You won in small claims court. Now try getting paid

Something that comes up constantly in small claims content but almost never in the "how to file" guides: a judgment is not money. The court decides you're owed it. The court does not go get it for you.

Once you have a judgment, collecting it is usually a separate process, and it is on you to start it. Depending on your state that can mean wage garnishment, a bank levy, a lien on property, or a debtor's examination where the other side has to disclose what they own and where they bank. Each of those is its own filing, often with its own fee. If the person genuinely has no income and no assets, you may hold a valid judgment for years and collect nothing.

Judgments do generally last a long time (commonly 5-20 years depending on the state) and can often be renewed, so "uncollectable today" is not always "uncollectable forever."

Two questions for the sub:

1. If you've been through small claims, did you actually collect? What step finally worked?
2. Knowing what you know now, would you still have filed?

Please include your state or country - collection procedure varies enormously by jurisdiction.

General information for discussion, not legal advice.