Judgment Management
Fully leverage the value of your court decision
A judgment in your favor—whether from the housing tribunal, small claims court, or another judicial body—is a powerful legal tool, but it does not guarantee payment.
Turning that decision into financial results requires a strategy that is tailored, rigorous, and sustained over time. Once the appeal period has passed (typically 30 days), it becomes relevant to assess your options.
ARM offers a complete and structured solution, with a single, modest assignment fee, followed by compensation based solely on the amounts actually recovered. This approach combines continuous financial analysis, targeted interventions, and strategic support, without exposing the creditor to additional financial risk.
Your options for enforcing a judgment
Legal enforcement
Allows for garnishment of wages, bank accounts, or assets.
✔ Often the most profitable method—if the debtor has known assets.
✔ Can involve upfront costs if the debtor is insolvent.
Selling the judgment to a third party
A quick and hands-off solution.
✔ Enables immediate recovery of a portion of the debt.
✔ Less financially advantageous, especially for judgments with high potential.
Judgment management with ARM
A balanced approach built on risk-sharing and operational intelligence.
✔ Modest assignment fee.
✔ Fees based only on actual recoveries.
✔ Long-term support, transparent tracking, and full visibility via your client portal.
Why ARM is the right partner for your judgments
Managing a judgment is a long-term process. Thanks to a legal prescription period of 10 years—often renewable—a structured and consistent approach greatly increases the chances of recovery.
- A dedicated technician assigned to each file.
- Daily debtor screening and financial profiling.
- Human-led actions supported by advanced technology tools.
- Transparent and real-time access to updates via your client portal.
The ARM advantage: insight and informed decisions
Throughout the 12-month minimum assignment period, ARM provides you with key financial insights on your debtors. These insights allow you to make strategic, data-driven decisions—whether to extend the mandate, pursue legal enforcement independently, or explore alternative options.
Our proprietary methodology combines daily debtor profiling, advanced financial analytics, and human expertise to identify the right timing and best approach for each judgment.
With ARM, every step is guided by a rigorous and transparent process, designed to maximize results while protecting your legal and financial interests. Whether you recover in the first few weeks or over several years, your file is actively monitored and driven by performance—without fixed recovery fees.
Ready to unlock the full potential of your judgment?
From assignment to resolution: the typical recovery path for a judgment
A solid foundation to maximize your chances of success
When you assign your judgments to ARM through our self-service platform, a structured process is triggered immediately. Unlike unsecured receivables, judgment enforcement requires a tailored approach that combines debtor screening, asset evaluation, and assessment of legal feasibility, in order to fully leverage the power of your court decision.
Key steps in the process
- In-depth screening and profiling
Within 24 to 48 business hours after assignment, ARM updates the available data by cross-referencing your information with credit bureau records and other relevant sources.
- Objective: Confirm the debtor’s current contact details and assess solvency.
- Expected outcome: Determine whether enforcement is immediately viable or if it’s preferable to wait for financial improvement.
- Assignment of the ARM Probability Index (IPA)
The IPA is a core tool in our methodology, adapted specifically for judgment recovery.
It helps evaluate the debtor’s overall solvency, identify garnishable income or assets, and provide a realistic estimate of recovery potential.
Our judgment technicians use the IPA to prioritize and monitor the most promising files.
Above all, the IPA allows all stakeholders to set appropriate expectations and make informed decisions throughout the enforcement process.
- Initial analysis by a judgment technician
Once the IPA has been assigned, each file is reviewed by a specialist who:
- Assesses the feasibility of forced recovery (e.g., wage garnishment, bank accounts, or assets).
- Determines the best course of action: proceed with enforcement or wait for a more favorable moment.
- Coordination of legal enforcement
If the case is deemed enforceable, ARM initiates the appropriate legal steps to move forward with recovery.
This stage typically includes:
-
Official service of the judgment, a legal prerequisite in many jurisdictions.
-
Execution of the enforcement, often through wage garnishment or other court-authorized measures.
-
Transparent tracking, with updates posted in your client portal as soon as they are available—even when delays occur with external legal partners.
- Non-eligible cases or failed seizures
If enforcement fails or proves inapplicable (due to insolvency or a change in the debtor’s situation), ARM maintains a proactive posture:
- Ongoing monitoring of the debtor’s financial condition.
- Sustained amicable contact, without unnecessary escalation.
- Keeping the file active, with daily tracking, ready to relaunch when signs of solvency appear.
When technology meets human expertise
At ARM, successful recovery depends on the combination of advanced tools and specialized human insight.
- Technology: Our IPA, systemic screening tools, and profiling systems help identify high-potential judgments and adapt actions in real time.
- Human expertise: Our judgment technicians step in at key moments to tailor strategies, handle complex cases, and optimize results with professionalism and care.
This approach ensures a rigorous, ethical, and results-driven process.
A partnership built around your best interests
ARM transforms your judgments into action through a proactive, methodical, and transparent process.
