Writ of Execution in Arizona — Collecting a Small Claims Judgment

The Court Won't Collect for You

Winning a small claims judgment in Arizona means the court has decided the defendant owes you money. It does not mean the money appears in your account. If the defendant doesn't pay voluntarily, you become a judgment creditor, and enforcement is your responsibility under A.R.S. §§ 22-243 through 22-246.

Payment is technically due immediately upon judgment entry. Most defendants ask for time. If they don't pay and don't make arrangements, you have three main enforcement tools.

Writ of Execution

A writ of execution directs a constable or sheriff to seize the judgment debtor's non-exempt personal property — vehicles, equipment, inventory, valuables — and sell it at a public auction. The proceeds go toward satisfying your judgment.

To get one, file a request with the court clerk after the judgment becomes final. The clerk issues the writ, and you deliver it to the constable's office with information about what property the debtor owns and where it's located. There's a fee for the constable's service, which gets added to the judgment balance.

Arizona exempts certain property from execution, including basic household furnishings, tools of a trade (up to a statutory value), and equity in one motor vehicle up to the annually adjusted statutory amount (base $15,000; $25,000 if the debtor or a dependent has a physical disability) under A.R.S. § 33-1125(8). If the debtor's only substantial asset is an exempt vehicle, the writ may not produce results.

Writ of Garnishment

Garnishment goes after the debtor's bank accounts or wages. You file a writ of garnishment identifying the bank or employer, and the garnishee is legally required to freeze or withhold funds.

Bank account garnishment hits whatever's in the account at the time the writ is served on the bank. The bank holds the funds (up to the judgment amount) and turns them over to the court.

Wage garnishment takes a portion of the debtor's ongoing pay. For most non-support debts, Arizona limits garnishment to the lesser of 10% of weekly disposable earnings or the amount by which weekly disposable earnings exceed 60 times the highest applicable federal, state, or local minimum wage (A.R.S. § 33-1131(B)).

You'll need to know where the debtor banks or works. If you don't have this information, a debtor examination is the tool for finding out.

Debtor Examination

A debtor examination (also called a supplemental proceeding) is a court hearing where the judgment debtor must appear under oath and disclose information about their assets and liabilities. You can ask the court to require the debtor to appear.

The court or judgment creditor may require additional information. If the debtor does not appear, ask the court about the next enforcement step. The information you gather becomes the roadmap for garnishment or execution.

Post-Judgment Interest

Your judgment accrues post-judgment interest automatically. Under A.R.S. § 44-1201, the rate is the lesser of 10% per annum or 1% plus the Federal Reserve prime rate on the date judgment was entered. For medical debt judgments, it's capped at the lesser of 3% or the weekly average one-year Treasury yield.

This interest runs until the judgment is paid in full.

Filing Satisfaction of Judgment

Once the debtor pays everything owed — the original judgment, interest, and enforcement costs — you're required to file a Satisfaction of Judgment with the court within 30 calendar days under A.R.S. § 22-505. Failing to file exposes you to statutory damages.

The Arizona Small Claims Filing Guide covers the post-judgment landscape alongside the filing process, so you know what enforcement options exist before you walk into your hearing.

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