Short answer. Yes. If the writ of execution shows the judgment remains unsatisfied and the court is satisfied that a person or entity holds property of, or owes a debt to, the judgment obligor, it may order that person, corporation, or its officers to appear and be examined.

What the law says

When the return of a writ of execution against the property of a judgment obligor shows that the judgment remains unsatisfied, in whole or in part, and upon proof to the satisfaction of the court which issued the writ, that a person, corporation, or other juridical entity has property of such judgment obligor or is indebted to him, the court may, by an order, require such person, corporation, or other juridical entity, or any officer or member thereof, to appear before the court or a commissioner appointed by it, at a time and place within the province or city where such debtor resides or is found, and be examined concerning the same. The service of the order shall bind all credits due the judgment obligor and all money and property of the judgment obligor in the possession or in the control of such person, corporation, or juridical entity from the time of service; and the court may also require notice of such proceedings to be given to any party to the action in such manner as it may deem proper.

Rule 39, Section 37 — Examination of obligor of judgment obligor. Read the full provision →

When this applies

This applies where the return of a writ of execution against the judgment obligor's property shows the judgment remains unsatisfied, in whole or in part, and where there is proof, to the court's satisfaction, that some person, corporation, or other juridical entity holds property belonging to the judgment obligor, or is indebted to him. The unsatisfied return of the writ is what opens the door to this kind of examination; without it, the judgment obligee has no basis to invoke this remedy.

Who can be ordered to appear, and where

In that situation, the court may order that person, corporation, or juridical entity, or any officer or member of it, to appear before the court itself or before a commissioner it appoints, at a time and place within the province or city where the debtor resides or can be found, in order to be examined about the property or the debt.

Binding effect of the order, and notice to other parties

Once the order is served, it binds all credits due the judgment obligor and all money and property of his that are in the possession or control of that person, corporation, or entity, from the time of service onward. The court may also require that notice of these proceedings be given to any other party to the action, in whatever manner it considers proper.

What the order does not, by itself, accomplish

Being examined and having credits bound by service of the order is not the same as the judgment obligee actually collecting. The order freezes the property or debt in place so it cannot be dissipated once the third party is on notice, but converting what is uncovered into actual payment typically calls for a further step, such as an order directing the third party to deliver or apply the property or credit toward the judgment. The examination is the mechanism for finding and pinning down assets the obligee could not otherwise reach through an ordinary levy.

Related provisions

Note. Statute text quoted on this page is reproduced from the official enactment and is linked to the full provision. The explanation around it is general legal information from Vivas & Nobles Law Office, not legal advice. Whether it applies to your situation depends on facts only a lawyer reviewing them can assess.