How to Enforce a Judgment in Ontario & BC
Courts do not collect judgments — creditors do. If you have won and the debtor still will not pay, the law gives you serious tools: garnishment of wages and bank accounts, writs against real property, and court proceedings that force the debtor to disclose their finances under oath. Knowing which tool to use, in which order, is what separates paid judgments from paper ones.
Ontario: garnishment, writs, and the debtor examination
In Ontario, a judgment creditor can garnish wages and bank accounts through a Notice of Garnishment, file a Writ of Seizure and Sale that binds the debtor's real property, and summon the debtor to an examination hearing to answer questions about assets under oath. Refusing to attend or answer can put the debtor in contempt. Judgments remain enforceable for years, and writs are renewable.
British Columbia: the Court Order Enforcement Act toolkit
BC creditors use garnishing orders (which can even be obtained before judgment in some cases), registration of the judgment against land, seizure and sale of personal property, and payment hearings where the debtor must attend and disclose their finances. A registered judgment clouds the debtor's title — powerful leverage in BC's property market.
Find the assets first
Enforcement fails when it is aimed at nothing. Before spending a dollar on process, we investigate: employer, banking relationships, real property, vehicles, receivables owed to the debtor, and corporate structures used to shield assets. This is where a 27.5-year police investigation background earns its keep.
How We Help With This
Common Questions
How long is my judgment good for?
Ontario judgments are enforceable for 20 years, though writs and garnishments have renewal requirements along the way. BC judgments are enforceable for 10 years and can be renewed by action. A debtor who is broke today may not be broke in five years — do not abandon a judgment prematurely.
Can I garnish someone's wages for a small claims judgment?
Yes, in both provinces. In Ontario, a portion of net wages (typically up to 20%) can be garnished; BC applies its own exemptions to protect basic income. Garnishment continues until the judgment, interest, and costs are paid.
The debtor transferred everything to their spouse. Is it over?
Not necessarily. Transfers made to defeat creditors can be attacked as fraudulent conveyances, and examinations under oath have a way of surfacing what really happened. This is precisely the kind of file our investigative practice was built for.
I won at the CRT. How do I enforce a CRT order?
A CRT order can be filed with the BC Provincial Court (or Supreme Court, depending on the order) and then enforced like any court judgment — garnishment, registration against property, and payment hearings included.
Where We Handle These Disputes
Representation across Ontario and British Columbia — virtually and in person.
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More common small claims scenarios, explained.