To obtain a stay of execution, what must the judgment debtor show?

• A. They must pay full amount upfront
• B. Evidence of means and inability to pay or impractical to enforce
• C. They have no assets
• D. They have filed bankruptcy

Answer: (B)

A stay of execution is a temporary pause on enforcing a judgment while the debtor deals with the financial situation or pursues relief. To obtain it, the debtor needs to show their financial position justifies delaying enforcement. Specifically, they must provide evidence of their means and show that they cannot pay the judgment now or that enforcing it would be impractical given their circumstances. This protects someone who genuinely cannot afford to pay or where pursuing strict enforcement would be unfair or inefficient.

Paying the full amount upfront would remove the need for a stay. Merely having no assets or having filed bankruptcy does not automatically grant a stay—the focus is on current means and the practicality of enforcement.