EJ-140-INFO - Information on Debtor's Examinations Regarding Consumer Debt

Summary

Information on Debtor's Examinations Regarding Consumer Debt

Text

Form ID: EJ-140-INFO
Title: Information on Debtor's Examinations Regarding Consumer Debt
Effective Date: 2026-01-01
Mandatory Form: yes
Languages: 汉语, 한국어, español, Tiếng Việt
Info Page: https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/jcc-form/EJ-140-INFO
Primary Download URL: https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/ej140info.pdf
Alternate Download URLs: https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/ej140infoc.pdf, https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/ej140infok.pdf, https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/ej140infos.pdf, https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/ej140infov.pdf
Form Detail Page:
Information on Debtor's Examinations Regarding Consumer Debt
(EJ-140-INFO)
Explains how the judgment creditor (the person or business that won the case and is owed money) can ask for a debtor’s examination in a case where the judgment concerns consumer debt, and explains how the judgment debtor (the person or business that owes the money) can respond to that request by providing written information instead of going to court.
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Effective: January 1, 2026
Go to
How-to instructions for Debt Collection
Go to
How-to instructions for Small Claims
Go to
Small Claims Form Packets
PDF Text:
Judicial Council of California, courts.ca.gov 
Rev. January 1, 2026, Mandatory Form 
Code Civ. Proc., §§ 708.110, 708.111
Information on Debtor's Examinations
Regarding Consumer Debt
EJ-140-INFO/SC-136-INFO Information on Debtor's Examinations Regarding 
Consumer Debt
 
GENERAL INFORMATION 
The process described in this information sheet applies 
when a judgment awarded on or after January 1, 2025, 
concerns consumer debt. The judgment can be awarded in 
a small claims case or another type of civil case. This 
information sheet tells the judgment creditor (the person or 
business that won the case and is owed money) how to ask 
for a debtor’s examination in a case where the judgment 
concerns consumer debt. It also tells the judgment debtor 
(the person or business that owes the money) how they can 
respond to that request by providing written information 
instead of going to court. (Code Civ. Proc., § 708.111.)  
If the judgment is not for consumer debt or 
was not awarded on or after January 1, 
2025, do not use the forms or procedures 
that are described in this information sheet.
Go to selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/civil-lawsuit/judgment for 
information on collecting and paying money judgments.
1 How can I tell if a judgment concerns 
consumer debt?
Consumer debt means debt for money, property, insurance, 
or services that are primarily for personal, family, or 
household purposes. Consumer debt does not include 
rental debt; judgments for unpaid wages, damages, or 
penalties owed to an employee; or debts incurred due to, or 
obtained by, tortious or fraudulent conduct.  
Look at the judgment issued by the court to find out if it 
concerns consumer debt:
Small Claims Cases: If you received Notice of Entry of 
Judgment (form SC-130 or SC-200), the form will say 
the judgment includes an amount “concerning consumer 
debt (Code Civ. Proc., § 708.111).” Look at item 10 on 
form SC-130 or item 9 on form SC-200.
Other Civil Cases: If you received Judgment (form 
JUD-100), item 7 will say the judgment includes an 
amount “concerning consumer debt (Code Civ. Proc.,  
§ 708.111).” If the judgment was not issued on a 
Judicial Council form, you will need to figure out if the 
judgment includes an amount that concerns consumer 
debt. 
2 What is a debtor's examination?
When the final court order at the end of a lawsuit (the 
judgment) orders one person or business to pay money to 
another person or business, sometimes the judgment 
creditor wants information to help them collect it (enforce 
the judgment). The judgment creditor can ask the court to 
order the judgment debtor to come to court and give 
information under oath about what they earn (income) or 
own (assets). This is called a “debtor’s examination.” This 
information can help the judgment creditor find out 
whether they can take the money they are owed from the 
judgment debtor’s income or assets. 
3 How do I use this information sheet?
Judgment Creditors: If the court ordered the other 
party to pay you money, you are the judgment 
creditor. This information sheet explains how you can 
ask the court to order a debtor’s examination and 
respond if the judgment debtor gives their financial 
information in writing:
Which form should I use to ask for a debtor’s 
examination? Read  4  .
How do I complete, file, and serve the form to ask 
for a debtor’s examination? Read   5   and   6 .
How do I respond to Notice of Financial Statement—
Consumer Debt (form EJ-143)? Read   7  – 10 .
Judgment Debtors: If the court ordered you to pay 
money to the other party, you are the judgment debtor. 
This information sheet describes how to respond to 
forms you receive from the judgment creditor: 
What do I do if I receive form EJ-141 or form 
SC-136? Read   12  .
How do I provide my financial information in 
writing? Read  13 – 17 .
What do I do if I receive Notice of Motion and 
Motion to Require Examination—Consumer Debt  
(form EJ-146)? Read  18 .
What do I do if I receive Application and Order to 
Require Examination After Submission of Financial 
Statement (form EJ-147)? Read  19 .
If you have a disability or need help to understand 
English, read page 8.
EJ-140-INFO/SC-136-INFO, Page 1 of 8

