---
kind: "section"
citation: "28 U.S.C. § 3202"
title: "28"
title_heading: "Judiciary and Judicial Procedure"
number: "3202"
heading: "Enforcement of judgments"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/28/3202"
units:
  - "Part VI — Particular Proceedings"
  - "Chapter 176 — Federal Debt Collection Procedure"
  - "Subchapter C — Postjudgment Remedies"
---

# §3202. Enforcement of judgments


(a) Enforcement Remedies.—A [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) may be enforced by any of the remedies set forth in this subchapter. A [court](/usc/28/3002.md?p=2) may issue other writs pursuant to [section 1651 of title 28](/usc/28/1651.md), United States Code, as necessary to support such remedies, subject to [rule 81(b)](/usc/28/81.md) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

(b) Notice.—On the commencement by the [United States](/usc/28/3002.md?p=15) of an action or proceeding under this subchapter to obtain a remedy, the [counsel for the United States](/usc/28/3002.md?p=1) shall prepare, and [clerk](/usc/28/2341.md?p=1) of the [court](/usc/28/3002.md?p=2) shall issue, a notice in substantially the following form:

“Notice

“You are hereby notified that this [[property](/usc/28/3002.md?p=12)] is being taken by the [United States](/usc/28/3002.md?p=15) Government, which has a [court](/usc/28/3002.md?p=2) [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) in [case docket number and jurisdiction of [court](/usc/28/3002.md?p=2)] of $[amount] for [reason of [debt](/usc/28/3002.md?p=3)].

“In addition, you are hereby notified that there are exemptions under the law which may protect some of this [property](/usc/28/3002.md?p=12) from being taken by the [United States](/usc/28/3002.md?p=15) Government if [name of [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) [debtor](/usc/28/3002.md?p=4)] can show that the exemptions apply. Below is a summary of the major exemptions which apply in most situations in the [State](/usc/28/3002.md?p=14) of [[State](/usc/28/3002.md?p=14) where [property](/usc/28/3002.md?p=12) is located]:

“[A statement summarizing in plain and understandable English the election available with respect to such [State](/usc/28/3002.md?p=14) under [section 3014](/usc/28/3014.md) and the types of [property](/usc/28/3002.md?p=12) that may be exempted under each of the alternatives specified in paragraphs [(1)](/usc/28/3014.md?p=a-1) and [(2)](/usc/28/3014.md?p=a-2) of section 3014(a) and a statement that different [property](/usc/28/3002.md?p=12) may be so exempted with respect to the [State](/usc/28/3002.md?p=14) in which the [debtor](/usc/28/3002.md?p=4) resides.]

“If you are [name of [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) [debtor](/usc/28/3002.md?p=4)], you have a right to ask the [court](/usc/28/3002.md?p=2) to return your [property](/usc/28/3002.md?p=12) to you if you think the [property](/usc/28/3002.md?p=12) the Government is taking qualifies under one of the above exemptions [For a default [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8):] or if you think you do not owe the money to the [United States](/usc/28/3002.md?p=15) Government that it says you do.

“If you want a hearing, you must notify the [court](/usc/28/3002.md?p=2) within 20 days after you receive this notice. You must make your request in writing, and either mail it or deliver it in [person](/usc/28/3002.md?p=10) to the [clerk](/usc/28/2341.md?p=1) of the [court](/usc/28/3002.md?p=2) at [address]. If you wish, you may use this notice to request the hearing by checking the box below and mailing this notice to the [court](/usc/28/3002.md?p=2) [clerk](/usc/28/2341.md?p=1). You must also send a copy of your request to the Government at [address], so the Government will know you want a hearing. The hearing will take place within 5 days after the [clerk](/usc/28/2341.md?p=1) receives your request, if you ask for it to take place that quickly, or as soon after that as possible.

