The Sheriff's Office is an office with the authority to enforce a judgment from any jurisdiction, on behalf of you, the claimant. They do this by either seizing goods to the value of the debt, or by facilitating a repayment plan between you and the respondent.
If there are no goods to be seized, or there is no capacity to repay the debt, the Sheriff will inform you of this fact. This may result in you pursuing other methods of enforcement.
Sheriff's Office Enforcement Procedure
There are dedicated Sheriff Offices in Dublin and Cork, but in other counties they are located within certain court offices.
To begin enforcement of a judgment through the Sheriff's Office, you must submit the original copy of the Judgment Order with the Sheriff's Office. Please contact your local court office for the details of the relevant Sheriff's Office you will need to attend.
Once you submit the original copy of the Judgment Order, a Court Messenger acting on behalf of the Sheriff will make contact with the respondent through a warning letter, informing them of their intention to visit them at their address.
Upon visiting the respondent, the Sheriff will be in a position to assess if there are goods to be seized, or if a repayment plan can be facilitated between you and respondent.
Note: there are Sheriff's fees/costs associated with this procedure.
Sheriff Office Fees
You can pay Sheriff fees at the relevant court office (or in Dublin or Cork, at the Sheriff's Office). You can pay these fees by cash, postal order, or cheque.
Submission of a Judgment Order in the Sheriff's Office: €19.
Note: Please see S.I. No. 644/2005 - Sheriff's Fees and Expenses Order, 2005 for details on all Sheriff fees/costs.