Rev. January 1, 2026 Information on Debtor's Examinations
Regarding Consumer Debt
EJ-140-INFO/SC-136-INFO Information on Debtor's Examinations Regarding 
Consumer Debt
INFORMATION FOR  
THE JUDGMENT CREDITOR
This part of the information sheet is for the judgment 
creditor (the person or business who won the case and is 
owed money) in a case concerning consumer debt. It tells 
them how to ask for a debtor’s examination.
4 Which form should I use to ask for a 
debtor's examination in my case?
If your case is not a small claims case and you want to ask 
the court to order a debtor’s examination, complete 
Application and Order to Appear for Examination—
Consumer Debt (form EJ-141).
If your case is a small claims case, you can use either 
form EJ-141 or Application and Order to Produce 
Financial Statement or Appear for Examination—
Consumer Debt (form SC-136):
Use form SC-136 if the judgment debtor has not sent 
you a completed Judgment Debtor’s Statement of Assets 
(form SC-133) and you want the court to require them 
to do so. The judgment debtor must send you form 
SC-133 if they do not pay within 30 days after the court 
clerk mailed or handed them the Notice of Entry of 
Judgment (form SC-130 or SC-200). Form SC-136 
requires the judgment debtor to personally appear in 
court with a completed form SC-133 and answer 
questions about their money and property.
l
If you want the judgment debtor to come to court for a 
debtor’s examination, and you do not wish to enforce 
your right to receive form SC-133, or you already 
received form SC-133, then use form EJ-141.
l
If the court has previously ordered the judgment debtor to 
appear for examination and you want to ask for another 
examination date, read item  11 .
Use Application and Order for Appearance and 
Examination (form AT-138/EJ-125), and do not use form 
EJ-141 or SC-136, if:
You want to ask for a debtor’s examination and the 
judgment is not for consumer debt, or
l
You want to ask for an examination of someone who is 
not the judgment debtor, even if the judgment is for 
consumer debt.
l
5 How do I complete and file form EJ-141 
or form SC-136?
To complete Application and Order to Appear for 
Examination—Consumer Debt (form EJ-141) or 
Application and Order to Produce Financial Statement or 
Appear for Examination—Consumer Debt  (form SC-136), 
follow these steps:
Fill out item 1 (the judgment debtor’s name) on page 1 
and all the items in the “Application for This Order” 
section on page 2 of the form.
Contact the court clerk about setting a hearing date, 
time, and location. When setting the hearing date, make 
sure you will have enough time to serve the form, as 
explained in item  6 . Enter the hearing date, time, and 
location you received from the clerk in the “Hearing 
Date” section on page 1.
Sign and date the form.
Make at least one copy of the completed form for your 
records. You will need to bring a copy with you to the 
hearing.
After you complete form EJ-141 or form SC-136, file the 
completed original form with the court. You must pay a 
filing fee unless you are eligible for a fee waiver.
6 How do I serve form EJ-141 or form 
SC-136?
Serve (give) a copy of completed form EJ-141 or SC-136 
on the judgment debtor by following the steps below. The 
order for the judgment debtor to come to court for an 
examination cannot be enforced unless you complete all 
these steps: 
l The form must be served at least 30 days before the date 
of the examination.
l Have a copy of the form served on the judgment debtor 
in person by a sheriff, marshal, or registered process 
server. If you are using form EJ-141, the form can also 
be served by the person appointed in item 3 of that form.
l You must file the original proof of service with the 
court. Ask your court if they have a deadline for filing 
the proof of service. For more information about serving 
and proof of service, read 
EJ-140-INFO/SC-136-INFO, Page 2 of 8