“At the hearing you may explain to the judge why you believe the [property](/usc/28/3002.md?p=12) the Government has taken is exempt [For a default [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8):] or why you think you do not owe the money to the Government. [For a writ of execution:] If you do not request a hearing within 20 days of receiving this notice, your [[property](/usc/28/3002.md?p=12)] may be sold at public auction and the payment used toward the money you owe the Government.

“If you think you live outside the Federal judicial district in which the [court](/usc/28/3002.md?p=2) is located, you may request, not later than 20 days after your[^1] receive this notice, that this proceeding to take your [property](/usc/28/3002.md?p=12) be transferred by the [court](/usc/28/3002.md?p=2) to the Federal judicial district in which you reside. You must make your request in writing, and either mail it or deliver it in [person](/usc/28/3002.md?p=10) to the [clerk](/usc/28/2341.md?p=1) of the [court](/usc/28/3002.md?p=2) at [address]. You must also send a copy of your request to the Government at [address], so the Government will know you want the proceeding to be transferred.

“Be sure to keep a copy of this notice for your own records. If you have any questions about your rights or about this procedure, you should contact a lawyer, an office of public legal assistance, or the [clerk](/usc/28/2341.md?p=1) of the [court](/usc/28/3002.md?p=2). The [clerk](/usc/28/2341.md?p=1) is not permitted to give legal advice, but can refer you to other sources of information.”

(c) Service.—A copy of the notice and a copy of the application for granting a remedy under this subchapter shall be served by [counsel for the United States](/usc/28/3002.md?p=1) on the [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) [debtor](/usc/28/3002.md?p=4) against whom such remedy is sought and on each [person](/usc/28/3002.md?p=10) whom the [United States](/usc/28/3002.md?p=15), after diligent inquiry, has reasonable cause to believe has an interest in [property](/usc/28/3002.md?p=12) to which the remedy is directed.

(d) Hearing.—By requesting, within 20 days after receiving the notice described in section 3202(b), the [court](/usc/28/3002.md?p=2) to hold a hearing, the [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) [debtor](/usc/28/3002.md?p=4) may move to quash the order granting such remedy. The [court](/usc/28/3002.md?p=2) that issued such order shall hold a hearing on such motion as soon as practicable, or, if so requested by the [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) [debtor](/usc/28/3002.md?p=4), within 5 days after receiving the request or as soon thereafter as possible. The issues at such hearing shall be limited—

(1) to the probable validity of any claim of exemption by the [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) [debtor](/usc/28/3002.md?p=4);

(2) to compliance with any statutory requirement for the issuance of the postjudgment remedy granted; and

(3) if the [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) is by default and only to the extent that the Constitution or another law of the [United States](/usc/28/3002.md?p=15) provides a right to a hearing on the issue, to—

(A) the probable validity of the claim for the [debt](/usc/28/3002.md?p=3) which is merged in the [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8); and

(B) the existence of good cause for setting aside such [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8).

This subparagraph shall not be construed to afford the [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) [debtor](/usc/28/3002.md?p=4) the right to more than one such hearing except to the extent that the Constitution or another law of the [United States](/usc/28/3002.md?p=15) provides a right to more than one such hearing.

(e) Sale of [Property](/usc/28/3002.md?p=12).—The [property](/usc/28/3002.md?p=12) of a [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) [debtor](/usc/28/3002.md?p=4) which is subject to sale to satisfy the [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) may be sold by judicial sale, pursuant to sections [2001](/usc/28/2001.md), [2002](/usc/28/2002.md), and [2004](/usc/28/2004.md) or by execution sale pursuant to [section 3203(g)](/usc/28/3203.md?p=g). If a hearing is requested pursuant to subsection (d), [property](/usc/28/3002.md?p=12) with respect to which the request relates shall not be sold before such hearing.


## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be “you”.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 101–647, title XXXVI, § 3611, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4949.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, referred to in subsec. (a), are set out in the Appendix to this title.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective 180 days after Nov. 29, 1990, and applicable with respect to certain actions for debts owed the United States pending in court on that effective date, see section 3631 of Pub. L. 101–647, set out as a note under section 3001 of this title.