Assign your files today and see how our proven methodology can maximize your outcomes, minimize your risks and effort, and protect your financial and legal interests.
When immediate enforcement isn't possible: maximizing recovery opportunities
When immediate enforcement is not feasible—due to a lack of garnishable income, temporary insolvency, or unidentified assets—ARM adapts its strategy. The goal remains the same: maximize your chances of recovery through a proactive, well-timed, and long-term approach.
Credit bureau reporting: a powerful lever
One month after your judgment is assigned to ARM, if no payment—voluntary or enforced—is in progress, the debt is reported to TransUnion and Equifax.
- For the debtor, this registration damages their credit reputation, hindering financial plans such as applying for credit, buying a home or vehicle, or renting a property.
- For the creditor, it serves as an indirect but powerful pressure tool, increasing the likelihood of voluntary resolution.
Continuous monitoring: acting at the right moment
Thanks to daily financial profiling, ARM actively monitors each debtor’s financial status.
Certain signals trigger immediate action:
- New employment detected → potential garnishable income.
- Recent credit application → an effort to restore creditworthiness, creating room for negotiation.
- Updated contact information → indication of a life change or financial recovery (e.g., relocation, resumed employment).
These indicators allow ARM to deploy recovery efforts at the most opportune moment, avoiding wasted resources and improving outcomes.
When a positive signal is detected, the file is reassigned to a judgment technician for reassessment and execution of the next appropriate step—amicable or legal.
Amicable approaches: keeping the debt visible without escalation
Even without enforcement options, ARM maintains contact through targeted and non-intrusive communications designed to:
- Reinforce awareness of the debt.
- Preserve a climate conducive to negotiation.
- Avoid communication breakdown.
We use two types of outreach:
- Occasional messages: personalized emails or SMS, sometimes including settlement offers pre-approved by the creditor.
- Low-cost campaigns: discreet but regular text-to-speech messages or reminder emails.
This measured approach helps keep the debt top of mind while preserving an open line of communication.
Preparing for the next step: protecting your rights and options
Even in the most complex situations, ARM adapts its strategy to preserve your legal standing, capitalize on opportunities, and turn your judgment into measurable results.
In the next phase, we explore what to do when neither enforcement nor amicable efforts have succeeded, while continuing to look for the right timing to reactivate the case and recover value.
Considering your long-term options
Despite rigorous efforts and powerful tools, many so-called recoverable judgments require a long-term perspective to reach their full potential — especially as the legal prescription period approaches. ARM supports you with structured expertise, helping you extend your rights, maximize your outcomes, and reduce your effort and concern.
Closing your mandate with ARM
When amicable or legal efforts have not led to recovery, it may be appropriate to end your mandate with ARM in order to explore other avenues.
In doing so, you retain:
- The ARM Probability Index (IPA), an objective and proven score reflecting the debtor’s financial health.
- The full history of actions taken, documenting all previous interventions.
These assets give you the clarity needed to decide on your next steps:
- Reassign the file to another firm or directly to a bailiff.
- Wait for better timing, while preserving the strategic data collected by ARM — without any further commitment to a third party.
Considering an investigative service (advanced option)
In certain complex cases, where debtor information is limited or unavailable, a specialized investigative service may be a worthwhile option.
Although rarely recommended by ARM, it can provide critical insights, such as:
- Location of hidden assets.
- Identification of undeclared income or employment.
- An updated assessment of the debtor’s solvency.
These services involve significant, non-recoverable costs, but they can be decisive in determining whether you are willing to take additional risk in a medium- to long-term recovery effort.
Extending the statute of limitations through legal action
It may sometimes be wise to initiate a legal action — such as a seizure — even if the outcome is inconclusive. The goal here is not immediate recovery, but to renew the statute of limitations, which is generally 10 years in most Canadian provinces.
This step allows you to keep your judgment legally active, preserving the opportunity for recovery if the debtor’s financial situation improves in the future.
Of course, it is strongly advised to consult a legal professional to ensure this approach is appropriate to your specific situation before committing to additional expenses.
A realistic reminder about judgment recovery
Even with a structured methodology and thorough efforts like those of ARM, fewer than 50% of judgments result in full recovery.
This highlights two essential takeaways:
- The need to prioritize wisely, manage risk, and set realistic expectations.
- The importance of relying on expert support to maximize opportunities — without adding financial risk.
Thanks to our specialized approach and end-to-end management, ARM frees up your time so you can focus on what truly matters: your business, your properties, your projects.
Why ARM remains your strongest ally
By choosing ARM to manage your judgments, you benefit from:
- Unique expertise in analysis and enforcement.
- A proven methodology that maximizes opportunity while protecting your rights.
- A support structure designed to reduce your workload and simplify decision-making at every stage.
Ready to take the next step?
Get in touch with our experts today to build a tailored strategy aligned with your long-term goals.