Rev. January 1, 2026 Information on Debtor's Examinations
Regarding Consumer Debt
EJ-140-INFO/SC-136-INFO Information on Debtor's Examinations Regarding 
Consumer Debt
If you want to ask the sheriff to serve your form, you can 
use Request for Sheriff to Serve Court Papers (form  
SER-001). If you were given a fee waiver in the case, the 
sheriff will serve the papers for you at no cost. 
When serving form EJ-141 or form SC-136 on the 
judgment debtor, you must include blank copies of all the 
following forms: 
 Information on Debtor’s Examinations Regarding 
Consumer Debt (form EJ-140-INFO/SC-136-INFO),
Financial Statement—Consumer Debt (form EJ-144),
Notice of Financial Statement—Consumer Debt (form  
EJ-143),
Exemptions From the Enforcement of Judgments (form  
EJ-155), and
Current Dollar Amounts of Exemptions From 
Enforcement of Judgments (form EJ-156).
7 What do I do if I receive Notice of 
Financial Statement—Consumer Debt 
(form EJ-143)?
The judgment debtor does not have to appear at the 
scheduled debtor’s examination if they respond to your 
request by filing Notice of Financial Statement—Consumer 
Debt (form EJ-143) with the court and serving you with a 
copy of that form and a completed Financial Statement—
Consumer Debt (form EJ-144) no later than 15 days before 
the examination. 
If the judgment debtor checked item 2 on Notice of 
Financial Statement—Consumer Debt (claiming that all of 
their money and property are exempt from enforcement of 
judgment), the court will cancel the scheduled debtor’s 
examination. If after reading Financial Statement—
Consumer Debt you still want to hold a debtor’s 
examination, you can complete, serve, and file Notice of 
Motion and Motion to Require Examination—Consumer 
Debt (form EJ-146).
8 How do I complete Notice of Motion and 
Motion to Require Examination—
Consumer Debt (form EJ-146)?
Notice of Motion and Motion to Require Examination—
Consumer Debt (form EJ-146) asks the court to order the 
judgment debtor to come to court for an examination even 
though they provided Financial Statement—Consumer 
Debt (form EJ-144). 
You will need to complete your Notice of Motion and 
Motion to Require Examination—Consumer Debt  in time 
to file it with the court no more than 15 days after the 
judgment debtor filed Notice of Financial Statement—
Consumer Debt (form EJ-143).
To complete Notice of Motion and Motion to Require 
Examination—Consumer Debt, follow these steps:
Contact the clerk of the court about setting a hearing 
date, time, and place. When setting the hearing date, 
make sure you will have enough time to serve form 
EJ-146, as explained in item  9  . 
Complete items 1–7 on Notice of Motion and Motion to 
Require Examination—Consumer Debt . In item 7, 
explain why you think an examination of the judgment 
debtor is needed even though they provided a financial 
statement.
If the judgment you are trying to enforce concerns debt 
secured by real property or personal property, complete 
items 8 and 9.
If you do not wish to appear at the hearing on your 
motion, check the box in item 10. If you do not appear, 
the court will decide based on your Notice of Motion 
and Motion to Require Examination—Consumer Debt , 
the judgment debtor’s Financial Statement—Consumer 
Debt, and the arguments the judgment debtor makes at 
the hearing. 
Sign and date the form. If you have an attorney, they 
must also sign and date the form.
Make a copy of the completed form to serve on the 
judgment debtor.
Make at least one copy of the completed form for your 
records. If you appear at the hearing, you will need to 
bring a copy of the completed form with you.
EJ-140-INFO/SC-136-INFO, Page 3 of 8

