You Won in Court. Now Actually Get Paid.
A court judgment for breach of contract means nothing if the debtor won’t pay. We have the legal authority to make them — across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island.
What Makes Us Different
Mayor-Appointed Legal Authority
We’re not a collection agency. As a NYC Marshal, we hold a public office with statutory power to seize assets, garnish wages, and levy bank accounts.
Serving NYC Since 1988
The Guida family has enforced civil court judgments across New York City for over 35 years — two generations of institutional knowledge and court relationships.
All Five Boroughs Covered
One call covers the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. No need to track down a different marshal depending on where your debtor is located.
Regulated, Verified, Accountable
We operate under oversight from both the Mayor’s Committee on City Marshals and the NYC Department of Investigation. Our credentials are public record — badge #14.
Contract Judgment Enforcement NYC
The Judgment Is Step One. Collection Is the Real Work.
Winning a breach of contract case in court is a significant achievement. But a judgment isn’t a check — it’s a legal right to collect money that the debtor still has to actually hand over. And in most cases, they won’t do it voluntarily.
Research shows that roughly 75% of court judgments go uncollected. Not because the debtor has nothing — but because no one with real enforcement authority stepped in to act. That’s exactly where we come in.
As NYC Marshal #14, we have the legal power to garnish wages, restrain bank accounts, and seize property to satisfy your judgment. Whether your case was decided in NYC Civil Court, Small Claims Court, or NY Supreme Court, we can enforce it across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island.
Marshal Judgment Recovery Benefits
Real Tools. Real Authority. Real Results.
A NYC Marshal can do what a collection agency legally cannot — and that difference is what turns a paper judgment into money in your pocket.
- Your judgment gets enforced with the full legal authority of a public office, not just a phone call or a letter.
- Wages can be garnished directly from the debtor’s employer through an income execution — without the debtor’s cooperation.
- Bank accounts can be restrained and levied, freezing funds the debtor can’t move once the process begins.
- Personal property and cash can be seized through a property execution when other assets aren’t accessible.
- Your judgment from Small Claims, Civil Court, or Supreme Court is enforceable — we handle all three across every NYC borough.
- Marshal fees are set by New York State law, not by negotiation — so there are no surprise costs buried in the process.
NYC Marshal vs. Collection Agency
A Collection Agency Cannot Do What We Can
There’s a meaningful difference between a collection agency and a NYC Marshal, and it matters a great deal when you’re trying to collect on a breach of contract judgment.
A collection agency can send letters and make calls. They can report the debt to credit bureaus. What they cannot do is compel an employer to withhold wages, walk into a bank and restrain an account, or seize property under court authority. Those powers belong to public enforcement officers — and that’s what we are.
NYC Marshal Edward Guida #14 holds a public office granted by the Mayor of New York City. Our authority comes from Article 16 of the New York City Civil Court Act. When we serve an income execution or a restraining notice, it carries the weight of the court behind it. That’s not something a collection agency can replicate, regardless of how many calls they make.
If you’ve already tried a collection agency and gotten nowhere, this is why. The tools are simply different.
Breach of Contract Judgment Enforcement Process
We Work With What You Know About the Debtor
Successful judgment enforcement comes down to one thing: knowing where to look. The more information you can provide about the debtor — their employer, their bank, their business address — the faster we can act.
You don’t need to know everything. But if you know where the debtor works, we can pursue an income execution and work directly with their employer to deduct payments. If you know where they bank, we can move to restrain those funds. If neither is available, a property execution allows us to pursue cash and personal property.
We’ll walk you through what we need when you contact us. Our office in Corona, Queens has handled contract judgment enforcement across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island for decades. We know the courts, we know the process, and we know how to move efficiently once we have what we need from you.
How to Collect Contract Judgment NYC
Three Steps From Judgment to Payment
Contact Our Office
Reach us by phone or email with your judgment details — we’ll tell you exactly what to bring and what to expect.
