New Jersey Writ of Execution: How to Enforce a Small Claims Judgment

The Court Gave You a Judgment — the Writ Makes It Enforceable

A judgment says the debtor owes you money. A Writ of Execution is the court order that authorizes an officer to enforce it against a bank account or personal property. Wage execution uses a separate application and writ.

In New Jersey's Special Civil Part, you file a Request for a Writ of Execution (Form CN 11711) with the county Special Civil Part Office. The court assigns the writ to a Special Civil Part Court Officer, who carries out the levy or seizure. You cannot enforce the judgment yourself — all physical collection goes through the officer.

What the Writ Costs

The court filing fee for a Writ of Execution is $35, paid when you submit Form CN 11711. On top of that, expect:

• $7 officer service fee — the statutory charge for the court officer to deliver the writ
• Mileage — calculated from the county courthouse to the service address
• 10% commission — the court officer takes a statutory 10% of all money collected, charged on top of the judgment total and paid by the debtor

These fees are set by N.J.S.A. 22A:2-37.1 and charged to the debtor's balance. Collected funds are distributed after statutory officer fees are deducted, and you may need to advance writ, service, and mileage costs before collection.

How to Request the Writ

Step 1: Identify the target. Before requesting a writ, know what you're levying against. A bank levy needs the bank's legal name, a New Jersey branch address, and the last four digits of the account number. A personal property seizure needs evidence of nonexempt assets. If you don't have this information yet, start with an Information Subpoena.

Step 2: File CN 11711. Submit the Request for a Writ of Execution to your county's Special Civil Part Office, along with the $35 fee. You can file electronically through the Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS) system at njcourts.gov or in person at the courthouse.

Step 3: The officer serves the writ. For a bank levy, the officer delivers the writ to the financial institution, which immediately freezes nonexempt funds up to the writ amount. For personal property, the officer goes to the debtor's location to identify and seize assets.

Step 4: Follow up with a turnover motion (bank levies only). A bank levy freezes funds but doesn't transfer them. You need to file a separate Motion to Turn Over Funds (Packet CN 10547) to get the frozen money released to the officer for distribution.

How Long a Writ Stays Active

A Writ of Execution in the Special Civil Part remains valid for two years from the date of issuance. If the debt isn't fully collected within that window, you'll need to apply for a new writ. The underlying judgment itself lasts 20 years, so time is on your side — but each new writ means another $35 fee.

Writ of Execution vs. Wage Execution

These are different processes. A Writ of Execution (CN 11711) targets bank accounts and physical property. A Wage Execution uses a separate application (Packet CN 10548) and a different form (Appendix XI-I, CN 11236) to direct an employer to withhold a portion of the debtor's paycheck.

Both cost $35 to file. Both use the Special Civil Part Court Officer for service. But the paperwork, timelines, and debtor objection windows differ. If the debtor has both wages and a bank account, you can pursue both simultaneously.

When You Need a Sheriff Instead

Special Civil Part Court Officers handle execution in Special Civil Part cases. County Sheriffs primarily execute writs originating in the Law Division's general Civil Part or cross-county enforcement actions transferred to their jurisdiction. Docketing a Special Civil Part judgment in Trenton creates a statewide real property lien through the Superior Court Clerk's Office.

For a complete walkthrough of every enforcement tool — bank levies, wage garnishments, property seizures, and judgment liens — see our New Jersey judgment collection guide.

See more New Jersey guides →