Carry out a keeper levy

California law allows a creditor to garnish, or levy, a debtor’s business to pay off a judgment debt

In this page:
What is a keeper levy?

A keeper levy is a legal way for you to collect a judgment debt from a business. Creditors who receive a court-issued writ may instruct the Sheriff's Office to place a Sheriff’s keeper in an operating business and take money and checks to satisfy the judgment debt. 

The San Francisco Sheriff’s Office provides the following keeper levy service:

  • An eight-hour keeper collects money and cash for eight hours, which is used to pay off the judgment debt to the creditor
  • An eight-hour night keeper occurs outside normal business hours (after 6 p.m., no Saturday and Sundays)
  • A 48-hour keeper (also known as seize and sell) stays at the business and inventories each item within the business for a future sale to satisfy the judgment debt
How do I set up a keeper levy?

You may instruct the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office to perform a keeper levy.

  • Go in person to the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office, Room 456, at City Hall
  • Provide the original writ plus five copies
  • Complete SER-001 and SER-001A forms
  • Pay the civil processing service fee for the keeper levy you want

After you have completed these steps, the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office will attempt to perform your keeper levy

Definitions

Creditor

Person or business that is owed money

Debtor

Person or business that owes money to a creditor

Judgment debt

A court-issued judgment that specifies the amount of money a debtor owes to a creditor 

Keeper

Sheriff’s Office employee who attempts to levy a business from a court-issued writ of execution. A keeper collects cash from the business or protects and records business assets over a set amount of time to satisfy a judgment debt

Levy

A collection enforcement tool that creditors use to collect on a debt

Personal property

Anything you own that can be moved, like vehicles, or other valuable items 

Real property

Anything you own that cannot be moved, like your home, land, or other buildings

Writ

Court-issued document that begins the transfer of assets

The San Francisco Sheriff’s Office cannot provide legal advice. If you have a legal problem, we suggest contacting an attorney. 

CA Business & Professions Code Section 6125

Government Code 24004