How long does a creditor have to collect on a judgment against me?

Question

How long does a creditor have to collect on a judgment against me?

Answer

Usually, judgments are valid for several years before they expire or "lapse."

In some states, a judgment is effective for around five to seven years. In other states, like New York, it can be twenty years or longer. Exactly how long a judgment lasts depends on the laws of your state, and the method that the creditor uses to try and collect on that judgment.

When Does the Time Period Start?

The time period usually starts running from:

• the date of entry of the judgment
• the date that a creditor last tried to execute (collect) on the judgment, or
• the later date of either event.

Renewing a Judgment Restarts the Cycle

A judgment can potentially become permanent; many states allow creditors to renew their judgments. So, if a creditor gets a court order or files an affidavit or another document, it can renew the judgment for an additional cycle. In some states, creditors are allowed to renew a judgment once or twice. In others, there's no limit.

When a Judgment Lapses

If a judgment creditor doesn't renew a judgment on time, then that judgment lapses. A judgment may also lapse if the creditor doesn't do anything to execute on that judgment for a certain period.

When a judgment lapses (or becomes "dormant"), the creditor can no longer legally enforce it. So, a creditor can't:

• garnish your wages
• attach your bank account
• seize your property, or
• make you appear for a debtor's examination.

Reviving Dormant or Lapsed Judgments

If a judgment against you has lapsed, it probably hasn't gone away forever. Many states allow creditors to "revive" dormant judgments, perhaps subject to a time limit. State laws vary on how the time period is calculated. The clock might begin to run from the time the creditor last tried to collect on the judgment, or it might run from the time the judgment later went dormant.

Can a Debt Collector Try to Collect on a Lapsed Judgment?

Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), a bill collector may still contact you on a lapsed judgment and ask you to pay. But a debt collector can't threaten to garnish your wages or take other legal action to pressure you into settling that old judgment. If a debt collector lies to you about the age of the judgment and whether it lapsed under your state's laws, that also might be a violation of the FDCPA.