for failing to appear at a hearing they were never notified about. This is why having a verified current address from professional skip tracing is so important. Proper service at the correct address creates the legal foundation for enforcement. Our investigators find people who owe you money and provide the verified address needed for valid service under your state’s service of process requirements.

🗺️ State-by-State Variations in Supplementary Proceedings

Supplementary proceedings exist in every state, but the rules, terminology, and procedures vary significantly. Understanding your state’s specific framework is critical for effective use of this powerful collection tool.

Feature	Common Approaches	Key Variations
📝 Terminology	Supplementary proceedings, debtor’s exam	Some states: proceedings supplementary, creditor’s bill, discovery in aid of execution
⏱️ Waiting Period	30 days post-judgment typical	Ranges from immediately to 90 days depending on state
🔄 Repeat Frequency	Every 120-180 days	Some states have no limit, others restrict frequency
📨 Service Method	Personal service required	Some states allow certified mail or substituted service
🏛️ Hearing Location	Court where judgment entered	Some states allow examination in county where debtor lives
👥 Third-Party Exams	Most states allow	Scope and procedures vary widely
⚡ Restraining Orders	Available in many states	Some states allow asset freeze pending hearing
⚖️ Contempt Penalties	Fines and potential incarceration	Maximum jail time ranges from days to months

Because of these significant variations, judgment creditors pursuing supplementary proceedings should consult our judgment collection by state guide to understand the specific rules in their jurisdiction. The statute of limitations on debt collection also varies by state and affects how long you have to pursue enforcement. For judgments obtained in one state against a debtor now living in another, the process of domesticating the judgment in the new state adds additional complexity that makes locating the debtor’s current state even more important.

✅ Nationwide Coverage: Our skip tracing services cover all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. Whether your debtor is still in the state where the judgment was entered or has moved out of state, we locate them quickly so you can pursue supplementary proceedings in the appropriate jurisdiction.

🔧 Related Post-Judgment Collection Tools

Supplementary proceedings are most effective when used as part of a comprehensive collection strategy. These related tools work alongside supplementary proceedings to maximize recovery.

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Wage Garnishment

Once you identify the debtor’s employer through supplementary proceedings or skip tracing, wage garnishment provides ongoing collection directly from their paycheck. The most reliable long-term collection method for employed debtors.

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Judgment Liens

Place a lien on the debtor’s real property that must be satisfied when the property is sold or refinanced. A passive but effective collection tool that ensures you get paid whenever the property changes hands.

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Writ of Execution

Direct the sheriff to seize and sell the debtor’s non-exempt personal property and real property to satisfy the judgment. The writ of execution is the most direct collection tool available.

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Asset Levy

Levy on the debtor’s financial accounts, business inventory, equipment, vehicles, and other personal property. Particularly effective when supplementary proceedings reveal previously unknown assets.

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Debtor Examination Guide

Our comprehensive guide to conducting effective debtor examinations, including detailed question lists, preparation strategies, and techniques for maximizing information disclosure.

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Fraudulent Conveyance

When supplementary proceedings reveal that the debtor has recently transferred assets to family members or entities, fraudulent conveyance actions can reverse those transfers and make the assets available for collection.

💡 The Collection Ecosystem: Supplementary proceedings provide the intelligence, and the other collection tools provide the execution. Skip tracing locates the debtor. Supplementary proceedings reveal their assets. Wage garnishment, judgment liens, writs of execution, and asset levies actually collect the money. Together, these tools form a comprehensive collection system that maximizes your recovery. For those weighing their options, our guide on DIY judgment collection versus professional approaches helps determine the right strategy for your situation.

⚠️ Common Mistakes in Supplementary Proceedings

Even experienced attorneys sometimes make errors in the supplementary proceedings process that reduce their effectiveness. Avoiding these common mistakes dramatically improves your collection results.

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Using Outdated Addresses

Attempting to serve the debtor at the address from the original lawsuit when the debtor has since moved. Failed service means no hearing, wasted time, and increased costs. Always verify the debtor’s current address with professional skip tracing before initiating supplementary proceedings.

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Asking Vague Questions

Going into the examination without a structured question plan and asking broad, open-ended questions that allow the debtor to provide incomplete answers. Prepare specific, detailed questions organized by asset category and have supporting documentation ready.

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Waiting Too Long

Delaying supplementary proceedings for months or years after obtaining the judgment, giving the debtor time to transfer, spend, or hide assets. Begin the process as soon as the judgment is final and all appeal periods have expired. Time works against you as assets disappear.

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Not Following Up

Conducting one examination, finding no assets, and giving up. Debtors’ financial circumstances change over time. Schedule repeat examinations every 120 to 180 days as permitted by your state’s rules. The debtor who was judgment-proof last year may have a new job, an inheritance, or property today.

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Ignoring Pre-Examination Research

Failing to research the debtor’s assets before the hearing. Professional skip tracing and asset investigation provide advance intelligence that makes your questions more targeted and more effective. Arriving with knowledge of the debtor’s employer, property, and associates puts you in control of the examination.

