Writ of Execution: What It Is and How Creditors Use One
A writ of execution is the court order that turns a money judgment into a seizure: it directs a sheriff or other levying officer to take the debtor's non-exempt property and sell it to pay what is owed. This page explains how a writ is issued and levied, how long it lasts in different states, what it cannot reach, and why a writ is only as good as the list of assets behind it.
Quick Answer
A writ of execution is issued by the court clerk after a money judgment and directs the sheriff or levying officer to seize and sell the debtor's non-exempt property. The procedure, the forms and the time limits come from state law, even in federal court. The writ only works on property you can identify, so creditors usually find the assets first. The $295 Creditor-Status Profile lists them, across all 50 states, in 1 to 5 days.
What is a writ of execution?
Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 69, a money judgment is enforced by a writ of execution: a court order directing a sheriff to seize and sell the debtor's non-exempt property. The writ reaches only property someone can point to, so creditors first find out what the debtor owns and where.
Writ of Execution Snapshot
| Federal rule | Fed. R. Civ. P. 69(a)(1): money judgments are enforced by writ of execution, under the procedure of the state where the court sits |
|---|---|
| Latin name | Writ of fieri facias, or fi. fa. |
| Who issues it | The clerk of the court that entered or holds the judgment |
| Who carries it out | The sheriff or other levying officer |
| Real property | In Washington, levied by recording a copy of the writ with the county recording officer |
| Time limits | Set by each state; Washington allows execution within 10 years of entry |
| Finding assets | $295 Creditor-Status Profile, 1 to 5 days |
Four Facts About Writs of Execution
- Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 69(a)(2) lets a judgment creditor obtain discovery from any person, including the judgment debtor, in aid of the judgment or execution.
- The Legal Information Institute defines fieri facias as a writ of execution directing an officer, usually a sheriff, to take control of property and sell it to satisfy a debt.
- Under RCW 6.17.090, all real and personal property of a Washington judgment debtor that is not exempted by law is liable to execution.
- Under Fla. Stat. 56.021, a Florida execution is valid and effective during the life of the judgment on which it is issued.
Pricing
| Report | Price | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Skip Trace | $95 | Locating the debtor first |
| Asset Profile Report | $195 | Assets, liens and court records, available for any purpose |
| Creditor-Status Profile | $295 | For judgment creditors: attachable assets nationwide, mortgage positions, equity estimates and property transfer analysis |
| Title Search & Asset Equity Analysis | $595 | One property before a levy or sale: chain of title, every lien in priority order, and the equity left |
Every report, $95 to $595, is delivered in 1 to 5 days, depending on the county and complexity. Flat fees, no contracts. These are records reports, not legal advice.
How a writ of execution works
The steps below follow Washington's statute, chapter 6.17 RCW, because it states each one plainly. Other states use the same sequence with their own forms and deadlines; a California writ of execution is Judicial Council form EJ-130.
- The judgment is entered. Under RCW 6.17.020, the judgment holder may have an execution, garnishment or other legal process issued at any time within 10 years from entry, with exceptions such as child support.
- For real property, the creditor files an affidavit first. RCW 6.17.100 requires the judgment creditor to file an affidavit with the court and mail a copy to the debtor's last known address before a writ may issue on real property, with extra steps if the property is claimed as a homestead.
- The clerk issues the writ. Under RCW 6.17.110, it is subscribed by the clerk, directed to the sheriff of the county where the property is situated, and states the court, the parties and the amount actually due.
- The sheriff levies. Under RCW 6.17.160, real property is levied on by recording a copy of the writ with the county recording officer, and personal property capable of manual delivery is taken into custody.
- The property is sold and the proceeds are applied to the judgment, under the sale, notice and distribution sections that follow in the same chapter.
