Bank Levy: How to Freeze and Collect From a Bank Account

A bank levy is a direct collection action — it reaches into the paying parent’s bank account and transfers funds to you. For paying parents who have cash but simply choose not to pay, it is often the most effective enforcement tool.

How a Bank Levy Works

Once you have a judgment for arrears, you can instruct the levying officer (the county sheriff) to serve a levy on a bank where the paying parent holds an account. The bank freezes funds up to the amount of the levy and holds them for a statutory period to allow the paying parent to claim any exemptions. After the exemption period, the funds are transferred to satisfy the judgment.

You need to know where the paying parent banks. A levy requires knowing the specific bank and ideally the account number. Sources for this information: subpoena of bank records, information from the paying parent’s tax returns (sometimes showing bank account interest), prior financial disclosures in court proceedings, or commercial database searches. Custodial parents who gather banking information proactively are ready to levy the moment they obtain a judgment.

The California Child Support Recovery System gives custodial parents the exact tools and templates to enforce support orders, calculate arrears, and use every enforcement mechanism available. Request your free evaluation here.