Rule 69.Execution

Last amended December 1, 2007 · Last verified June 30, 2026

In one sentenceRule 69 governs collecting a money judgment: a writ of execution and the proceedings supplementing it follow the practice of the state where the court sits, unless a federal statute applies, and a judgment creditor may take discovery to locate assets.

Full Text of Rule 69

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b)

(a) In General.

(1) Money Judgment; Applicable Procedure. A money judgment is enforced by a writ of execution, unless the court directs otherwise. The procedure on execution—and in proceedings supplementary to and in aid of judgment or execution—must accord with the procedure of the state where the court is located, but a federal statute governs to the extent it applies.

(2) Obtaining Discovery. In aid of the judgment or execution, the judgment creditor or a successor in interest whose interest appears of record may obtain discovery from any person—including the judgment debtor—as provided in these rules or by the procedure of the state where the court is located.

(b) Against Certain Public Officers. When a judgment has been entered against a revenue officer in the circumstances stated in 28 U.S.C. § 2006, or against an officer of Congress in the circumstances stated in 2 U.S.C. § 118,1 the judgment must be satisfied as those statutes provide.

End

Amendment History

(Amended December 29, 1948, effective October 20, 1949; March 30, 1970, effective July 1, 1970; March 2, 1987 effective August 1, 1987; April 30, 2007, effective December 1, 2007.)

Plain-English Summary

Winning a money judgment is only half the battle; Rule 69 is about getting paid. A money judgment is enforced by a writ of execution, and the procedure on execution — and in any proceeding supplementary to or in aid of it — follows the law of the state where the court is located, except where a federal statute governs.

Borrowing state collection practice means a judgment creditor can use familiar tools like levying on property and garnishing wages or accounts. Rule 69 also lets the creditor obtain discovery from any person, including the judgment debtor, to find leviable assets — the judgment-debtor examination that often follows an unpaid judgment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you collect a federal money judgment?

By a writ of execution, using the enforcement procedures of the state where the court sits unless a federal statute applies (Rule 69(a)).

Can a judgment creditor take discovery to find assets?

Yes. Rule 69(a)(2) lets the creditor obtain discovery from any person, including the judgment debtor, in aid of execution.

Source & verification. The rule text and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the official Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (Fed. R. Civ. P. 69), a public-domain work of the U.S. Government. Prescribed by the United States Supreme Court under the Rules Enabling Act. The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified June 30, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: FRCP 69Fed. R. Civ. P. 69executionwrit of executioncollecting a judgmentjudgment debtor examination