How to Collect a Small Claims Judgment in Connecticut

Winning the Judgment Is Only Half the Work

A Connecticut small claims magistrate rules in your favor and awards you $4,200. You wait for a check in the mail. It does not come. Weeks pass. The defendant does not pay voluntarily.

This is one of the most common frustrations in small claims court: the court issues the judgment, but the court does not collect the money for you. Enforcement falls on the judgment creditor — you.

When Post-Judgment Interest Applies

Under CGS § 37-3a, the court may award post-judgment interest of up to 10% per year on the unpaid balance. If the court awards the full 10% on a $4,200 judgment, that is up to $420 per year — about $35 per month.

If awarded, interest continues while the judgment remains unpaid. The winning party must file a Notice of Satisfaction (Form JD-CV-164) within 90 days after the judgment is fully paid.

Step 1: Send a Written Demand

Before pursuing formal enforcement, send the judgment debtor a written demand letter. Include the judgment amount, the docket number, the date of the judgment, and a deadline for payment (typically 15–30 days). State that you will pursue enforcement if the amount is not paid by the deadline.

Many debtors pay after receiving a clear written demand. They ignored the court notice; they will not ignore a letter that spells out wage garnishment.

Step 2: Wage Execution

If the debtor has employment income, wage execution under CGS § 52-361a is one enforcement tool. The court must first order periodic payments; if the debtor fails to make those payments, the creditor may apply for a wage execution. Here is how it works:

1. Obtain an execution from the court clerk — this is the legal authorization to collect.
2. Hire a State Marshal to serve the execution on the debtor's employer.
3. The employer withholds a portion of the debtor's wages each pay period and sends it to you through the Marshal.

Connecticut limits wage garnishment to the lesser of 25% of disposable earnings or the amount by which weekly disposable earnings exceed 40 times the state or federal minimum wage (whichever is greater). Certain income is exempt from execution entirely, including Social Security benefits and public assistance.

Step 3: Bank Account Execution

You can seek execution against a debtor's bank account under CGS § 52-367a for a business entity or § 52-367b for an individual. The process:

1. Obtain a property execution from the court.
2. A State Marshal or other proper officer serves it on the debtor's bank — the bank holds funds reachable by the execution, subject to statutory exemptions.
3. The debtor has a window to claim exemptions (protected funds like Social Security deposits or child support).
4. After the exemption period, the bank releases the non-exempt funds to the Marshal, who turns them over to you.

Bank executions are particularly effective because they capture a lump sum rather than waiting for periodic wage deductions. The downside: if the debtor's account holds little or nothing, you recover little or nothing.

Step 4: Property Liens

For larger judgments or debtors who own real property, you can record the judgment as a lien against their real estate. When the property is sold or refinanced, the lien must be satisfied from the proceeds. This is a slower enforcement method — it depends on the property eventually changing hands — but it secures your position for the long term.

What If the Debtor Has No Assets?

Some judgment debtors genuinely cannot pay. They have no wages to garnish, no bank account to levy, no property to lien. This is what courts call "judgment-proof."

The judgment does not disappear immediately. Under CGS § 52-598(b), an execution to enforce a small claims money judgment may be issued for up to 10 years after entry; an action based on that judgment must be brought within 15 years. If the debtor's financial situation improves within those periods — they get a job, open a bank account, buy property — you can pursue enforcement then. Any post-judgment interest continues only if the court awarded it.

The Defendant's Perspective

If you are on the receiving end of a judgment and cannot pay the full amount immediately, consider contacting the creditor to negotiate a payment schedule before enforcement begins. A voluntary payment plan avoids the cost and disruption of wage garnishment. Our Connecticut Small Claims Response Guide covers both sides — preparing your defense before the hearing and understanding what happens after a judgment, including the enforcement tools the other side can use against you.

Filing a Satisfaction of Judgment

Once the judgment is fully paid (including any awarded interest and allowable fees), the creditor must file a Notice of Satisfaction (Form JD-CV-164) with the court within 90 days. Without this filing, the court record may continue to show the judgment as unsatisfied.

If you paid a judgment and the creditor has not filed the satisfaction, send them a written request. If they refuse or ignore you, the court can assist in closing the record.

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