Rev. January 1, 2026 Information on Debtor's Examinations
Regarding Consumer Debt
EJ-140-INFO/SC-136-INFO Information on Debtor's Examinations Regarding 
Consumer Debt
9 How do I serve and file form EJ-146?
After you complete Notice of Motion and Motion to 
Require Examination—Consumer Debt  (form EJ-146), 
serve (give) a copy of the completed form on the judgment 
debtor by following these steps:
Someone who is not one of the people involved in the 
lawsuit must serve the papers on the judgment debtor. 
Notice of Motion and Motion to Require Examination—
Consumer Debt must be served at least 16 court days 
before the hearing if it is personally served. If the notice 
is sent by fax, express mail, or other method of 
overnight delivery, the 16-court-day period is increased 
by 2 calendar days. If the notice is served by mail from 
and to an address within California, the  
16-court-day period is increased by 5 calendar days. 
Electronic service may be allowed (consent is required 
before electronically serving the judgment debtor if they 
do not have an attorney) and extends the time for 
service by 2 court days. For more information on the 
time to serve the notice and electronic service, read 
Code of Civil Procedure sections 708.111(d)(3), 1005, 
and 1010.6 (available at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov).
Have the server fill out and sign a proof of service. 
Proof of service forms are available at  
courts.ca.gov/rules-forms/find-your-court-forms. 
In addition to serving form EJ-146, you must also file the 
completed original form by following these steps:
File the completed original Notice of Motion and 
Motion to Require Examination—Consumer Debt  with 
your original signature. You must pay a filing fee unless 
you are eligible for a fee waiver.
Include a copy of the judgment debtor’s completed 
Financial Statement—Consumer Debt  (form EJ-144) 
with your filing.
File Notice of Motion and Motion to Require 
Examination—Consumer Debt and the copy of the 
judgment debtor’s Financial Statement—Consumer 
Debt with the court no more than 15 days after the 
judgment debtor filed Notice of Financial Statement—
Consumer Debt (form EJ-143).
You must file the original proof of service with the 
court. Ask your court if they have a deadline for filing 
the proof of service.
If you go to the hearing on your motion for examination, 
bring a completed copy of form EJ-146 and a copy of the 
judgment debtor’s Financial Statement—Consumer Debt  
(form EJ-144). You should also bring a copy of 
Application and Order to Require Examination After 
Submission of Financial Statement—Consumer Debt  (form  
EJ-147). Complete all of form EJ-147 except for the 
hearing date and time on page 1. If the court grants your 
motion for an examination, the judicial officer may want to 
sign form EJ-147 at the hearing to schedule the 
examination.  
10 What do I do after the hearing on my motion 
to require examination?
If the court has heard your motion to require examination 
and ruled that the judgment debtor must appear for an 
examination, you must complete and file Application and 
Order to Require Examination After Submission of 
Financial Statement—Consumer Debt  (form EJ-147) to 
schedule the examination ordered by the court. There is no 
fee to file form EJ-147.
You must serve form EJ-147 on the judgment debtor at 
least 30 days before the date of the hearing. You can serve 
form EJ-147 by mail. Electronic service may be allowed 
(consent is required before electronically serving the 
judgment debtor if they do not have an attorney; read Code 
of Civil Procedure section 1010.6 for more information on 
electronic service). Personal service is not required.
11 What if I want to ask for another examination 
of the judgment debtor?
If the court ordered the judgment debtor to come to court 
for an examination after you filed Application and Order to 
Appear for Examination—Consumer Debt (form EJ-141) 
or Application and Order to Produce Financial Statement 
or Appear for Examination—Consumer Debt (form 
SC-136) and then the examination is canceled for any 
reason, you cannot file another application to examine that 
judgment debtor until one year from the date you filed your 
previous application.
To ask for a second examination of the judgment debtor, 
use form EJ-141. Do not use form SC-136.
EJ-140-INFO/SC-136-INFO, Page 4 of 8

