A court judgment establishes that one party legally owes money to another, but it does not automatically move funds from the debtor to the creditor. The winning party, now called the judgment creditor, generally has to take further legal action to actually collect, using enforcement tools that vary by state and depend heavily on what assets or income the debtor has.

Some debtors pay voluntarily once a judgment is entered, particularly if they have the means and want to avoid further collection action or damage to their credit. When voluntary payment does not happen, the creditor moves to formal collection methods.

Wage garnishment allows a creditor to have a portion of the debtor's paycheck withheld directly by their employer, subject to federal and state limits on how much can be taken. Bank account levies allow a creditor to seize funds directly from the debtor's bank account, though certain funds are often exempt, such as some government benefits.

Recording a judgment lien against the debtor's real property creates a claim that generally must be resolved before the property can be sold or refinanced. In some cases, creditors can also pursue a 'debtor's examination' — a court proceeding where the debtor must disclose their assets and income under oath — to identify what, if anything, is available to collect.

Every state provides exemptions protecting certain property and income from collection — for example, a portion of home equity, personal belongings up to certain values, and various types of retirement or benefit income are frequently protected in whole or in part. A judgment against a debtor with little income or few non-exempt assets can be very difficult to collect in practice, even though it remains legally valid and enforceable.

Judgments generally remain enforceable for years and, in most states, can be renewed before they expire, meaning a creditor unable to collect immediately can often continue pursuing collection well into the future if the debtor's financial situation improves.

Identifying where the debtor works and banks is often the first practical step, since garnishment and levy tools require targeting a specific employer or financial institution. Some creditors hire collection attorneys or use post-judgment discovery tools, like interrogatories or a debtor's examination, specifically to locate assets that were not obvious at the time of judgment.

Because collection procedures, exemptions, and deadlines vary significantly by state, working with an attorney experienced in judgment enforcement — rather than attempting each step independently — often results in more efficient and complete recovery, particularly for larger judgments.