Money owed to you · Updated Oct 2026 · North Carolina

Won a judgment but not paid in North Carolina: what to do

Winning a judgment doesn't mean the court will collect it for you. You usually have to use your state's collection tools, such as wage garnishment, a bank levy, a lien on property or a writ of execution, and some income, like Social Security, is protected. Knowing where the person works or banks makes the biggest difference.

This plan is general legal information, not legal advice. RobinClaim is not a law firm. Laws and deadlines change and have exceptions: check with the official source or a lawyer or legal aid office about your own case.

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Your plan for North Carolina

Do now

  1. Check when the judgment becomes final. Your state page lists the appeal deadline.

    Why: In many states you can't start collection until the appeal period ends, and an appeal can pause collection.

  2. Get a certified copy of the judgment from the court clerk.

    Why: You'll need it for garnishment, levy and lien paperwork.

  3. Send the person a copy of the judgment with a written request to pay by a set date (template below).

    Why: Some people pay once they understand that collection is next.

This week

  1. If you answered “No” to “Do you know where the person works?”

    Ask the court for a debtor's examination or information order (names vary by state), where the person must answer questions under oath about jobs, bank accounts and property.

    Why: You can't garnish or levy without knowing where the money is.

  2. If you answered “Yes” to “Do you know where the person works?”

    Ask the clerk for the wage garnishment forms, then have them served on the employer.

    Why: Federal law caps garnishment for ordinary debts at 25% of disposable pay, or the amount above 30 times the federal minimum wage, whichever is less. Some states protect more, and a few mostly forbid wage garnishment for consumer debts.

  3. If you answered “Yes” to “Do you know where the person banks?”

    Ask the clerk for the bank levy or bank garnishment forms (often a writ of execution served by the sheriff or marshal).

    Why: A levy freezes money in the account. Banks must protect up to two months of directly deposited federal benefits like Social Security.

  4. If you answered “Yes” to “Does the person own a house, land or other valuable property?”

    Record the judgment (often an 'abstract of judgment') with the county recorder where the property is.

    Why: A lien means you are paid from a sale or refinance of the property.

If it's not resolved

  1. Keep track of payments and how long the judgment lasts. Ask the clerk how to renew it before it expires.

    Why: Judgments last for years and can often be renewed, but the rules and time limits differ by state.

  2. If the person moved to another state, ask about registering (domesticating) your judgment there.

    Why: A judgment is enforced through the courts of the state where the money or property is.

  3. When you're paid in full, file a satisfaction (acknowledgment of payment) with the court.

    Why: Many states require it, and the person can ask the court to make you file it.

  4. If you get a bankruptcy notice, stop collecting and read it.

    Why: Bankruptcy generally stops collection right away; you may need to file a claim in that case.

Deadlines

Appeal period (when collection can usually start)

General rule: see state

In North Carolina:

Either side can appeal to District Court for a completely new trial, with a jury if requested. Announce it at the hearing or file a Notice of Appeal (AOC-CVM-303) within 10 days, and pay the appeal costs ($146) within 20 days.

checked Oct 2026 · From Small Claims Map: North Carolina

How long the judgment lasts and how to renew it

General rule: check your state: ask the court clerk or your state court self-help center (not in our data yet)

Official source

Key facts for North Carolina

Small Claims Map

Most you can sue for
$10,000
Court
small claims court
Filing fee
$96–$126
Lawyers
Optional

Small Claims Map: North Carolina

Documents to gather

  • Certified copy of the judgment
  • The person's full name, address, employer and bank, if known
  • Record of any payments received
  • Copies of all collection papers you filed and proof of service
  • Your payment request letter

Letters you can send

Fill in the blanks; the letter updates as you type. Copy it, print it or save it as a text file. Nothing you type is sent or saved: it stays on this page until you close it.

Request to pay a court judgment

Sends a copy of the judgment and asks for payment by a set date before you start collection.

[Today's date]

[Debtor name]
[Debtor address]

Re: Judgment in [Court name], case no. [Case number]

On [Judgment date], the court entered a judgment against you for $[Judgment amount]. A copy is enclosed.

Please pay $[Judgment amount] by [Pay by date] by [How to pay]. If you'd like to propose a payment plan, contact me in writing by that date.

If I don't receive payment or a written proposal by [Pay by date], I plan to ask the court for the collection steps the law allows, such as wage garnishment or a bank levy.

[Your name]
[Your phone or email]

Where to go

  • LocalThe court clerk where you won

    For collection forms (debtor's exam, garnishment, levy, abstract of judgment, renewal, satisfaction). Your state page has the collection basics.

    Small Claims Map: North Carolina

  • LocalSheriff, marshal or constable

    To serve garnishment papers or carry out a levy, as your state requires.

  • StateFree legal aid (LawHelp.org)

    If you need advice about your own case and cannot afford a lawyer.

Costs

Each collection step usually has a court fee and a fee for the sheriff or process server. In many states these costs can be added to what the person owes. Your state page lists filing fees and the fee-waiver form.

Talk to a lawyer if

  • The person is hiding assets or has transferred property to others
  • The person or the money is in another state
  • The judgment is large or involves a business
  • The person has filed for bankruptcy

Free help

LawHelp.org (lawhelp.org) lists free legal aid programs and plain-language self-help pages for every state. The Legal Services Corporation's finder (lsc.gov/about-lsc/what-legal-aid/i-need-legal-help) shows the federally funded legal aid office for your address; these offices help people with low incomes for free. Most state court websites also run a free self-help center for small claims, and your state page on smallclaimsmap.com links to the official forms.

Guides for your state

Guides for every state

Questions

What is the appeal period (when collection can usually start) in North Carolina?

Either side can appeal to District Court for a completely new trial, with a jury if requested. Announce it at the hearing or file a Notice of Appeal (AOC-CVM-303) within 10 days, and pay the appeal costs ($146) within 20 days.

What is the how long the judgment lasts and how to renew it?

check your state: ask the court clerk or your state court self-help center (not in our data yet)

When should I talk to a lawyer?

The person is hiding assets or has transferred property to others; The person or the money is in another state; The judgment is large or involves a business; The person has filed for bankruptcy.

How much does it cost?

Each collection step usually has a court fee and a fee for the sheriff or process server. In many states these costs can be added to what the person owes. Your state page lists filing fees and the fee-waiver form.

Plans by state

Open the plan with one state's rules filled in:

Sources

Plan checked Oct 2026. Independently fact-checked 2026-10-24. Some details could not be fully verified; see the notes in each section.

This plan is general legal information, not legal advice. RobinClaim is not a law firm. Laws and deadlines change and have exceptions: check with the official source or a lawyer or legal aid office about your own case. How we research.