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Forgetting Third-Party Exams

Overlooking the ability to examine third parties who hold the debtor’s assets. Employers, business partners, tenants paying rent to the debtor, and anyone who owes money to the debtor can potentially be examined and their payments redirected to satisfy the judgment.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Supplementary Proceedings

📋 What is the difference between supplementary proceedings and a debtor examination?

They are essentially the same thing with different names. “Supplementary proceedings” is the formal legal term used in many states, while “debtor examination” or “judgment debtor examination” is a more common informal term. Some states use “proceedings supplementary,” “examination in aid of execution,” or “creditor’s bill.” Regardless of the terminology, the purpose is the same: compelling the debtor to reveal their financial information under oath. See our debtor examination guide for details.

⏱️ How soon after getting a judgment can I start supplementary proceedings?

This varies by state. Some states allow supplementary proceedings immediately after the judgment is entered, while others require a waiting period of 30 to 90 days. Check the rules in your state’s judgment collection framework. In general, the sooner you begin, the better your chances of finding assets before the debtor can transfer or hide them.

🔒 Can a debtor really go to jail for not showing up?

Yes. A debtor who is properly served with a court order to appear for supplementary proceedings and fails to appear can be held in contempt of court, which can result in fines and incarceration. The debtor is not being jailed for owing money; they are being jailed for disobeying a court order. Read our guide on whether you can go to jail for not paying a debt for more on this distinction.

💰 What if the debtor says they have no assets?

Many debtors initially claim to be “judgment proof.” The purpose of supplementary proceedings is to verify this claim under oath. If the debtor truly has no seizable assets today, you can repeat the proceedings in a few months. Circumstances change. You should also investigate whether the debtor has recently transferred assets to family members or entities to avoid collection.

🔍 Do I need a lawyer for supplementary proceedings?

While not always legally required, having an attorney is strongly recommended. An experienced attorney knows how to ask the right questions, follow up on evasive answers, and use the information obtained to pursue the most effective collection remedies. The cost of an attorney is typically far less than the amount at stake. For an overview of options, see DIY vs. professional judgment collection.

📍 What if the debtor moved to another state?

If the debtor has moved to a different state, you may need to domesticate (register) your judgment in the new state before pursuing supplementary proceedings there. The first step is locating the debtor. Our skip tracing finds debtors who moved out of state and identifies their current state of residence so you can pursue enforcement in the appropriate jurisdiction.

🏠 Are some assets protected from collection?

Yes. Every state has exemption laws that protect certain assets from seizure by creditors. Common exemptions include a portion of wages, a homestead exemption for the debtor’s primary residence, retirement accounts, and basic personal property. However, these exemptions have limits, and many debtors have assets that exceed the exemption amounts and are therefore available for collection.

⚰️ What happens if the debtor dies before I collect?

If the judgment debtor dies, the judgment survives and can typically be filed as a claim against the debtor’s estate. The estate’s executor or administrator must pay valid debts from estate assets before distributing inheritances to heirs. Our guide on what happens when a judgment debtor dies covers this process in detail. We also help locate next of kin for estate proceedings.

📚 Complete Judgment Collection Resource Library

Explore our comprehensive collection of guides for judgment creditors pursuing post-judgment enforcement.

⚖️ Collection Tools & Guides

🔍 Debtor Examination Guide 📋 Prepare for Exam 💼 Wage Garnishment Laws 🏠 Judgment Liens 📝 Writ of Execution ⚖️ Levy Assets 🗺️ Collection by State 📊 Interest Rates by State 💰 Exempt vs Non-Exempt ⚠️ Can’t Collect Judgment ⚙️ DIY vs Professional 💸 Cost of Not Collecting 🏢 Collect Against Business ⚰️ Debtor Dies 🔒 Jail for Debt? 🏗️ Contractor Who Ripped You Off ✉️ Bad Check Writer

🔍 Finding Debtors & Assets

💸 Find Someone Who Owes You 🚚 Debtor Who Moved 📦 Debtor Out of State 💎 Hidden Assets 💼 Find Employer 🏢 Current Employer 🏛️ LLC/Trust Property 🚨 Fraudulent Conveyance 🏢 Piercing Corporate Veil 🔗 Alter Ego Liability 📛 Changed Name ✈️ Left the Country 👥 Find Next of Kin 📧 Find by Email 📍 Previous Addresses 🆓 Free People Search 🤝 Missing Business Partner 🚨 Find a Scammer 🏚️ Absentee Property Owners 💰 Unclaimed Inheritance 📱 Social Media Investigation 🌐 OSINT Guide 🆔 Identity Verification 📋 Public Records Guide 📖 Skip Tracing Glossary 🤝 Find Cosigner/Guarantor 🏘️ Tenant Who Skipped 💔 Scam Investigation 💍 Serve Missing Spouse 👤 Find Former Spouse 🏬 Commercial Tenant 🛡️ Protect From Pretexting

📜 Supplementary Proceedings Guide: How to Enforce Your Judgment