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What Happens After a Judgment?
Once a judgment is rendered, either party can appeal that decision within a 30 day period. An appeal from Magistrate Court is transferred to either Superior or State Court, where everything will begin anew, as if the first trial never happened.
If you are awarded a money judgment, it is still not a guarantee that you will actually receive your money or property. Neither the court nor the judge are authorized to collect a judgment for you -- that's your responsibility. Unfortunately, doing so can be a difficult and involved process and you will not always be successful. The losing party may declare bankruptcy, find ways to avoid payment of the judgment altogether, or simply not have the means to pay the judgment.
To collect on a judgment you may want to obtain a garnishment which seeks payment directly from the other side's assets, property or wages. Another method used for collection is to obtain what is called a Fi Fa. This is a judicial writ that directs a sheriff to satisfy a judgment from the debtor's property. It permits a levy on real property and the seizure and sale of goods. A lien may also be taken on a specific item of the person's property. And through the process of a levy, the sheriff can also seize the defendant's property and put it up for sale to help pay the judgment.