Part 47
General Rules about Writs of Execution
Contents of this Part
| Meaning of "writ of execution" | Rule 47.1 |
| Permission required to enforce in certain cases | Rule 47.2 |
| Application for permission to enforce | Rule 47.3 |
| Amount to be recovered on enforcement | Rule 47.4 |
| Enforcement of judgment or order requiring judgment debtor to do two or more different things | Rule 47.5 |
| No writ of execution against the State | Rule 47.6 |
| Enforcement of judgment for payment by instalments | Rule 47.7 |
| Writ of possession not to issue without leave | Rule 47.8 |
| No writ of execution for goods or payment of assessed value unless court has assessed value. | Rule 47.9 |
| Order for specific delivery | Rule 47.10 |
| Period for which writ of execution valid | Rule 47.11 |
| Renewal of writ of execution | Rule 47.12 |
| Period for which court may renew writ of execution | Rule 47.13 |
| Effective date of renewed writ unchanged | Rule 47.14 |
| Claims to goods seized under writ of execution | Rule 47.15 |
| Suspension of writ of execution at request of person who is entitled to enforce judgment | Rule 47.16 |
| Return to writ of execution | Rule 47.17 |
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| Meaning of "writ of execution". 47.1 In these rules a "writ of execution" means any of the following - (a) an order for the seizure and sale of goods (Writ of Fieri - Facias) (b) a writ of possession (c) a writ of delivery(whether it is (i) an order for recovery of specified goods; or (ii) an order for the recovery of goods or their assessed value); and (d) an order for confiscation of assets. (Enforcement by an order for confiscation of assets is dealt with under Part 53) Permission required to enforce in certain cases 47.2 An writ of execution may not be issued without permission where - (a) six years have elapsed since the judgment was entered; or (b) the judgment creditor is no longer entitled to enforce the order; or (c) any party against whom a judgment or order was liable to be enforced is no longer liable to have it enforced against him; or (d) the person against whom the judgment or order was liable to be enforced has died and the judgment creditor wishes to enforce against assets of the dead person which have passed to his personal representatives since the date of the order; or (e) the goods against which it is wished to enforce the judgment or order are in the hands of a receiver or confiscator appointed by the court; or (f) the judgment was made subject to conditions (g) where any statutory provision requires the permission of the court to be obtained before judgment is enforced.
Application for permission to enforce 47.3 (1) An application for permission may be made without notice unless the court otherwise directs but must be supported by evidence. (2) On an application for leave the applicant must satisfy the court that he is entitled to proceed to enforce the judgment or order, and, in particular - (a) where the judgment is a money judgment, as to - (i) the amount originally due (ii) the amount due and the amount of interest due at the date of the application; and (b) where rule 47.2 (1)(a) applies, the reasons for the delay; and (c) where rule 47.2 (1)(b) applies, as to the change that has taken place; and (d) where rule 47.2 (1)(d) or (e) applies that a demand to satisfy the judgment or order has been made on the person holding the assets and that he has refused or failed to do so; and (e) that the applicant is entitled to enforce the judgment; and (f) that the person against whom enforcement is sought is liable to satisfy the judgment.
Amount to be recovered on enforcement 47.4 (1) A judgment creditor may recover the fees and costs of enforcement in addition to any other amount payable under the judgment. (2) A writ of execution must include a direction to recover - (a) the amount payable for the fees and fixed costs of enforcement; and, in the case of a money judgment (b) the amount of interest upon the judgment debt. (3) The rate of interest payable on a judgment debt is the statutory rate of interest. (4) Unless the court otherwise orders, the amount for which a writ of execution may be issued must include the unpaid fees and costs of any previous enforcement proceedings on the same judgment. (Part 67 deals with the fixed costs on enforcement)
Enforcement of judgment or order requiring the judgment debtor to do two or more different things 47.5 Where a judgment or order requires the judgment debtor to do two or more different things, the judgment creditor may obtain - (a) a single writ of execution to enforce every part of the judgment or order; or (b) separate writs of execution to enforce one or more parts of it.
No writ of execution against the State 47.6 No writ of execution may be issued where the judgment debtor is the State.
Enforcement of judgment for payment by instalments 47.7 (1) This rule has effect where the court has made an order for payment by instalments of - (a) a sum of money; or (b) the value of goods assessed after the court has made an order for the recovery or goods or their assessed value and the judgment debtor has failed to pay one or more instalments. (2) The judgment creditor has a right to issue an order for the seizure and sale of the goods for the purpose of recovering the whole of the amount recoverable under the judgment and not merely the instalment(s) in arrear. Writ of possession not to issue without leave 47.8 (1) The general rule is that a writ of possession may not issue without the permission of the court. (2) The general rule does not apply where the order for possession related to- (a) Mortgage Claims (Part 69) or (b) Summary proceedings for possession (Part 68); or (c) proceedings for possession of residential property; or (d) proceedings where the tenancy is subject to statutory restrictions. (3) Permission may not be given unless it is shown that every person in actual possession of the land has received such notice of the proceedings as the court considers sufficient to enable him to apply to the court for any relief to which he may be entitled. (4) An application for permission may be made without notice but must be supported by evidence.
No writ of execution for goods or payment of assessed value unless court has assessed value. 47.9 A judgment creditor may not issue an order for the recovery of goods or payment of their assessed value unless that value has previously been assessed or an order has been made under rule 47.10.
Order for specific delivery 47.10 Where the court makes an order for delivery of goods or payment of their assessed value, the judgment creditor may apply to the court for permission to issue an order for delivery of specified goods without the alternative of payment of the assessed value.
Period for which writ of execution is valid 47.11 (1) A writ of execution is valid for a period of twelve months beginning with the date of its issue. (2) After that period the judgment creditor may not take any step under the writ unless the court has renewed it. Renewal of writ of execution 47.12 (1) The judgment creditor may apply for the renewal of a writ of execution. (2) The general rule is that an application for renewal must be made within the period for which the writ is valid. (3) If the judgment creditor applies for renewal after the end of that period, the court may renew the writ only if it is satisfied that the judgment creditor - (a) has been unable to execute the writ or some part of it; and (b) he has taken all reasonable steps to do so. (4) An application for renewal may be made without notice but must be supported by evidence. (5) On such an application the court must have regard to the interests of any other judgment creditor of whose existence it is aware.
Period for which the court may renew writ of execution 47.13 On an application for renewal of a writ of execution the court may renew it for a period of not more than 6 months.
Effective date of renewed writ unchanged 47.14 (1) The renewal of a writ of execution does not change its effective date. (2) The effective date is therefore still that of the writ as originally issued. (3) The priority of the renewed writ and of any other writ of execution must be determined accordingly. Claims to goods seized under writ of execution. 47.15 If - (a) goods are seized under a writ of execution; and (b) some person other than the judgment creditor or judgment debtor subsequently claims any of them, the validity of the writ of execution is extended until the end of twelve months from the conclusion of proceedings on that claim. (Part 54 deals with proceedings on a claim to goods seized)
Suspension of writ of execution at request of judgment creditor 47.16 (1) The judgment creditor may ask the marshal to suspend execution. (2) If he does so, neither the judgment creditor nor the marshal may take any further step under the recovery order unless the court first renews the writ. (Rule 47.12 deals with applications to renew a writ of execution)
Return to writ of execution 47.17 (1) A judgment creditor who has issued a writ of execution may serve a notice on the marshal requiring him to make a return of the manner in which he has executed it. (2) If the marshal fails to comply with the notice within 14 days the judgment creditor may apply to the court for an order directing the marshal to comply. |
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