Debtor Examination: How a Judgment Debtor Exam Works
A debtor examination is the court proceeding where a judgment creditor questions the debtor, and sometimes third parties, about the debtor's property after a money judgment. It goes by other names, such as a judgment debtor exam, an order of examination or supplemental proceedings. This page explains how it is ordered and served, what happens if the debtor does not appear, what to ask, and why the creditor should arrive already knowing what the records show.
Quick Answer
After a money judgment, the creditor applies for an order requiring the debtor to appear and answer questions about their property, has it personally served, and examines the debtor before a judge or referee. A debtor who ignores the order can face contempt. The exam is most useful when the creditor already holds a records report to test the answers against: the $295 Creditor-Status Profile, across all 50 states, in 1 to 5 days.
What is a debtor examination?
A debtor examination is a court-ordered hearing after a money judgment where the debtor answers questions about their property; Washington allows one within 10 years of entry. It is most useful when the creditor arrives already knowing what the records show, so every answer can be tested.
Debtor Examination Snapshot
| Federal court | Fed. R. Civ. P. 69(a)(2): discovery from any person, including the debtor, under federal rules or state procedure |
|---|---|
| Washington | Order to appear before the judge or a referee, within 10 years of entry, judgments of $25 or more (RCW 6.32.010) |
| California | Judicial Council form AT-138/EJ-125, Application and Order for Appearance and Examination |
| Service in California | Personally served at least 30 days before the exam of a debtor, 10 days for a third person |
| If the debtor does not appear | Possible arrest and contempt, and in California an order to pay the creditor's reasonable attorney fees |
| Before the exam | $295 Creditor-Status Profile, 1 to 5 days |
Four Facts About Debtor Examinations
- Under RCW 6.32.015, a Washington court may instead order the debtor to answer written interrogatories under oath, without the creditor giving up the right to an in-person examination.
- Under RCW 6.32.030, a third person may be brought in for examination once execution has been returned unsatisfied, if they hold the debtor's property, owe the debtor money, hold title to real estate for the debtor, or know about the debtor's property interests.
- Under RCW 6.32.200, a party or witness is not excused from answering on the ground that the answer may show fraud or a transfer of property.
- The California EJ-125 notice tells the judgment debtor that failing to appear may bring arrest, punishment for contempt, and an order to pay the creditor's reasonable attorney fees.
Pricing
| Report | Price | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Skip Trace | $95 | Finding the debtor to serve the order |
| Asset Profile Report | $195 | Assets, liens and court records, available for any purpose |
| Creditor-Status Profile | $295 | For judgment creditors: attachable assets nationwide, equity estimates and property transfer analysis |
| Title Search & Asset Equity Analysis | $595 | One property in depth, or every asset of a person or business with the equity in each property |
Every report, $95 to $595, is delivered in 1 to 5 days, depending on the county and complexity. Flat fees, no contracts. Records reports, not legal advice.
How a debtor examination works
Washington's chapter 6.32 RCW lays out the whole proceeding, and California's mandatory form shows the same steps in practice.
- Apply for the order. Under RCW 6.32.010, within 10 years after entry of a judgment of $25 or more, the court may order the debtor to appear before the judge or a referee and answer. In California the application and order is form AT-138/EJ-125.
- Serve it. The California form tells the creditor to have the order personally served by a sheriff, marshal, registered process server or appointed person, at least 30 calendar days before the exam of a judgment debtor and at least 10 days before the exam of a third person, and to file proof of service.
- Examine. The debtor answers under the court's order. Under RCW 6.32.200, a party or witness cannot refuse to answer on the ground that the answer would show fraud or a transfer of property.
- Reach what the exam turns up. Under RCW 6.32.080, if the testimony shows the debtor holds money or personal property, the judge may order it delivered to the sheriff.
If the debtor ignores the order, RCW 6.32.180 allows punishment as for contempt, and RCW 6.32.010 lets the judge order the debtor arrested where the creditor shows by affidavit a danger of the debtor absconding. In federal court, Rule 69(a)(2) allows discovery from any person, including the debtor, under the federal rules or the procedure of the state where the court sits.