Rev. January 1, 2026 Information on Debtor's Examinations
Regarding Consumer Debt
EJ-140-INFO/SC-136-INFO Information on Debtor's Examinations Regarding 
Consumer Debt
INFORMATION FOR  
THE JUDGMENT DEBTOR
This part of the information sheet is for the judgment 
debtor (the person or business who lost the case and owes 
money) in a case concerning consumer debt. It tells them 
how they can respond to an order to appear in court to 
answer questions about money they earn and property they 
own.
12 What do I do if I receive form EJ-141 or form 
SC-136?
If you receive Application and Order to Appear for 
Examination—Consumer Debt (form EJ-141) or 
Application and Order to Produce Financial Statement or 
Appear for Examination—Consumer Debt  (form SC-136), 
you must either appear in court for the examination at the 
time and place listed in item 2 on that form or provide your 
financial information in writing (see steps below) to the 
judgment creditor. You do not have to appear in court for 
the examination if you provide your financial information 
in writing to the judgment creditor and file a notice with 
the court no later than 15 days before the examination.  
If you do not appear in court for the examination or 
provide your financial information in writing, the court 
may make you pay the judgment creditor’s reasonable 
attorney’s fees and costs.
13 How do I provide my financial information in 
writing?
To provide your financial information in writing to the 
judgment creditor, follow these steps:
Complete and serve Financial Statement—Consumer 
Debt (form EJ-144) as explained in  14  and  15 . A copy 
of this form should have been included with the form 
EJ-141 or form SC-136 you received from the judgment 
creditor.
Complete, serve, and file Notice of Financial Statement
—Consumer Debt (form EJ-143) and the proof of 
service for form EJ-144, as explained in  16 . A copy of 
form EJ-143 should have been included with the form 
EJ-141 or form SC-136 you received from the judgment 
creditor.
You can get also get copies of forms EJ-143 and EJ-144 
from courts.ca.gov/rules-forms/find-your-court-forms or 
the self-help center at your local court.  
14 How do I complete Financial Statement—
Consumer Debt (form EJ-144)?
To complete Financial Statement—Consumer Debt (form 
EJ-144), follow these steps:
Read the entire form to see the information it asks for. 
Do not include bank account numbers or other account 
numbers on the form.
To fill out items 1 and 2, decide if any of your income 
or assets are exempt (cannot be collected by a judgment 
creditor). (Read      , “How do I figure out if my income 
or assets are exempt?”)
15
Fill out the other items on the form. If you checked the 
box in item 2 (indicating that some or all of your money 
or property is exempt because it is needed to support 
you, your spouse, or persons who depend on you and 
your spouse for support), you will need to provide 
information about your spouse or dependents in some 
items on the form. The instructions for each item will 
tell you if you need to do so.
Sign and date the form.
If you checked the box in item 2, your spouse must also 
sign and date the form, unless you and your spouse live 
separate and apart.
Make at least one copy of the completed form to keep 
for your records. You will need to bring a completed 
copy of the form with you if you are ordered to appear 
in court. (Read item  17 , “What happens after I provide 
my financial information in writing?”)
After you complete form EJ-144, you must serve (give) the 
original signed form EJ-144 on the judgment creditor no 
later than 15 days before the examination (the date and 
time listed in item 2 on the form EJ-141 or form SC-136 
you received from the judgment creditor). 
Do not file form EJ-144 with the court.
Before serving form EJ-144, read item  16 , “How do I 
complete Notice of Financial Statement—Consumer Debt  
(form EJ-143).” The instructions for serving form EJ-144 
are the same as for serving form EJ-143, and you can serve 
forms EJ-143 and EJ-144 at the same time.
EJ-140-INFO/SC-136-INFO, Page 5 of 8