How long you have to execute
There is no national deadline. Rule 69(a)(1) sends even federal judgments to the procedure of the state where the court is located. Two examples of how states set it:
| State | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | Execution, garnishment or other process may issue within 10 years from entry or filing of the judgment, with exceptions | RCW 6.17.020 |
| Florida | An execution is valid and effective during the life of the judgment; a judgment is not a lien on property after 20 years from entry | Fla. Stat. 56.021, 55.081 |
Check your own state's statute and your court's local rules before relying on any date; our asset search by state pages cover each state's enforcement rules.
What a writ of execution cannot reach
Two things stop a writ. The first is an exemption: RCW 6.17.090 makes a debtor's property liable to execution only where it is not exempted by law, and every state protects some property, often including part of a homestead. The second is the creditor's own knowledge. The writ is directed to the sheriff of a particular county and levied on particular property, so an asset you have not found, in a county you have not searched, is never reached.
That is why Rule 69(a)(2) allows discovery from any person, including the judgment debtor, in aid of the judgment or execution, and why creditors pair a writ with an asset search. For one state's exemptions in detail, see Florida exempt assets in judgment collection.
Find the assets before you request the writ
- Creditor-Status Profile, $295. For judgment creditors with a permissible purpose. 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. Delivered in 1 to 5 days.
- Title Search & Asset Equity Analysis, $595. Before you levy on a particular parcel: the chain of title as far back as the county's records go, every mortgage, lien and judgment matched to its release, and the equity left after recorded liens. Its Individual/Entity option covers every asset a debtor owns nationwide, with the equity in each property. Delivered in 1 to 5 days, depending on the county and complexity.
Both are records examinations, not legal advice; your attorney or the court decides what to levy. For the rest of the collection process, see how to collect on a judgment and judgment collection asset search.
Sources opened for this page on October 21, 2026: Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 69 and the fieri facias definition at the Legal Information Institute; Washington chapter 6.17 RCW; Fla. Stat. 56.021 and 55.081; and California Judicial Council form EJ-130 (revised July 1, 2026). More on the firm is on the about U.S. Asset Records page.
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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, $295Writ of Execution Questions
How long is a writ of execution good for?
It depends on the state. In Washington, RCW 6.17.020 allows execution within 10 years from entry of the judgment, with exceptions. In Florida, Fla. Stat. 56.021 makes an execution valid during the life of the judgment. Check your state's statute and your court's rules.
What is a writ of fieri facias?
It is the traditional Latin name for a writ of execution, abbreviated fi. fa. The Legal Information Institute defines it as a writ directing an officer, usually a sheriff, to take control of property and sell it to satisfy a debt.
What property can a writ of execution reach?
Non-exempt property of the judgment debtor. In Washington, RCW 6.17.090 makes all real and personal property not exempted by law liable to execution. Every state exempts some property, and the writ reaches only property that is identified and located.
Is a writ of execution the same as a judgment lien?
No. A judgment lien attaches to the debtor's property; in Florida, Fla. Stat. 55.081 ends it 20 years after entry. A writ of execution is the order that directs the sheriff to seize and sell property to pay the judgment.
How do I find assets to levy?
Rule 69(a)(2) allows discovery from any person, including the debtor, in aid of execution. A records search finds what is registered: the $295 Creditor-Status Profile lists real estate, vehicles, vessels, aircraft, business interests and liens across all 50 states in 1 to 5 days.
Does U.S. Asset Records file writs?
No. We supply records reports, not legal services; your attorney or the court handles the writ. Our reports identify the assets and the recorded liens against them.
Related Guides
For the full collection process, read how to collect on a judgment. Before the writ, a judgment lien secures the debt against real estate, and a debtor examination puts the debtor under questioning about their property. For finding what the debtor owns, see post-judgment asset search and locate assets of a debtor. To reach a deposit account, see how a bank levy works. For a single parcel before a levy, see the Title Search & Asset Equity Analysis.
Know What to Levy Before You Ask for the Writ
The $295 Creditor-Status Profile lists the debtor's real estate, vehicles, vessels, aircraft, business interests and recorded liens across all 50 states, delivered in 1 to 5 days.
Order the Creditor-Status Profile, $295