Why the records come before the questions
An examination is only as good as the creditor's ability to test the answers. A debtor who says they own no real estate can be shown the recorded deed; one who says a company is worthless can be asked about the UCC filing that shows its equipment was pledged as collateral; one who says a house went to a relative can be asked about the transfer date. Typical lines of questioning follow the public record:
- Each parcel the debtor owns or has owned, how title is held, and the mortgages against it
- Vehicles, boats and aircraft, and where they are kept
- Companies the debtor owns, manages or is an officer of
- Property transferred to relatives, trusts or entities, and when
- Where the debtor banks and how they are paid, which the public record does not show
The $295 Creditor-Status Profile gives you that record before the hearing: real estate in all 50 states with mortgage positions, equity estimates and deed history; vehicle, watercraft and aircraft registrations; business entities and officer positions; UCC filings; tax and judgment liens; litigation and bankruptcy; and property transfer analysis that flags suspicious conveyances. It is delivered in 1 to 5 days, so it fits inside the 30-day California service window.
After the examination
The exam identifies property; other process reaches it. Real estate is usually secured with a judgment lien and sold under a writ of execution; for one parcel, the Title Search & Asset Equity Analysis shows every lien ahead of yours and the equity left. For the whole process, see how to collect on a judgment.
Sources opened for this page on October 21, 2026: Washington chapter 6.32 RCW (sections 6.32.010, .015, .030, .080, .180 and .200); California Judicial Council form AT-138/EJ-125 (revised October 1, 2024); and Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 69. More on the firm is on the about U.S. Asset Records page.
Order Your Report
Flat-fee pricing. No contracts, no retainer, no escrow account. Every report is delivered in 1 to 5 days, depending on the county and complexity, and includes answers to your questions at no charge.
Order the Creditor-Status Profile, $295Debtor Examination Questions
What is a debtor examination?
A court-ordered proceeding after a money judgment where the judgment debtor answers questions about their property before a judge or referee. Washington allows one within 10 years after entry of a judgment of $25 or more, under RCW 6.32.010.
What happens if the debtor does not appear?
The California EJ-125 notice warns that the debtor may be arrested, punished for contempt, and ordered to pay the creditor's reasonable attorney fees. In Washington, RCW 6.32.180 allows punishment as for contempt.
Can third parties be examined?
Yes. In Washington, RCW 6.32.030 allows a third person to be examined once execution has been returned unsatisfied, if they hold the debtor's property, owe the debtor money, hold title for the debtor, or know about the debtor's property interests.
How far in advance must the order be served?
In California, the EJ-125 form says the order must be personally served at least 30 calendar days before the examination of a judgment debtor, and at least 10 calendar days before the examination of a third person.
Should I run an asset search before the exam?
It helps you test the answers. The $295 Creditor-Status Profile lists the debtor's real estate, vehicles, vessels, aircraft, business interests, liens and recent transfers across all 50 states, delivered in 1 to 5 days.
Does U.S. Asset Records conduct debtor examinations?
No. We supply records reports, not legal services; your attorney or the court handles the examination. Our reports give you the record to question the debtor against.
How do I find a debtor who moved before I serve the examination order?
Order a $95 skip trace so the order can be personally served at a current address. It locates a person anywhere in the United States and returns current and historical addresses with date ranges, phone numbers, known aliases, and relatives and associates, at $95 flat per search, delivered in 1 to 5 days. The debtor is never contacted.
Related Guides
After the exam, read writ of execution and judgment lien. For the full process, see how to collect on a judgment, and for finding assets, post-judgment asset search.
Walk Into the Exam Knowing the Answers
The $295 Creditor-Status Profile lists the debtor's real estate, vehicles, vessels, aircraft, business interests, liens and recent transfers across all 50 states, delivered in 1 to 5 days.
Order the Creditor-Status Profile, $295