Dallas 

Dallas Business Judgment Enforcement Attorney

Helping You Enforce Your Judgment in Dallas, Collin County, & Nearby Areas

You won your business litigation case and received a judgment that says the other side owes you money. The question is: how do you enforce that judgment? With experience employing various methods provided for under Texas law, Sprigg-Novak Law Firm can help you recover what the Court says you are entitled to receive in Dallas County, Collin County, and the surrounding courts.

Writs of Garnishment

A writ of garnishment lets you reach money the debtor is owed by someone else, most commonly funds sitting in the debtor's bank account. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 63, the garnishment is directed at the third party holding the debtor's funds, called the garnishee, not the debtor directly. Once the writ is served, the garnishee is required to freeze the funds until the court sorts out how much is owed to you.

Writs of Execution

A writ of execution, authorized under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 621, directs a county constable or sheriff to seize and sell a debtor's non-exempt property to satisfy the judgment. This tool works best when the debtor owns tangible property, vehicles, equipment, or inventory, that can be identified, seized, and sold at auction to generate the funds you're owed.

Turnover Orders

Some assets can't be reached with a simple seizure. A turnover order, available under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 31.002, compels a debtor to turn over non-exempt property, or the rights to that property, directly to the court or a receiver. This is often the right tool when a debtor holds an ownership interest in another business, accounts receivable, or other assets that aren't sitting in a single identifiable location.

Abstracts of Judgment

An abstract of judgment is a summary of your judgment recorded with the county clerk, typically the Dallas County Clerk or Collin County Clerk depending on where the debtor owns property, under Texas Property Code Section 52.001. Once recorded, it creates a judgment lien against any real property the debtor owns in that county, meaning the debtor generally cannot sell or refinance that property without addressing your judgment first.

Post-Judgment Liens

Beyond the lien created by a recorded abstract of judgment, Texas law provides other lien mechanisms that give your judgment priority against specific assets. These liens matter most when a debtor has property or business interests but limited cash on hand, since a properly perfected lien can force a resolution even when there's no money to seize today.

Putting These Tools to Work

After winning judgment for more than $22,000 plus attorneys' fees against a commercial tenant who defaulted on rent, our team used the post-judgment tools described above to make sure that judgment translated into actual payment for our client, not just a piece of paper from the court.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Do I Have to Enforce a Judgment in Texas?

A Texas judgment generally remains enforceable for 10 years from the date it's signed, and it can typically be revived before it expires if the debt hasn't yet been collected. Waiting too long can make enforcement harder, so it's best to act while the judgment is fresh.

What if the Debtor Doesn't Have Money Right Now?

A lack of immediate cash doesn't mean the judgment goes uncollected. An abstract of judgment creates a lien on real property so that if the debtor ever sells or refinances, your judgment gets paid first. Turnover orders can also reach non-cash assets like business interests or receivables.

Can I Enforce a Judgment Against a Business Owner's Personal Assets?

It depends on how the underlying claim and judgment were structured, and whether corporate formalities were followed. Our attorneys evaluate whether piercing the corporate veil or a personal guaranty applies to your situation, so you know which assets are actually reachable.