Execution of judgment is the process and act of a sheriff or constable taking possession and control of property owned by a judgment debtor—the person or entity who lost a lawsuit and owes the judgment creditor money—and delivering the money to the judgment creditor or selling the seized property and delivering the proceeds to the judgment creditor. The sheriff or constable receives its authority to seize and sell the judgment debtor’s property from a writ of execution, which is an order from a judge to execute on the judgment by seizing money or seizing and selling property.

In Washington State, the execution of judgment is governed by Title 6 of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), particularly RCW 6.17 which outlines the process for enforcing judgments. After a creditor obtains a judgment in court, they may request a writ of execution from the court. This writ authorizes the sheriff or other authorized officer to seize assets of the debtor to satisfy the judgment. The officer may levy bank accounts, garnish wages, or seize and sell personal or real property belonging to the debtor. The proceeds from the sale are then used to pay the judgment creditor. The process is subject to exemptions that protect certain property of the debtor from seizure, and the debtor has rights to notice and to challenge the execution in certain circumstances. It's important for both creditors and debtors to understand their rights and obligations under Washington law when it comes to the execution of judgments.