Judgment Expiration by State: How Long a Judgment Lasts (2026)
How long a judgment lasts in every state, whether and how it can be renewed, post-judgment interest rates, wage garnishment rules, and enforcement quirks, in one sortable 50-state reference.
How long does a judgment last by state?
A civil judgment does not expire on one national schedule. Depending on the state it stays enforceable for as little as 5 years (Delaware, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma) or as long as 20 years (Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, South Dakota, Virginia, Wisconsin and others). Most states land on 10 years.
The clock normally runs from the date the judgment was entered, though some states measure it from the last execution, renewal, or recorded payment. A handful of states use dormancy instead of a fixed deadline: the judgment goes to sleep if you take no enforcement step in time, and you then have a short window to revive it.
Most states let you renew or revive before the period lapses, and some allow repeated renewals. A few states cap the judgment's total life, so renewing buys you nothing beyond the statutory maximum.
As for the hardest state to collect a judgment, the deadline usually matters less than the debtor's assets. Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina and Pennsylvania do not permit wage garnishment for most civil judgments, and Texas and Florida have unlimited homestead exemptions. Where the debtor has few reachable assets, the judgment can be nearly uncollectible no matter how many years remain on it.
How Long a Judgment Lasts in Every State
Sort the table by state, by enforcement period, or by whether the judgment can be renewed. Each row links to that state’s full recovery guide. The periods shown are the ordinary civil enforcement windows; several states apply a shorter or longer period depending on the court that entered the judgment.
| Post-Judgment Interest | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| AlabamaAL | 10 yrs | Renewable Revival appears required after 10 years with outer 20-year limit; specific procedure to be confirmed | 12% per annum |
| AlaskaAK | 10 yrs | Renewable Renewable before expiration for another 10 years | 10.5% per annum (or judgment rate) |
| ArizonaAZ | 10 yrs | Renewable Renewal affidavit required before expiration | 10% per annum |
| ArkansasAR | 10 yrs | Renewable Revival now by notice under 2025 Act 986 (replacing old scire facias procedure); renewable for additional 10-year periods | 10% per annum |
| CaliforniaCA | 10 yrs | Renewable Renew before 10 years expire using form EJ-190 (earliest after 5 years); renewals are unlimited and each extends 10 years. Note: lower-balance personal-debt and medical-expense judgments have narrower renewal caps under recent law. | 10% per annum |
| ColoradoCO | 6 county / 20 district | Renewable File before expiration in the same case using forms JDF 113 (Motion for Revival), JDF 114 (Notice to Show Cause), JDF 125 (Order); debtor has 14 days after service to answer | Varies — 8% or federal funds rate + 2% |
| ConnecticutCT | 10 small claims / 20 other | Renewable Motion to revive may be filed in Superior Court before the applicable period expires; revival does not extend beyond the statutory cap. Small-claims forms: JD-CV-3, JD-CV-5, JD-CV-24. | 10% per annum |
| DelawareDE | 5 yrs (execution window) | Renewable After the 5-year execution window, revive by scire facias or motion practice; Justice of the Peace Court explicitly states judgment is good for 5 years then must be revived | 5% over the Federal Reserve discount rate |
| FloridaFL | 20 yrs record / 5 yrs non-record | Not renewable The underlying 20-year judgment (court of record) is not extendable. A recorded real-property lien may be rerecorded before it expires for an additional 10 years, but never beyond the 20-year judgment cap. | Varies by quarter — set by state CFO |
| GeorgiaGA | 7 yrs dormancy + 3 yr revival | Renewable Judgment becomes dormant if 7 years pass without execution, qualifying docket entry, or public-effort notice; each proper entry resets a new 7-year period; dormant judgment may be revived within 3 years after dormancy by action or scire facias | Prime rate + 3% per annum |
| HawaiiHI | 10 yrs (hard cap: 20 yrs) | Renewable Must seek extension within 10 years of the original judgment by filing a motion with notice; no extension beyond 20 years from the original judgment — hard outer cap | 10% per annum |
| IdahoID | 10 yrs | Renewable Before lien expiration, move in the original court for an order renewing judgment under § 10-1111; renewed judgment lien runs 10 years from the date of the renewal order | 5% over the base rate |
