Quebec Debtor Examination After Judgment — How to Find Hidden Assets

You Cannot Seize What You Cannot Find

The debtor owes you money but will not pay. Before spending $400+ on a bailiff, you need to know whether there is anything worth seizing — a bank account with funds, a vehicle without a loan, employment income. If you are operating blind, the debtor examination is your reconnaissance tool.

What a Debtor Examination Is

Under Article 688 of Quebec's Code of Civil Procedure, once your judgment is enforceable, you have the right to examine the debtor under oath about their financial situation. The debtor must answer questions about:

• All sources of employment and self-employment income
• Bank accounts (institution, branch, balances)
• Investment and retirement accounts
• Real property (houses, land, condos) owned anywhere in Quebec
• Movable property (vehicles, equipment, valuables)
• Debts owed to the debtor by third parties
• Any property transferred since the debt originated

The debtor can be compelled to produce supporting documents such as pay slips, tax returns, bank statements, and corporate financial statements if they own a business.

How to Initiate the Examination

You summon the debtor to appear using Form SJ-137 (Convocation du débiteur). The summons is served on the debtor — typically through a bailiff — specifying the date, time, and courthouse where they must appear.

If the debtor fails to show up after being properly served, the court can issue a contempt order (outrage au tribunal) under Article 14 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Contempt can result in fines or coercive imprisonment. Most debtors show up.

Public Registries You Can Search Yourself

You do not have to wait for a debtor examination to start investigating. Three provincial databases are publicly accessible:

Registraire des entreprises (REQ) — Search whether the debtor operates a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation. The registry shows registered business addresses, directors, and officers. If the debtor runs a business, the business's bank accounts and assets may also be reachable.

Registre foncier du Québec — The provincial land registry. Search by the debtor's name to find any real property they own in Quebec, including existing mortgages and encumbrances. A property that is heavily mortgaged may not be worth pursuing.

RDPRM (Registre des droits personnels et réels mobiliers) — The personal property rights registry. Shows existing liens, vehicle financing, equipment leases, and movable hypothecs against the debtor's property. If a vehicle shows up with active financing, the lender's security interest ranks ahead of your judgment.

What to Do With the Information

The examination gives you a map of the debtor's financial life. From there:

• Debtor has a job → File for wage garnishment through the clerk ($52 for an individual creditor; $63.75 for a legal entity)
• Debtor has a funded bank account → Retain a bailiff for a bank account seizure
• Debtor owns unencumbered property → Consider a legal hypothec or bailiff seizure
• Debtor has nothing → The judgment is still good for 10 years. Document what you learned, and try again when their situation changes

The complete enforcement guide includes an asset-tracing worksheet and a list of prepared questions for the debtor examination, so you walk into the courthouse ready to get useful answers.

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