A bailiff is a law enforcement officer with a certain degree of authority.
There can be many types of bailiffs with various kinds of duties.
In the United States for example, they are often associated with personnel providing security in court.
There are also:
- Farm bailiffs
- Water bailiffs
- Jury bailiffs
- etc
In real estate, people often come into contact with bailiffs in the recovery of payment for unpaid debt.
Because of this, they are often confused as debt collectors… which they are not.
It is illegal for debt collectors to identify themselves as bailiffs.
It is within their authority to seize possession of property and sell them to recover a debt.
They also have the dreaded job of enforcing eviction.
