Step by step guide - Writ for levy of property

You will need two forms:

• ​Form 65 – Notice of motion – writ for the levy of property 
  
• Form 66 – Writ for levy of property. 
  

You can file Form 65 on the NSW Online Registry ​. You do not have to file Form 66 if you are applying online. 

You can get copies of the forms from: 

•  ​​the Local Court or
• the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules (UCPR) website.  

The notice of motion has an affidavit attached. 

You can fill out your form:

• ​​​by completing it on your computer
  
• by printing the form and completing it in blue or black pen.
  

To fill in the notice of motion form you will need to have the following information ready:

• ​​​​Your case number. You will find this on your sealed copy of the statement of claim, which is the copy stamped by the court.
  
• The name, address and telephone number of the other party.
  
• A sealed copy of the judgment. 
  
• The total amount, if any, paid by the other party since the date of the judgment. 
  
• The amount of interest on the judgment debt since the date of judgment, if you are claiming interest. 
  
• The enforcement costs you have paid since the date of judgment. 
  
• The best times to find the other party at home (if known). 
  
• A list of items of value owned by the other party which the sheriff could seize (if known). 
  
• A list of anything dangerous at the other party's home (if known). 
  

When have completed the notice of motion form, you need to swear or affirm it in front of an approved witness, a lawyer or Justice of the Peace (JP). 

For more information about where to find a Justice of the Peace, see Finding a JP on the Department of Communities & Justice website.

Instructions:

​​​Instructions -  Notice of motion - writ for the levy of property

Instructions - Writ for levy of property

Samples: 

​​​​Sample - Notice of motion - writ for the levy of property

Sample - Writ for levy of property​

Take or send both forms to the court where the statement of claim was filed. You should file the original and two copies, one copy for you and one copy for the sheriff. 

There is no filing fee but you need to pay the court the sheriff's execution fee. The sheriff will charge you $104.00 (as at 1 July 2024) each time they visit an address and each time they execute or attempt execution. For more information, see Sheriff's forms and fees on the Office of the Sheriff website.

The sheriff also charges a levy which is 3% of the money made from auctioning the seized goods. The sheriff may also add amounts for other expenses like towing a car that has been seized. These amounts are added to the judgment debt. 

The court will issue the writ without you or the other party attending court. The court will send the writ to the sheriff's office nearest to the other party's address. The sheriff will contact you directly regarding the payment of any further fees or if they have any problems. You do not have to provide the other party with a copy of the writ.  

The sheriff may contact the other party or go to their home to let them know about the writ. The sheriff may give the other party some time (for example, one week) to get some legal advice about the writ.

If the other party does not take any action to stop enforcement, the sheriff will return and make a list of items and place a tag on them. This is called 'seizing'. The sheriff usually doesn't take these tagged items straight away so the other party will still have a chance to do something to stop the sale of their items. It is a criminal offence for anyone to get rid of or damage the goods.

The sheriff will return and remove the tagged property to sell it. 

It can be a shock to the other party when the sheriff comes to their home. The other party could: 

Apply to set aside the judgment 

If you have a default judgment, it is possible that the other party did not receive the statement of claim. They might not know about the judgment until the sheriff arrives. The other party may make an urgent application to the court to set aside the judgment.  For more information, see Default jug

​​Make an instalment application 

After the sheriff contacts the other party, the other party may apply to the court to pay the debt by instalments. The first application to pay by instalments will act as a stay of enforcement. This puts all enforcement action, including the writ for the levy of property, on hold until the court makes a decision about the application to pay by instalments. Second and later instalment applications do not automatically stay enforcement.

The court will notify you if it accepts the other party's instalment application. If you disagree with the order you can file an objection within 14 days of being notified. 

For more information on how to object to an instalment application, see Being paid in instalments, in After court​. 

If the court makes an instalment order, you cannot enforce the debt as long as the other party keeps paying the instalments. 

 Disagree with the outstanding amount of the judgment debt 

The other party may disagree with the outstanding amount of the judgment debt in the writ. If you and the sheriff don't change the amount claimed, the other party can ask the court for an urgent 'ex parte' order for a stay of enforcement. This is a temporary order that stops you from enforcing the judgment. This order can be made without you being notified or being at court. 

You will later get a chance to explain in court why the amount in the writ is correct. If this happens, you should get legal advice.​

The sheriff will hold an auction to sell the tagged property and must take steps to make sure they get a fair price for the items they are selling. After the auction, the amount made in the sale will be paid towards the judgment debt and the sheriff's costs. If the amount made doesn't cover the judgment debt and the sheriff's costs, the sheriff will go back to the other party's home and seize more items for sale until the full amount is paid. 

If there are no more goods to sell, you should consider taking other enforcement action. You can find other enforcement action options listed in Enforcement.​

 If you are not sure whether to take further enforcement action, or what to take, you should seek legal advice.