| IllinoisIL | 7 yrs (up to 20 via revival) | Renewable File petition to revive in the original case in the 7th year after entry or last revival; petition must state original date, amount, costs, interest, and credits; served under Supreme Court Rule 106; outer revival window is 20 years | 9% per annum |
| IndianaIN | 10 yrs free / 20 yrs total | Not renewable Within 10 years, execution may issue as of course. After 10 years, only by leave of court after motion and 10 days' personal notice. Every judgment is considered satisfied after 20 years — no separate renewal mechanism. | 8% per annum |
| IowaIA | 20 yrs (lien: 10 yrs) | Renewable Action on a court-of-record judgment may be brought within 20 years to obtain a new judgment; real-estate lien is separate at 10 years | Varies — based on Treasury bill rates |
| KansasKS | 5 yrs (dormancy) + 2 yr revival | Renewable Prevent dormancy by filing a renewal affidavit or issuing execution within 5 years; revive dormant judgment by motion for revivor plus request for immediate execution, with notice served as a summons, within 2 years after dormancy. After 2 years of dormancy, must be released of record. | 4% over the federal reserve discount rate |
| KentuckyKY | 15 yrs | Renewable KRS 413.090 allows an action upon a judgment within 15 years, computed from the date of the last execution; renewal is by filing a new action on the judgment | 12% per annum |
| LouisianaLA | 10 yrs | Renewable Before prescription, revive by ex parte motion in the original court with an affidavit that the judgment has not been satisfied; no citation/service required; clerk mails notice; no execution until 30 days after mailing; may be revived repeatedly if timely | Judicial interest rate set annually |
| MaineME | 20 yrs (lien: 10–20 yrs) | Renewable Execution lien may be renewed once by renewal/pluries/alias writ recorded before lien expiration, with the same notice as the original. First execution generally must issue within 1 year after finality. | Statutory interest rate |
| MarylandMD | 12 yrs | Renewable Judgment lasts 12 years and may be renewed for another 12 years; see Rule 2-625 / 3-625 for renewal procedure | 10% per annum |
| MassachusettsMA | 20 yrs | Not renewable 20-year presumption of payment. No separate statutory revival procedure confirmed from primary sources — treat as non-renewable in the standard sense. | 12% per annum |
| MichiganMI | 6 small claims / 10 record courts | Renewable Within the applicable 6- or 10-year period, bring a new action on the judgment for a fresh judgment. Real-property judgment lien expires after 5 years and may be rerecorded once (also expires when underlying judgment expires). | 1% over the 5-year Treasury note rate |
| MinnesotaMN | 10 yrs | Renewable Must start a NEW LAWSUIT before the end of the 10-year period — no special renewal form or motion in original case; a new civil action is required. | Varies — based on prime rate |
| MississippiMS | 7 yrs | Renewable File a 'Notice of Renewal of Judgment or Decree' with the clerk of the court that rendered it; renewal only available if the judgment has NOT yet expired | 9% per annum |
| MissouriMO | 10 yrs | Renewable Revive by scire facias within 10 years from rendition, from valid revival, or from last payment entered of record; after revival, a new 10-year period runs from that date. | 9% per annum |
| MontanaMT | 10 yrs | Renewable Action upon a judgment may be brought within 10 years; renewal is by filing a new action on the judgment before expiration. Specific revival method needs additional primary-source confirmation. | 10% per annum |
| NebraskaNE | 5 yrs (dormancy) + 10 yr revival | Renewable Judgment becomes dormant if no execution is sued out within 5 years after entry or within 5 years after the last execution; revive within 10 years after dormancy in the manner for reviving actions before judgment. | Varies — set by state statute |
| NevadaNV | 6 yrs | Renewable Renew by filing an affidavit of renewal of judgment within 90 days before expiration; action on a judgment must be commenced within 6 years. | Prime rate + 2% |
| New HampshireNH | 20 yrs | Renewable Statute gives 20 years to bring actions of debt upon judgments; a filed foreign judgment is treated the same as a NH district or superior court judgment | Statutory rate |
| New JerseyNJ | 20 yrs | Renewable May be renewed for an additional 20 years by motion in Superior Court Law Division, Civil Part and/or Special Civil Part (J or DJ docket); foreign judgments are docketed through the judiciary's foreign-judgment packet | Judgment rate set by court |
