• The debtor has tangible assets (vehicles, machinery, inventory, office contents).

• You want leverage now, not just a lien on real estate that pays off at the next refinance.

• Garnishment isn’t enough (no wages to hit, bank balances are thin, or money is swept out).

• You’re prepared to fund reasonable Sheriff costs (they come out of proceeds first).

You can generally seize goods/chattels the debtor owns—but not everything:

• Commonly exigible: Vehicles, equipment, inventory, electronics, furniture/fixtures (if not affixed), safes/tills/cash on premises, and other movable property.

• Often exempt by statute: Necessary clothing, modest household necessities, certain tools of the trade, specific farm items, some benefits. (Dollar limits and categories are set by the Execution Act—verify current amounts before acting.)

• Not “goods”:Bank accounts and accounts receivable aren’t seized as goods—use garnishment for those.

• Secured/leased assets: If a secured creditor or lessor has priority, your seizure may net nothing. Always run a PPSA search and gather lease/finance details first.

1. Identify assets: Use an examination in aid of execution (r. 60.18), site intel, invoices, delivery addresses, website/socials, and supplier chatter.

2. Prove ownership: Invoices, serial numbers, insurance schedules, photo logs.

3. Run searches: PPSA (serial-number goods), MTO/UVIP for vehicles, and—if relevant—corporate profiles.

4. Feasibility/equity: Estimate forced-sale value and deduct: Sheriff fees, movers/riggers, storage, ads, auction fees, and your legal fees.

5. Name discipline: Ensure the judgment/writ/debtor name (and aliases) match exactly.

• Issue the writ (Form 60A in Superior Court; Small Claims has parallel forms).

• File it with the Sheriff (Enforcement Office) for any district where the debtor owns assets or operates. If assets are scattered, file in each relevant district.

• Diarize the renewal window so the writ doesn’t lapse.

The Sheriff doesn’t “hunt” for assets. They execute your plan. We send a package that makes action easy and defensible. It includes relevant information, enforcement direction, fees, retainers, forms, value estimates, and undertakings, if required.

Ask the Sheriff to make a preliminary seizure visit:

• Sheriff attends, seizes visible cash, and warns removal is coming.

• If the debtor decides to pay immediately, that payment goes to your file (not a pooled execution distribution).

• No search authority at this stage; Sheriff accepts cash/certified funds/debtor’s cheque (not third-party cards).

This step often flushes quick money and avoids storage/auction costs.

• Sheriff attends with movers/riggers you’ve arranged (or their vendors).

• Property is inventoried, removed, and taken to secure storage.

• Condition risk transfers to the Sheriff once the asset leaves the debtor’s control; from there, the Sheriff owes duties to both sides.

• If a third party on site claims ownership, expect a pause and possible interpleader or court motion to resolve title before sale.

• Sheriff advertises (notice periods and mediums vary locally) and conducts a public auction (or sealed bid).

• Sheriff has a duty to achieve fair market value—if bidding is too low, they can re-advertise (your retainer covers added costs).

• Proceeds flow: Costs out first (Sheriff fees, storage, ads, auctioneer), then priorities (secureds if applicable), then pro rata among execution creditors under the Creditor’s Relief Act.

• Can you bid? Usually yes, but confirm bidding rules; you’ll typically need cash-equivalent—you can’t “bid your judgment.”

• Leased/financed equipment: If title is with a lessor or heavily encumbered, net is often nil. Consider garnishing receivables instead.

• Fixtures/landlord issues: If items are affixed, you may need a fixtures strategy or to coordinate with the landlord.

• Goods with customers (bailees): You can direct the Sheriff to seize at the bailee’s premises, but expect extra logistics—and possible title disputes.

• Sensitive assets (cold-chain, hazardous, perishable): Ask the Sheriff about special handling/storage vendors and whether a receiver or tailored order is wiser.

• Wrongful seizure risk: If a court later finds a seizure improper, the Sheriff must return and re-install; your side pays those costs because the Sheriff acted on your direction.

• Misnamed debtor (or missing alias) on the writ.

• No PPSA search—you seized secured collateral and ate costs.

• Thin equity—storage/ads/auction devour the proceeds.

• Vague directions—the Sheriff stalls; costs climb.

• Skipping preliminary seizure—you miss a quick, file-only payment.

• Garnishments (bank, wages, receivables, payment processors/factors).

• Examinations (debtor and third-party) to surface assets and documents.

• Writ on land (quiet leverage for refinances/sales).

• Receivership for complex going concerns where piecemeal seizure is wasteful.

Q: Can we seize the debtor’s bank account as a “good”?
No. Bank balances are debts—use garnishment.

Q: Can the Sheriff force entry into a residence?
Residential entry is tightly constrained. Discuss access realities with the Sheriff and consider court directions if needed. Non-dwelling commercial premises are generally more straightforward.

Q: What if a third party claims the seized item?
Expect a title dispute process (interpleader or motion). Build that possibility into timing and cost expectations.

Q: How long does sale take?
Depends on the district, storage/ads lead time, and dispute risk. Preliminary seizure + negotiation often nets faster money than a full auction.