Rev. January 1, 2026 Information on Debtor's Examinations
Regarding Consumer Debt
EJ-140-INFO/SC-136-INFO Information on Debtor's Examinations Regarding 
Consumer Debt
15 How do I figure out if my income or assets 
are exempt?
Some types of money you earn (income) and money and 
property you own (assets) are exempt, meaning they cannot 
be collected by a judgment creditor. 
To figure out if any of your money or property is exempt, 
read Exemptions From the Enforcement of Judgments 
(form EJ-155). A copy of this form should be included 
with the form EJ-141 or form SC-136 you received from 
the judgment creditor. You can also get a copy of this form 
from courts.ca.gov/rules-forms/find-your-court-forms or 
from the self-help center at your local court. 
Form EJ-155 lists different kinds of money and property 
that are exempt. You will need to look for each type of 
money and property you have in the list. Not all types of 
money and property are exempt, so some of the money or 
property you have might not be listed on form EJ-155.
If any of your money or property is listed on form EJ-155, 
you will need to figure out how much of it is exempt. For 
some types of money and property, only a specific dollar 
amount is exempt. For other types, the entire amount or 
value is exempt. And for other types, the exempt amount 
depends on your situation.
To figure out the exempt amount of each type of money 
and property you have, read Current Dollar Amounts of 
Exemptions From Enforcement of Judgments (form 
EJ-156). A copy of this form should be included with the 
form EJ-141 or form SC-136 you received from the 
judgment creditor. You can also get a copy of this form 
from courts.ca.gov/rules-forms/find-your-court-forms or 
from the self-help center at your local court.  
Form EJ-156 lists the exempt amounts for some types of 
money and property. If the money or property you have is 
not listed on form EJ-156, then you will need to read the 
specific law (the code and section number) listed for that 
type of money or property on form EJ-155. For example, 
form EJ-155 lists Code of Civil Procedure (CCP) section 
704.070 as the code and section number for “cash.” 
You can get a copy of the California laws listed on form 
EJ-155 at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. The sections of the 
United States Code that provide exemptions (shown as 
“USC” on form EJ-155) can be found at 
uscode.house.gov/.
Some types of money and property are exempt if they are 
needed to support the basic needs of you and your family. 
The law for these types will say they are “exempt to the 
extent necessary for the support of the judgment debtor and 
the spouse and dependents of the judgment debtor.” Under 
those laws, the exempt amount is the amount needed to 
support your basic needs and the basic needs of your 
spouse or anyone who depends on you or your spouse for 
support.
After you have figured out if any of your money or 
property is exempt, complete items 1 and 2 on the 
Financial Statement—Consumer Debt  (form EJ-144):
If none of your money or property is exempt, check box 
1a.
If some, but not all, of your money or property is 
exempt, check box 1c. 
If all of your money or property is exempt, check box 
1b.
If any of your money or property is exempt because it is 
needed to support the basic needs of you and your 
family, check the box in item 2.
16 How do I complete Notice of Financial 
Statement—Consumer Debt  (form EJ-143)?
Do not fill out Notice of Financial Statement—Consumer 
Debt (form EJ-143) until after you complete Financial 
Statement—Consumer Debt (form EJ-144).
To complete Notice of Financial Statement—Consumer 
Debt, follow these steps:
Enter the name and address of the judgment creditor. 
You can use the address the judgment creditor provided 
on form EJ-141 or form SC-136.
In item 1, enter the date, time, and location of the 
examination scheduled by the court. This is the 
information listed in item 2 on the form EJ-141 or 
SC-136 that you received from the judgment creditor.
EJ-140-INFO/SC-136-INFO, Page 6 of 8