| New MexicoNM | 14 yrs (hard cap) | Not renewable NO EFFECTIVE EXTENSION: A revived or re-judgmented judgment is NOT enforceable after 14 years from the original judgment — statute expressly rejects extending enforceability beyond the original 14-year cap | 8.75% per annum |
| New YorkNY | 20 yrs (lien: 10 yrs) | Renewable Separate action under CPLR § 5014 to extend the judgment lien; partial payment or written acknowledgment can also extend enforceability | 9% per annum |
| North CarolinaNC | 10 yrs | Renewable Bring a new action on the judgment before the 10-year period expires | 8% per annum |
| North DakotaND | 10 yrs | Renewable Action on the judgment within 10 years to renew | 6% per annum |
| OhioOH | 10 yrs (lien: 5 yrs) | Renewable Revival required before enforcement continues after dormancy; certificate of judgment lien must be renewed separately | 3% over federal short-term rate |
| OklahomaOK | 5 yrs | Renewable Revive within 5 years before dormancy; judgment becomes dormant if no execution is issued within 5 years | Judgment rate as set by statute |
| OregonOR | 10 yrs | Renewable Renew before expiration; can renew repeatedly if timely filed each time | 9% per annum |
| PennsylvaniaPA | 20 yrs (lien: 5-yr intervals) | Renewable Revive every 5 years to maintain lien priority; judgment enforcement lasts 20 years but practical enforcement requires periodic revival to preserve lien | 6% per annum |
| Rhode IslandRI | 20 yrs | Renewable Action on the judgment within 20 years | 12% per annum |
| South CarolinaSC | 10 yrs | Renewable Renewable before expiration; real property lien is 10 years | Judgment rate set by statute |
| South DakotaSD | 20 yrs | Renewable Renewable before expiration | 12% per annum or prime + 4% |
| TennesseeTN | 10 yrs | Renewable Action on the judgment within 10 years to renew | 10% per annum |
| TexasTX | 10 yrs + 2 yr revival | Renewable Judgment becomes dormant after 10 years if no execution is issued; may be revived within 2 years after dormancy by filing a motion for revival | Post-judgment interest at prime + 1% |
| UtahUT | 8 yrs | Renewable Renew before expiration; applies uniformly | Federal judgment rate + 2% |
| VermontVT | 8 yrs | Renewable Action on judgment to extend within 8 years | 12% per annum |
| VirginiaVA | 20 yrs | Renewable Extend for an additional 20 years by motion or action before expiration | Judgment rate set by statute |
| WashingtonWA | 10 yrs | Renewable Extension for another 10 years must be filed before the current period expires | 12% per annum |
| West VirginiaWV | 10 yrs | Renewable Renewable before expiration | 10% per annum |
| WisconsinWI | 20 yrs (lien: 10 yrs) | Renewable Renewable before expiration; judgment lien is renewable separately | Judgment rate set annually |
| WyomingWY | 10 yrs | Renewable Renewable before expiration | 10% per annum |
General information, not legal advice. Renewal procedures and interest rates change, and some states measure the enforcement period from the last execution or recorded payment rather than from the date of entry.
Find Your State
Search or browse the full list to see your state's judgment enforcement rules.
"Several U.S. jurisdictions use dormancy or revival systems rather than a simple expiration rule. States like Kansas, Nebraska, and Georgia require active steps to keep a judgment alive — while Michigan, Colorado, Connecticut, and Florida impose different enforcement periods depending on the court level. Always verify the specific rule before relying on a judgment's collectibility."
What Creditors Need to Know
Act Before the SOL Expires
Judgment statutes of limitations range from 5 to 20 years by state. In most states, you can renew before expiration — but you must act proactively. An expired judgment is uncollectible without court intervention.
Some States Severely Limit Collection
Texas, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina effectively prohibit wage garnishment for civil debts. Florida's unlimited homestead exemption makes real estate liens against primary residences extremely difficult to enforce.
Selling Avoids These Hurdles
When collection is complex or uncertain, selling your judgment provides immediate, guaranteed cash — regardless of state-specific exemptions or debtor tactics. We handle all post-assignment enforcement risk.
Judgment Expiration and Renewal Questions
The questions creditors ask most about how long a judgment lasts and what happens when it runs out.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Enforcement periods, renewal procedures and interest rates change, and a judgment’s treatment can turn on the court that entered it. Confirm the current rule for your state and consult a licensed attorney before taking enforcement action. See post-judgment interest rates by state or judgment recovery by state.