We Identify Enforcement Options
Based on what you know about the debtor, we determine the right enforcement tool — wage garnishment, bank levy, or property execution.
We Execute and Collect
We serve the appropriate legal instruments and work to recover the full amount of your judgment, keeping you informed throughout.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is breach of contract judgment recovery and how does it work in NYC?
When someone breaches a contract and you take them to court, the court may issue a money judgment in your favor — a legal ruling that the debtor owes you a specific amount. Judgment recovery is the process of actually collecting that money after the court has ruled. In New York City, one of the most direct ways to do this is through a NYC Marshal. As a court-authorized enforcement officer, we can garnish the debtor’s wages, restrain their bank accounts, or seize property — all under legal authority granted by the state. The judgment gives you the right; we provide the means to enforce it across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island.
Do I need to hire a lawyer to collect on a breach of contract judgment in New York?
Not necessarily. If your judgment was issued by NYC Civil Court, Small Claims Court, or NY Supreme Court, a NYC Marshal has the authority to enforce it directly — without requiring additional legal action on your part. Many judgment creditors assume they need to go back to an attorney after winning their case, but that step is often unnecessary and adds cost. You can contact our office directly, provide the judgment and any information you have about the debtor’s assets or employer, and we handle the enforcement process from there. If your situation involves complex post-judgment litigation or out-of-state debtors, consulting an attorney may still be worthwhile.
What information do I need to provide to start the enforcement process?
The most useful things you can give us are details about the debtor’s employer, bank, or business address. For an income execution, we need to know where the debtor works so we can serve the garnishment directly to their employer. For a bank levy, knowing which bank they use allows us to move quickly to restrain funds before they’re moved. If you don’t have that information, a property execution is another option. You’ll also need a copy of the signed judgment from the court. Don’t worry if you don’t have everything — contact us and we’ll walk you through exactly what’s needed based on your specific situation.
How long does it take to collect on a breach of contract judgment in NYC?
There’s no single answer, because it depends on the debtor’s circumstances and what assets are available to enforce against. An income execution, for example, involves serving the employer and setting up deductions — which takes time but can result in consistent payments over weeks or months. A bank levy can move faster if the account has funds. What we can tell you is that acting sooner rather than later matters. Debtors who know enforcement is coming may attempt to move assets or close accounts. The sooner you contact us after receiving your judgment, the more options we have available.
Can a NYC Marshal enforce a Small Claims Court judgment across the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens?
Yes. Small Claims Court judgments are fully enforceable through a NYC Marshal, and we handle them across all five boroughs — including the Bronx (Civil Court at 851 Grand Concourse), Brooklyn (141 Livingston Street), Queens (89-17 Sutphin Boulevard in Jamaica), Manhattan, and Staten Island. Small Claims Court in New York handles disputes up to $10,000 for individuals and $25,000 for businesses, which means a significant number of breach of contract cases — particularly for small business owners — are resolved there. If you won a small claims case and the other party still hasn’t paid, the judgment doesn’t expire immediately, but waiting gives them more time to move assets. Reach out to us and we’ll get the process started.
What’s the difference between a NYC Marshal and the NYC Sheriff for collecting a judgment?
Both NYC Marshals and the NYC Sheriff’s office can enforce civil money judgments, but they operate differently. The Sheriff is a city agency — a government department with salaried employees. NYC Marshals are independent public officers appointed by the Mayor to five-year terms, regulated by both the Mayor’s Committee on City Marshals and the NYC Department of Investigation. In practice, many judgment creditors find that working with a marshal offers a more direct, responsive process. Our office has handled contract judgment enforcement across every NYC borough since 1988, and we bring decades of familiarity with local courts and enforcement procedures. If you’ve had difficulty with a prior enforcement attempt, it’s worth reaching out to discuss your options.
Call us at (718) 779-2134 or email us at guidajr@nycmarshal14.com to see how we can help you.