Rev. January 1, 2026 Information on Debtor's Examinations
Regarding Consumer Debt
EJ-140-INFO/SC-136-INFO Information on Debtor's Examinations Regarding 
Consumer Debt
Check the box in item 2 if you also checked box 1b on 
your Financial Statement—Consumer Debt (form 
EJ-144), which says that all of your income and assets 
are exempt.
Make a copy of the completed form to serve on (give to) 
the judgment creditor.
Make at least one copy of the completed form for your 
records. You will need to bring a completed copy of the 
form with you if you are ordered to appear in court. 
(Read  17 , “What happens after I provide my financial 
information in writing?”)
Serve (give) a copy of the completed Notice of 
Financial Statement—Consumer Debt  (form EJ-143) on 
the judgment creditor. Form EJ-143 can be served by 
mail. Electronic service may be allowed (consent is 
required before electronically serving the judgment 
creditor if they do not have an attorney; read Code of 
Civil Procedure section 1010.6 for more information on 
electronic service). You can serve form EJ-143 at the 
same time as form EJ-144.
Someone who is not one of the people involved in the 
lawsuit must serve the papers if they are served 
personally or by mail. Have the server fill out and sign a 
proof of service. Proof of service forms are available at 
courts.ca.gov/rules-forms/find-your-court-forms.
File completed form EJ-143 with the court. You must 
file the completed original form EJ-143 with your 
original signature. When you file EJ-143, you must also 
file the completed original proof of service for form 
EJ-144. If you file forms EJ-143 and EJ-144 at the same 
time, you can use the same proof of service for both.
If you have a separate proof of service for form EJ-143, 
you must file that proof of service with the court. Ask 
your court if there is a filing deadline.
You must file form EJ-143 and the proof of service for 
form EJ-144 no later than 15 days before the date of the 
examination (shown in item 2 of the form EJ-141 or form 
SC-136 you received from the judgment creditor).
If you do not file form EJ-143 and the proof of service for 
form EJ-144 by this deadline, you must attend the 
examination at the time and place listed in item 2 on 
Application and Order to Appear for Examination—
Consumer Debt (form EJ-141) or Application and Order to 
Produce Financial Statement or Appear for Examination—
Consumer Debt (form SC-136).
17 What happens after I provide my financial 
information in writing?
If you served and filed Notice of Financial Statement—
Consumer Debt (form EJ-143) and a proof of service for 
Financial Statement—Consumer Debt  (form EJ-144) no 
later than 15 days before the date of the examination, you 
do not have to appear for the examination at the time and 
place listed in item 2 on Application and Order to Appear 
for Examination—Consumer Debt (form EJ-141) or 
Application and Order to Produce Financial Statement or 
Appear for Examination—Consumer Debt  (form SC-136).
If you checked item 2 on form EJ-143, the court will 
cancel the examination. If the court cancels the 
examination, the judgment creditor can object by filing 
Notice of Motion and Motion to Require Examination—
Consumer Debt (form EJ-146). 
18 What do I do if I receive Notice of Motion and 
Motion to Require Examination—Consumer 
Debt (form EJ-146)?
Notice of Motion and Motion to Require Examination—
Consumer Debt (form EJ-146) asks the court to order you 
to come to court for an examination even though you have 
provided your financial information in writing. On that 
form, the judgment creditor will explain why they think an 
examination is needed.
The court will hold a hearing at the date and time listed in 
item 2 on form EJ-146 to decide if an examination is 
needed. You must appear at the hearing. 
The hearing is your opportunity to explain why you think 
the information on your Financial Statement—Consumer 
Debt (form EJ-144) is enough and why the judgment 
creditor does not need to ask you questions at an 
examination. Take a copy of your completed Notice of 
Financial Statement—Consumer Debt  (form EJ-143) and 
Financial Statement—Consumer Debt  (form EJ-144) with 
you to the hearing.
EJ-140-INFO/SC-136-INFO, Page 7 of 8

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Rev. January 1, 2026 Information on Debtor's Examinations
Regarding Consumer Debt
EJ-140-INFO/SC-136-INFO Information on Debtor's Examinations Regarding 
Consumer Debt
19 What do I do if I receive Application and 
Order to Require Examination After 
Submission of Financial Statement—
Consumer Debt (form EJ-147)?
If the court decides that an examination is needed after 
hearing the judgment creditor’s Notice of Motion and 
Motion to Require Examination—Consumer Debt  (form 
EJ-146), you will receive Application and Order to Require 
Examination After Submission of Financial Statement—
Consumer Debt (form EJ-147) from the judgment creditor. 
Form EJ-147 schedules your examination, which is when 
you appear in court to provide information about your 
money and property. You must appear on the date and time 
listed in item 2 on form EJ-147.
At court on the day of the examination, the court will call 
the case. You will be administered an oath as if you were 
testifying in court. Then, typically, the court will tell you 
and the judgment creditor where you can meet privately to 
conduct the examination. The judgment creditor will ask 
you questions about your money and property.
If you do not appear at the time and place listed in item 2 
on form EJ-147, the court may make you pay the judgment 
creditor’s attorney’s fees and costs.
OTHER INFORMATION
This part of the information sheet is for the judgment 
creditor and the judgment debtor. 
20 What if I need help to understand English?
When you file your papers, ask the clerk if a court 
interpreter is available. You can also use Request for 
Interpreter (form INT-300) or a local court form or website 
to request an interpreter. For more information about court 
interpreters, go to
21 What if I have a disability?
If you have a disability and need accommodation while 
you are at court, you can use Disability Accommodation 
Request (form MC-410) to make your request. You can 
also ask the ADA Coordinator in your court for help. For 
more information, see How to Request a Disability 
Accommodation for Court (form MC-410-INFO).
EJ-140-INFO/SC-136-INFO, Page 8 of 8

