Once you’ve identified the financial institution holding your debtor’s funds, the real work begins. A successful bank levy depends on precision: knowing where to serve, preparing the right forms, and following up until the money lands in your hands. At The Grundon Law Firm, we use a consistent system that avoids the most common pitfalls and ensures every levy counts.
Determine Where You Must Serve Your Bank Levy
The first step is to verify the proper place to serve the levy. California law states that financial institutions can designate a central location for service of process under Code of Civil Procedure § 684.115. You can check for a central location here: https://dfpi.ca.gov/rules-enforcement/legal-process-information/central-locations-for-service-of-legal-process/
If they do, you must serve all levies at that location. If they do not, you can serve levies on any branch in the state.
Unless your financial institution has a central location for service in Los Angeles or Sacramento or the Bay Area, avoid serving there. Los Angeles and Sacramento are heavily backlogged and can take weeks longer to process levies. Most Bay Area counties require you to hire a private process server to serve your levy. When practical, we recommend using San Diego County, where the Sheriff’s Civil Division move quickly and communicate efficiently with attorneys.
Before proceeding, also determine whether the judgment is consumer or commercial. Consumer judgments—those against an individual rather than a business—require address verification.
Capture Recoverable Costs and Post Judgment Interest By Filing a Memorandum of Costs After Judgment
A Memorandum of Costs After Judgment (MC-012) to add accrued interest, enforcement costs, and attorney time(if allowed) . When you file this memorandum, the judgment debtor has 10 days to file a motion to tax costs. If they do not within that period, you can add the costs and interest on to your writ of execution.
File Your Writ of Execution
File your Writ of Execution (EJ-130) with the same court that entered the judgment, selecting the county where the bank branch to be levied is located. The writ authorizes the Sheriff or a registered process server to act. Once issued, it remains valid for 180 days. Verify that the debtor’s name, address, and amount match your judgment and the updated Memorandum of Costs.
Prepare the Levy Package to Submit to the Sheriff
Your levy packet will include the writ of execution, and two mandatory Judicial Council forms the EJ-001 and EJ-001A if you’re maintaining recorded liens. When completing these documents, include as much identifying information as possible: the debtor’s full name, all known aliases, last known address, and, if available, Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number.
This information helps banks correctly match and freeze accounts. Omitting it often leads to “no match found” responses.
In your written instructions to the levying officer, always include comprehensive language such as: “This levy shall attach to all deposit accounts, certificates of deposit, trust accounts, and any safe-deposit boxes in the name of the judgment debtor(s), whether individually or jointly, and to any accounts associated with the debtor’s Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number.” That one sentence ensures every potentially reachable account is covered.
Follow Up After Service
After service, the bank must complete a Memorandum of Garnishee (EJ-152) confirming the amount of money frozen. The Sheriff then holds those funds for the statutory waiting period and ultimately releases them to the creditor. If the bank fails to respond or no funds appear, don’t assume the levy failed. First, contact the Sheriff’s Civil Division to verify whether any memorandum was received. If not, follow up directly with the bank’s legal order processing unit. Persistent non-response can be addressed with a motion to compel compliance or sanctions under CCP §§ 701.020 and 708.170.
Final Thoughts
Executing a proper bank levy requires equal parts precision and persistence. From verifying the service location to drafting clear instructions, every detail influences the outcome. At The Grundon Law Firm, we manage the entire enforcement process—preparing writs, coordinating with Sheriffs and process servers, and ensuring funds are released to our clients as quickly as the law allows. If you’ve identified where your debtor banks and are ready to act, contact our office. We’ll make sure your levy is served correctly, processed efficiently, and—most importantly—paid.
