Form JGM104 Minnesota: Affidavit of Identification of Judgment Debtor

You can't garnish wages, levy a bank account, or place a lien on property with just a Conciliation Court judgment in Minnesota. First, you need to docket that judgment in District Court — and Form JGM104 is the form that makes it happen.

What Form JGM104 Is

Form JGM104, officially titled "Affidavit of Identification of Judgment Debtor," is the document you file with the District Court Administrator to transcribe your Conciliation Court judgment into District Court. Until this step is complete, you have no access to enforcement tools like writs of execution, garnishment summonses, or property liens.

The form is a sworn affidavit — you're identifying the judgment debtor under oath so the court can create an official District Court judgment index record.

When You Can File

You cannot file JGM104 until the judgment is final and effective. Under Rule 515, that is 21 days after the court transmits the Notice of Order for Judgment, plus three days when notice is served by U.S. Mail. The notice states the last day to seek removal or vacation; use that date rather than counting from the hearing. If the deadline falls on a weekend or legal holiday, it extends to the next business day.

Before filing, verify through Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) that no one has filed a Demand for Removal (which would transfer the case to District Court for a new trial) or a Motion to Vacate during the stay period. Either one stops you from docketing.

How to File

1. Get the form — download JGM104 from the Minnesota Judicial Branch website under Judgment Enforcement forms
2. Complete the affidavit — enter the judgment debtor's full legal name, known addresses, and any identifying information you have
3. File with the District Court Administrator in the county where the judgment was entered
4. Pay the $40 transcript fee — this is the docketing fee under Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 518; no separate docketing filing fee applies in the rendering county

The court administrator processes the transcription and creates the official District Court docketing record.

What Docketing Gets You

Once the judgment is docketed, three things happen:

• Enforcement tools unlock — you can now request writs of execution, serve garnishment summonses, and file disclosure requests
• A real property lien attaches — docketing automatically creates a lien on all nonexempt real property the debtor owns in that county
• The judgment appears in the District Court index — which title companies and lenders check during real estate transactions

If the debtor owns property in multiple counties, you'll need to pay a separate $40 transcript fee to docket in each additional county where you want a lien.

Common Mistakes

Filing too early. If you file before the judgment is final and effective or while a removal demand or motion to vacate is pending, the docketing is invalid. Use the last day stated in the notice and confirm no removal or vacation is pending.

Wrong county. File in the county where the Conciliation Court case was heard. To create liens in other counties, you'll transfer certified transcripts afterward.

Incomplete debtor identification. The more information you can provide about the debtor's identity and location, the smoother enforcement will go. Include every known address, employer name if you have it, and any other identifying details.

What Comes After Docketing

With the judgment docketed, your next step depends on what you know about the debtor's assets. If you already know where they work or bank, you can move directly to wage garnishment or bank garnishment. If you don't know what they own, file a Request for Order for Disclosure (Form JGM302, $5 fee) to compel the debtor to reveal their financial situation.

The complete judgment collection guide covers the full sequence from JGM104 through satisfaction, with a timeline tracker for every deadline and a form-by-form walkthrough of the enforcement process.

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