Policy Text
4/02 (rev. 08/03)
CIVIL DIVISION – SHE RIFF’S KEEPER LEVY IN STALLATION PROCESS
I. Purpose
The purpose of this Operations Or der is to explain the purpose of and establish a
procedure for the use and inst allation of Sheriff’s Keepers.
II. Definition of a Keeper
A keeper is a non-sworn independen t contractor, who is install ed, by a deputy
sheriff, in a business under levy , to monitor business activit ies. A levy is a
method used to help satisfy a court judgment. Keepers are expe cted to follow the
directions of the deputy who inst alls them, monitor collection of money, make
sure no property leaves the bus iness without being paid or acc ounted for, and
conduct or assist with inventorying of property under levy. Th ey are not expected
to take enforcement action, but are expected to report unusual activity to the
installing deputy.
III. Clerical Re sponsibilities
Senior Records Specialists will review and accept levies submi tted to the
Sheriff’s Department for service . This review is to ensure tha t:
The documents meet requirements set forth in the Civil Procedu ral Manual
(CPM)
Appropriate deposit fees for services are paid
A file is generated for each new case
The information is entered into the current Civil Automated Sy stem and
documents are printed
The required legal not ifications(s) are m ade and the file is f orwarded to the
Field Supervisor for assignment to a deputy for service.
Appropriate court returns are com pleted and the file is closed upon
completion of service
IV. Field Supervisor Responsibilities
The field supervisor is responsib le for reviewi ng the file for legal and procedural
issues and assigning the case to the appropriate field deputy for service.
4/02 (rev. 08/03)
CIVIL DIVISION – SHE RIFF’S KEEPER LEVY IN STALLATION PROCESS
V. Installing Deputy Responsibilities
The installing deputy is responsib le for reviewing the sheriff ’s file for accuracy
and for completing the info rmation on the Notice of Levy
The serving deputy confirms with the California State Board of
Equalization the ownership statu s of the business and makes sur e it
matches the debtor information on the writ
The serving deputy will break dow n the paperwork into three pa ckets:
1. Deputy packet – copy of Notice of levy, copy of letter of in struction
and copy of the writ
2. Keeper packet – keeper instruc tions sheet and copy of the wr it
3. Debtor packet – copy of the No tice of levy, exemption form, copy of
writ and keeper instructions sheet
The serving deputy contacts a keeper from the approved keeper list
maintained by the Civil Divisi on and informs the keeper of the assignment
The serving deputy notifies the debtor of the levy, allows for satisfaction of
judgment, explains duties of k eeper and explains that all sales will be
“cash only” during the ti me the keeper is in place
The serving deputy determines how much cash is present at the business
and determines whether to collec t or leave as “bank” for daily transactions
At the end of the keeper’s shift, the deputy provides to the b usiness
representative a receipt for all money collected to satisfy the writ. This
receipt will contain the Sheri ff’s file number, court case numb er and
address of levy. The money and r eceipt book will be returned to the Senior
Records Specialist for verification with the file.