Ohio Small Claims Judgment Collection: Garnishment, Levies, and Liens

A Judgment Is Not a Payment

Winning a small claims case in Ohio gives you a court order establishing the defendant owes you money. What it doesn't give you is the money itself. The court doesn't collect on your behalf, doesn't garnish the debtor's paycheck, and doesn't freeze their bank account. All of that is on you.

This is the point where many people who fought through filing, service, evidence prep, and a hearing day realize the real work is just starting.

Wait for the Objection Period

The magistrate's decision is not itself enforceable. Either party may object within 14 days after the decision is filed with the clerk under Civil Rule 53(D); the judge must review, approve, and sign a final judgment entry before enforcement can begin.

Only a final judgment is enforceable. Do not begin collection until the judge has signed the final judgment entry.

Post-Judgment Interest

Once your judgment is final, it accrues interest at the statutory rate set annually by the Ohio Tax Commissioner under ORC 1343.03(A). For 2026, that rate is 7.0% per annum. The interest runs from the date of judgment until the defendant pays in full.

If your original complaint also claimed prejudgment interest (from the date of the breach to the judgment date), that amount is baked into the judgment itself.

Wage Garnishment

Wage garnishment is the most common enforcement tool when the debtor has a regular job. You file a motion for garnishment with the court, and the court issues an order directing the debtor's employer to withhold a portion of each paycheck and send it to you.

Ohio law allows wage garnishment of up to 25% of disposable earnings, subject to applicable exemptions.

The process requires you to know where the debtor works. If you don't, a debtor examination (below) can force them to disclose it.

Bank Account Levy

A bank-account attachment can seize funds in the debtor's deposit account. The filing and service steps depend on the court's procedure; confirm the current process and applicable exemptions with the clerk.

Bank levies are effective but require timing — you need funds in the account when the levy hits. Joint accounts can create complications if the co-owner is not a judgment debtor.

Property Lien

Filing a judgment lien attaches your judgment to real property the debtor owns in that county. You don't get immediate payment, but the lien must be satisfied before the debtor can sell or refinance the property.

To place a lien, file a certificate of judgment under ORC 2329.02; confirm the filing office, duration, and renewal requirements with the court or county office where the property is located. If the debtor owns property in multiple Ohio counties, file in each county where you want lien coverage.

Debtor Examination

When you don't know what assets the debtor has — where they work, where they bank, what property they own — you can request a debtor examination. The court orders the debtor to appear and answer questions about their finances under oath.

The information you gather drives your choice of enforcement: garnishment for wage earners, bank-account attachment, or a judgment lien for real property.

When Collection Isn't Worth It

Some judgments are uncollectible. If the debtor is unemployed, has no bank accounts in their name, owns no property, and receives only exempt income, there may be nothing to attach to. Ohio judgments have statutory enforcement and revival deadlines, so track the applicable dates if the debtor's situation might change — but pursuing a judgment-proof defendant costs time and court fees with no immediate return.

For a complete walkthrough of the filing process that leads to an enforceable judgment — including worksheets for tracking service, organizing evidence, and managing deadlines — see the Ohio Small Claims Filing Guide.

See more Ohio guides →