Satisfaction of Judgment in Western Australia: How to Record a Judgment as Paid

You have chased the money through means inquiries, enforcement orders, and maybe a bailiff visit or two. The debtor has finally paid. But the case does not close itself — there are steps you need to take to formally record the judgment as satisfied and release any orders that are still active against the debtor.

Skipping these steps leaves enforcement machinery running. Active earnings appropriation orders keep deducting wages. Property seizure orders registered at Landgate keep encumbering the debtor's title. And the court record still shows an unpaid judgment, which can affect the debtor's credit and create complications if they need to refinance or sell property.

What "Satisfaction" Means Under the CJEA

Under the Civil Judgments Enforcement Act 2004 (WA), a judgment is "satisfied" when the judgment debtor has paid the full amount owing — the original principal, any awarded court costs, post-judgment interest at 6% per annum, and all enforcement fees added along the way.

Partial payments do not satisfy the judgment. If the debtor has paid $8,000 of a $10,000 debt, the judgment remains active and you can continue enforcement for the balance. You only need to close the case once every dollar has been accounted for, including interest accrued up to the date of final payment.

Steps to Close an Enforcement Case

Once you have received full payment, work through these steps in order:

Notify the court registry in writing. Contact the Magistrates Court registry (Perth: 08 9425 2222) and notify it that the judgment debt has been satisfied in full. Include the court file reference number and the date of final payment.

Discharge active enforcement orders. If you have active Earnings Appropriation Orders, send written notice to the debtor's employer that the order is discharged and deductions must stop. For Debt Appropriation Orders against a bank, notify the bank in writing. The court registry also recalls active enforcement warrants once you confirm satisfaction.

Withdraw property registrations at Landgate. If you registered a Property (Seizure and Sale) Order on the debtor's land title under section 133 of the Transfer of Land Act 1893, you need to lodge a formal withdrawal at Landgate to remove the encumbrance. Until you do this, the PSSO remains registered on the title and can block the debtor's property transactions.

Confirm the court record is updated. The registry updates the case status based on your notification. Credit reporting agencies draw from court registry records, so an updated record helps the debtor's credit file reflect the paid status.

What Happens if You Do Not Close the Case

The PSSO remains in force for 12 months from the date of issue. Confirm with the registry that any other active enforcement orders have been recalled, and notify the employer or bank in writing so deductions or payments stop.

Leaving a PSSO registered at Landgate after payment keeps it on the title record. Lodge a formal withdrawal at Landgate to clear the registration.

When the Debtor Pays Through the Court

If payment comes through the court — for example, the bailiff recovered funds through a property seizure and sale — the court accounts for the money and distributes it according to the statutory priority order. The bailiff's execution expenses and commission come first, then your judgment debt and interest. The court handles the accounting, but you should still confirm with the registry that the full amount has been received and allocated.

Getting Help

If you are unsure whether the judgment is fully satisfied or need help calculating the final balance including interest, the complete enforcement guide includes a payment tracking ledger and interest calculator that walk you through the arithmetic.

Legal Aid WA (1300 650 579) and Community Legal WA can help with questions about discharge procedures if the numbers get complicated.

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