How Long Does a Judgment Last in Georgia? (Renewal Rules)

A Georgia judgment doesn't have a hard expiration date, but it can go dormant after seven years if nobody makes the right entries on the court's general execution docket. Keep making qualifying entries and the judgment can stay alive indefinitely, and even a dormant judgment can generally be revived within three years.

If you're a business owner who won in a Georgia court and still hasn't been paid, that answer is good news with a catch. Your judgment can last a long time, but only if someone keeps watching the clock. Here's how long a judgment lasts in Georgia, how renewal works, and what your options are if you'd rather not spend the next decade tracking deadlines.

Quick Answer: Georgia Judgment Duration at a Glance

• Dormancy period: 7 years (O.C.G.A. § 9-12-60).
• What keeps it alive: Recording the execution (often called a writ of fieri facias, or "fi. fa.") on the general execution docket, then qualifying entries such as a levying officer's entry on the execution or a filed notice of a bona fide public effort to enforce it.
• Each qualifying entry: Starts a new 7-year period.
• If it goes dormant: It can generally be revived within 3 years (O.C.G.A. § 9-12-61).
• Interest: Generally the prime rate on the day the judgment is entered, plus 3 percent (O.C.G.A. § 7-4-12).

How Long Does a Judgment Last in Georgia?

Many states give judgments a fixed life, such as 10 or 20 years, followed by a formal renewal. Georgia works differently. Its rule is about dormancy, and the clock is tied to activity on the execution.

Under O.C.G.A. § 9-12-60, a judgment becomes dormant, meaning it can't be enforced, if seven years pass after the judgment is entered before execution is issued and recorded on the general execution docket (GED) in the county where the judgment was entered. After that, the judgment stays active as long as qualifying entries are recorded often enough that seven years never pass between them.

In plain terms: a Georgia judgment lasts as long as someone keeps it active. Ignore it for seven years and it goes to sleep.

Can a Judgment Be Renewed in Georgia?

Yes, though Georgia doesn't use the word "renewal" the way some states do. Instead of filing one renewal motion every so often, you keep the judgment from going dormant by making entries the statute recognizes. Under O.C.G.A. § 9-12-60, those include:

1. A levying officer's entry. An officer authorized to levy and return the execution, typically the sheriff, makes an entry on it, and the clerk records that entry and its date on the general execution docket.
2. A notice of bona fide public effort. The judgment holder makes a genuine public effort to enforce the execution in the courts and files written notice with the clerk, who enters it on the docket. The notice has to identify the action, the parties, and the court.

Each qualifying entry starts a fresh seven-year period. Court decisions interpreting the statute say the entry has to be made in the right place, on the execution record in the county where the judgment was entered, so details matter. This is a step where many judgment holders lean on their attorney.

Tired of tracking Georgia docket deadlines? Start a free evaluation of your Georgia business judgment.

What Happens If a Georgia Judgment Goes Dormant?

A dormant judgment can't be enforced, but it isn't necessarily dead. Under O.C.G.A. § 9-12-61, a dormant judgment can generally be revived within three years from the date it became dormant, either through a new action or a scire facias proceeding in the court that entered it. The debtor gets notice and a chance to respond.

Miss that three-year window and you may lose the ability to enforce the judgment for good. That is why it pays to know exactly when your judgment was entered, when execution issued, and when the last qualifying entry was recorded.

How a Georgia Judgment Lien Fits In

When your execution is recorded on the general execution docket, it can act as a lien on the debtor's real estate in that county. If the debtor owns property elsewhere in Georgia, the execution can also be recorded in those counties. The lien's strength depends on the judgment staying active, so dormancy affects your lien as well as your ability to garnish or levy.

For a side-by-side look at how other states handle judgment duration, see our state judgment laws guide.

Does a Georgia Judgment Keep Earning Interest?

Yes. Under O.C.G.A. § 7-4-12, Georgia judgments generally earn post-judgment interest at the prime rate published by the Federal Reserve on the day the judgment is entered, plus 3 percent. The rate is fixed on that day. So a judgment that stays active can keep growing over time. Our post-judgment interest page explains how that works, and you can run your own numbers with the judgment calculator.

The Real Cost of Keeping a Georgia Judgment Alive

Here's the catch with a judgment that can last indefinitely: it only lasts if you keep working it. For a business owner, that can mean:

• Calendaring dormancy deadlines for years, sometimes decades
• Paying for sheriff entries, garnishment filings, and attorney time
• Tracking a debtor who moves, changes business names, or shifts assets
• Re-filing garnishments when a debtor changes jobs or banks
• Keeping files, records, and proof of every entry

None of that brings in new customers. It's work on a dispute you already won. We break down those hidden costs in The Hidden Cost of Uncollected Judgments.

The Alternative to Years of Renewals: Selling Your Georgia Judgment

If you'd rather close the file than babysit a deadline, you can sell the judgment. When you sell to one of the companies that buy judgments, the buyer pays you, takes ownership through a written assignment, and takes over the work of keeping the judgment alive and enforcing it. Before you pick a buyer, read Companies That Buy Judgments in Georgia: 8 Things to Check.

Great Lakes Strategic Capital purchases unsatisfied non-consumer (business and commercial) judgments for cash, with no upfront fees. Once GLSC owns the judgment, the enforcement work, including tracking dormancy deadlines, is GLSC's, not yours. That work is backed by Wayne Bisard's 31-plus years of investigative experience, which matters when a debtor has moved or moved money.

Want the full picture of both paths? Read our step-by-step guide to collecting or selling a judgment in Georgia, or compare the options on our enforce vs. sell page. If your judgment came out of Oconee County, see our Oconee County step-by-step guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do judgments expire in Georgia?

Not on a fixed date. A Georgia judgment goes dormant if seven years pass without the execution being recorded or without a qualifying entry. As long as qualifying entries keep being made, it can stay enforceable.

How long does a judgement last in Georgia if nothing is done?

If execution isn't issued and recorded on the general execution docket, or no qualifying entry is made, within seven years, the judgment becomes dormant. It can generally be revived within three years after that.

How do you renew a judgment in Georgia?

You keep it from going dormant by recording qualifying entries on the general execution docket, such as a levying officer's entry on the execution or a filed notice of a bona fide public effort to enforce it. Each entry starts a new seven-year period. Ask your attorney which approach fits your case.

What happens if a debtor doesn't pay a judgment in Georgia?

The judgment holder can use enforcement tools such as recording a lien, garnishing wages or bank accounts, and levying on property. Under O.C.G.A. § 18-4-5, wage garnishment is generally limited to 25 percent of weekly disposable earnings, or less under a federal minimum-wage-based limit. Many business owners sell the judgment instead of handling enforcement themselves.

Can I sell an old Georgia judgment?

Often, yes, as long as the judgment is still enforceable or can still be revived. A buyer will review the docket history to confirm its status. If you're unsure where yours stands, submit it for evaluation.

Close the File on Your Georgia Judgment

Your judgment can last a long time in Georgia, but you don't have to be the one keeping it alive. Start a free evaluation of your Georgia business judgment, or see how interest has grown your award with the judgment calculator.

About the author: Wayne Bisard is the owner of Great Lakes Strategic Capital, which purchases non-consumer civil judgments. He is a retired police captain and licensed Michigan private investigator with 31 years of investigative experience.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Consult an attorney licensed in your state about your situation.