Alaska Judgment Debtor Examination: How to Find a Debtor's Assets

You have a judgment but no idea what the debtor owns, where they bank, or whether they even have a job. Without that information, every enforcement tool — garnishment, bank sweeps, PFD levies — is a shot in the dark. Alaska's debtor examination process under Civil Rule 69(a) fixes this by putting the debtor under oath and making them answer.

What a Debtor Examination Is

A debtor examination is a court hearing where the judgment debtor must appear and answer questions about their finances. It is not a trial — there is no jury, no opposing argument. You (or your attorney) ask questions, the debtor answers under oath, and a judge or magistrate presides.

The court can order the debtor to appear in person or by telephone. You file Form CIV-540 (Motion and Order for Judgment Debtor to Appear), the judge signs it, and a process server or State Trooper delivers it to the debtor at least 15 days before the hearing date.

What You Can Ask

Under oath, you can ask the debtor about:

• Employment: employer name, address, net earnings, pay schedule
• Bank accounts: checking, savings, money market, and cryptocurrency accounts at any financial institution
• Real property: land, homes, leasehold interests, and land contracts
• Vehicles: cars, trucks, snowmachines, boats, aircraft, and heavy equipment, including VINs and title status
• PFD eligibility: whether they applied for and expect to receive an Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend
• Business interests: accounts receivable, business revenues, safety deposit box contents

The debtor may object to a question. The judge decides whether it is relevant to the debtor's current or future financial situation and whether the debtor must answer.

What Happens If They Do Not Show Up

Disobeying an order under Civil Rule 69 can be punished as contempt. If the debtor does not appear, the court decides how to address the missed appearance.

Turning Information Into Recovery

The examination is a means, not an end. Once you know the debtor's employer, you file for wage garnishment (CIV-507). Once you know their bank, you file for a bank sweep (CIV-501). If you discover real property, you record a judgment lien in the appropriate DNR recording district.

If the examination reveals nonexempt personal property or liquid funds within the debtor's immediate control, the presiding judge can issue an order on the spot directing the debtor to turn over those assets.

Public Records You Can Search First

Before paying for a debtor exam, check what is already public:

• Alaska DNR Recorder's Office: real estate deeds, trust documents, and existing liens across 34 recording districts
• CourtView: the Alaska Court System's docket search reveals other lawsuits, existing judgments, and pending executions involving the debtor
• Division of Corporations: business filings that reveal LLCs, partnerships, and business bank affiliations

These searches are free and can give you enough information to skip the debtor exam entirely and go straight to enforcement.

The Alaska Judgment Collection Guide includes a structured asset discovery worksheet and a list of questions to ask at the examination hearing.

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