An Order for Examination or Debtor's Exam
If you don't pay what the judge said you owe, the other side can ask for a debtor’s examination to learn what you own and where you work. They can ask the same about your spouse or registered domestic partner. They will then use this information to get the money through a court process.
What is a debtor's exam?
You must come to a debtor's examination if you're served Form SC-134 or EJ-125.
At a debtor's examination, the other side can ask you about your financial situation. They can ask things like where you work, what you earn, where you bank, and what property you own. They may also ask about what your spouse or registered domestic partner earns or owns. The other side can do this even if you sent in a Judgment Debtor's Statement of Assets (form SC-133).
The examination can add costs to what you owe
The other side can have the money they paid to tell you about this court date added to what you owe.
You may need to bring copies of financial papers to the court date
- If you were served the Order to Produce Statement of Assets and to Appear for Examination (form SC-134), you need to bring a filled out copy of your Judgment Debtor's Statement of Assets (form SC-133) to the court date. If you don't want to go to the exam or complete this form, you must pay what's owed before the court date.
- If you were served Small Claims Subpoena and Declaration (form SC-107), you’re ordered to bring in paperwork about your or your spouse/registered domestic partner’s finances.
The other side will use the information to try to collect
After the examination, the other side might start to try to collect using the information they got about what you earn and own. If they try to collect from your bank account or paycheck, you may be able to stop or limit what's being taken. You will get a notice if this happens.