Till Taps in California: Using Disruption to Enforce a Judgment
Obtaining a judgment is only the first step in the collection process. Many judgment debtors ignore judgments because they assume nothing will actually happen after the court enters the order.
In practice, collecting judgments usually comes down to one thing: disruption. When a debtor refuses to deal with a judgment voluntarily, the most effective enforcement tools are the ones that disrupt the debtor’s normal operations and prevent them from operating normally until the judgment is collected.
For businesses that operate a storefront, one of the most direct ways to create that disruption is a Till Tap.
A Till Tap allows the Sheriff to enter the debtor’s business and seize the cash currently sitting in the register or cash drawer. It is simple, direct, and often very effective at forcing a debtor to address the judgment.
Legal Authority for Till Taps Under California Law
Till Taps are authorized under California’s Enforcement of Judgments Law.
The process begins with a writ of execution. Under California Code of Civil Procedure section 699.510, a judgment creditor may obtain a writ of execution authorizing the levying officer, typically the county Sheriff, to enforce the judgment.
Once the writ is issued, the creditor provides levy instructions directing the Sheriff to perform the Till Tap at the debtor’s place of business.
California Code of Civil Procedure section 700.070 authorizes the levying officer to enter a business and seize the cash contained in the cash register or cash drawer. This type of levy is what practitioners commonly refer to as a Till Tap.
If you are unfamiliar with the broader enforcement framework, you may want to review How to Enforce a Judgment in California, which explains how writs of execution and other enforcement tools fit together.
How a Till Tap Actually Happens
Once the writ of execution is issued, the creditor sends levy instructions to the Sheriff requesting the Till Tap at the debtor’s business.
In many counties you can request that the levy occur at a specific date and time. The Sheriff is not obligated to perform the levy at that exact moment, but if the request is made far enough in advance and falls within normal operating hours, many Sheriff’s offices will try to accommodate the requested timing.
The Sheriff’s deputy arrives at the business during operating hours, identifies themselves, and executes the levy by seizing the cash currently in the register or cash drawer.
Because a Till Tap occurs at a single moment in time, the amount collected depends entirely on how much cash happens to be present when the deputy arrives. Some levies recover very little cash, while others recover substantial amounts depending on the nature of the business and the timing of the levy.
Even when the amount recovered is modest, the disruption to the business is often what produces results. When a Sheriff walks into a business and empties the cash register, the debtor usually realizes that the judgment creditor is actively pursuing collection and that further enforcement actions may follow.
Confirming the Business Before the Levy
Before instructing the Sheriff to perform a Till Tap, it is important to confirm that the business actually belongs to the judgment debtor.
When a deputy arrives to perform a Till Tap or Keeper Levy, they will usually confirm that the business license displayed at the storefront matches the name of the judgment debtor listed on the writ of execution.
If the business operates under a fictitious business name, it is important to confirm that the fictitious business name is properly tied to the debtor. In some situations you may need to provide documentation showing that relationship, or include the name through an affidavit of identity.
Resolving that issue ahead of time helps avoid delays when the Sheriff arrives to execute the levy.
When a Till Tap Is the Right Tool
Till Taps tend to work best when the debtor operates a physical business that regularly handles cash. Restaurants, retail stores, and similar storefront operations are common examples.
If the business processes most of its revenue through credit card transactions, however, a Keeper Levy may be the more effective enforcement tool.
During a Keeper Levy, the Sheriff places a keeper inside the business for a period of time and the business is restricted in how it can process payments. In many cases the presence of the keeper prevents the business from processing credit card transactions during the levy period, which can be far more disruptive than a single Till Tap.
The choice between these tools often depends on how the business actually receives its revenue.
For example, if a debtor is ignoring a judgment and operating a storefront business, it may make sense to combine a Till Tap with other enforcement efforts such as bank levies and assignment orders. When the debtor suddenly finds that both the business register and their bank account are subject to levy, they often become much more willing to address the judgment.
Final Thoughts
Till Taps remain one of the most effective enforcement tools available for collecting judgments against operating businesses in California. They are simple, direct, and capable of creating immediate disruption for a debtor who has been ignoring a valid judgment.
In many cases, the goal of a Till Tap is not simply the amount of cash recovered in the register on that particular day. The real purpose is to demonstrate that the judgment creditor is actively enforcing the judgment and will continue doing so until the debt is satisfied.
If you are attempting to collect a judgment against a business in California and want to evaluate your enforcement options, you can request a Free Judgment Enforcement Evaluation to discuss possible strategies.