Retrieval chunks

• #1

  Form ID: EJ-140-INFO Title: Information on Debtor's Examinations Regarding Consumer Debt Effective Date: 2026-01-01 Mandatory Form: yes Languages: 汉语, 한국어, español, Tiếng Việt Info Page: https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/jcc-form/EJ-140-INFO Primary Download URL: https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/ej140info.pdf A…

• #2

  that are described in this information sheet. Go to selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/civil-lawsuit/judgment for information on collecting and paying money judgments. 1 How can I tell if a judgment concerns consumer debt? Consumer debt means debt for money, property, insurance, or services that are primarily for personal, …

• #3

  money to the other party, you are the judgment debtor. This information sheet describes how to respond to forms you receive from the judgment creditor: What do I do if I receive form EJ-141 or form SC-136? Read 12 . How do I provide my financial information in writing? Read 13 – 17 . What do I do if I recei…

• #4

  Examination (form AT-138/EJ-125), and do not use form EJ-141 or SC-136, if: You want to ask for a debtor’s examination and the judgment is not for consumer debt, or l You want to ask for an examination of someone who is not the judgment debtor, even if the judgment is for consumer debt. l 5 How do I complete …

• #5

  SER-001). If you were given a fee waiver in the case, the sheriff will serve the papers for you at no cost. When serving form EJ-141 or form SC-136 on the judgment debtor, you must include blank copies of all the following forms: Information on Debtor’s Examinations Regarding Consumer Debt (form EJ-140-INFO/SC-1…

• #6

  explain why you think an examination of the judgment debtor is needed even though they provided a financial statement. If the judgment you are trying to enforce concerns debt secured by real property or personal property, complete items 8 and 9. If you do not wish to appear at the hearing on your motion, check …

• #7

  completed original form by following these steps: File the completed original Notice of Motion and Motion to Require Examination—Consumer Debt with your original signature. You must pay a filing fee unless you are eligible for a fee waiver. Include a copy of the judgment debtor’s completed Financial Statement—C…

• #8

  or Appear for Examination—Consumer Debt (form SC-136) and then the examination is canceled for any reason, you cannot file another application to examine that judgment debtor until one year from the date you filed your previous application. To ask for a second examination of the judgment debtor, use form EJ-141.…

• #9

  from courts.ca.gov/rules-forms/find-your-court-forms or the self-help center at your local court. 14 How do I complete Financial Statement— Consumer Debt (form EJ-144)? To complete Financial Statement—Consumer Debt (form EJ-144), follow these steps: Read the entire form to see the information it asks for. Do no…

• #10

  read Exemptions From the Enforcement of Judgments (form EJ-155). A copy of this form should be included with the form EJ-141 or form SC-136 you received from the judgment creditor. You can also get a copy of this form from courts.ca.gov/rules-forms/find-your-court-forms or from the self-help center at your local …

• #11

  After you have figured out if any of your money or property is exempt, complete items 1 and 2 on the Financial Statement—Consumer Debt (form EJ-144): If none of your money or property is exempt, check box 1a. If some, but not all, of your money or property is exempt, check box 1c. If all of your money or prope…

• #12

  proof of service. Proof of service forms are available at courts.ca.gov/rules-forms/find-your-court-forms. File completed form EJ-143 with the court. You must file the completed original form EJ-143 with your original signature. When you file EJ-143, you must also file the completed original proof of service for …

• #13

  item 2 on form EJ-146 to decide if an examination is needed. You must appear at the hearing. The hearing is your opportunity to explain why you think the information on your Financial Statement—Consumer Debt (form EJ-144) is enough and why the judgment creditor does not need to ask you questions at an examinatio…

• #14

  you are at court, you can use Disability Accommodation Request (form MC-410) to make your request. You can also ask the ADA Coordinator in your court for help. For more information, see How to Request a Disability Accommodation for Court (form MC-410-INFO). EJ-140-INFO/SC-136-INFO, Page 8 of 8