State rankings
Judgment Expiration by State
Florida has the highest Judgment Valid Years (20), followed by New Jersey (20) and Massachusetts (20). Wyoming has the lowest (5).
Judgment Valid YearsBetter directionWhether a higher or a lower value is better. A green arrow means higher is better, a red arrow means lower is better, and no arrow means neither.More in the glossary →
51 of 51 statesJudgment Valid Years
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All 51 ranked
Highest first.
Distribution Median and middle halfThe median is the middle value: half of places are above it, half below. The middle half is the range holding the central 50% of places.More in the glossary →
Each dot is one state; the lines mark the median and the middle half.
Median
10
Middle half 8 – 13
Average
11.25
51 states
Highest
20
Florida
Lowest
5
Wyoming
Data
Click a column to sort, a row to highlight that place on the charts.
51 states · # = rank by Judgment Valid Years
| # | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Florida | 20 | A judgment lien on real or personal property expires after 20 years. Fla. Stat. § 55.081. |
| 1 |  New Jersey | 20 | A judgment is valid for a period of twenty years, but can be renewed within the twenty year period by the filing of a notice with the court clerk. N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2A:14-5. |
| 1 |  Massachusetts | 20 | A judgment is presumed to be paid and satisfied at the expiration of twenty years after it was rendered. Mass. Gen. Laws 260 § 20. The presumption is rebuttable, not an absolute bar to an action on the judgment. Brown v. Greenlow, 111 N.E.2d 744 (1953). |
| 1 |  Indiana | 20 | Judgments are presumed to be satisfied after 20 years, however, the presumption is rebuttable upon showing nonpayment. Ind. Code § 34-11-2-12, Lewis v. Rex Metal Craft, Inc., 831 N.E.2d 812 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005). All final judgments constitute a lien upon real estate, subject t… |
| 1 |  Colorado | 20 | A judgment may be revived within twenty years. Colo. R. Civ. P. 54. Any revived judgment may itself be revived in the same manner. Id.; see Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-52-102(2)(a) (twenty years to execute unless revived); but see Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-52-102(2)(b)(I) and (II) (refe… |
| 1 |  Connecticut | 20 | A judgment lien expires twenty years after the judgment was rendered, unless the party claiming the lien commences an action to foreclose. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-380a. |
| 1 |  Iowa | 20 | Judgments are valid for a period of twenty years. Iowa Code § 614.1. Judgments are liens upon the real estate owned by the defendant for a period of ten years from the date of the judgment. Iowa Code § 624.23 |
| 1 |  New Hampshire | 20 | Actions of debt upon judgments must be brought within 20 years. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:5. |
| 1 |  Maine | 20 | A judgment lien continues for a period of 20 years from the date of the filing of the writ of execution, and the lien may be renewed once for a period of 20 years. Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 4651-A. |
| 1 |  Rhode Island | 20 | A lien executed against real property is deemed discharged after twenty years from the date of the judgment. R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-26-33. |
| 1 |  District of Columbia | 20 | A final judgment is enforceable for twelve years. D.C. Code § 15-101. An order of revival extends the effect of the judgment for another twelve years from the date of the revival order. D.C. Code § 15-103. |
| 12 |  Kentucky | 15 | An action upon a judgment must be commenced within fifteen years from the date of the last execution. Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.090. |
| 13 |  New Mexico | 14 | A judgment is a lien on the real estate of the judgment debtor and expires after fourteen years. N.M. Stat. § 39-1-6. |
| 14 |  Maryland | 12 | A judgment is valid for a period of twelve years, but can be renewed with the filing of a notice with the court clerk. Md. Rule 3-625. |
| 15 |  California | 10 | A judgment and any lien created by an execution on the judgment expires ten years after the date of the entry of the judgment. Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 683.020. |
| 15 |  Texas | 10 | A judgment becomes dormant and unenforceable if not executed within ten years. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 34.001. A dormant judgment may be revived within two years after the judgment became dormant. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 31.006. |
| 15 |  New York | 10 | A judgment lien is valid for ten years. N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 5203. An action to renew the judgment may be commenced within the year prior to the expiration of the 10 years. N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 5014. A judgment is conclusively presumed to be paid and satisfied after 20 years, except in … |
| 15 |  North Carolina | 10 | A judgment is a lien on real property for ten years from the entry date. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-234. A motion to revive a dormant judgment may be brought as an independent action. Lilly v. West, 1 S.E. 834 (N.C. 1887). |
| 15 |  Virginia | 10 | A judgment is a lien on real estate. VA Code Ann. § 8.01-458. Judgments entered on or after July 1, 2021, are enforceable for 10 years from the date they are rendered. Judgments entered before July 1, 2021, remain enforceable for 20 years. The enforcement period may be extende… |
| 15 |  Washington | 10 | A judgment expires ten years from the date of entry. Wash. Rev. Code § 4.56.190. The judgment can be extended for an additional ten year period by filing within ninety days of the expiration of the ten year period. Wash. Rev. Code § 6.17.020(3). |
| 15 |  Arizona | 10 | A judgment may be filed in each county where the judgment creditor desires the judgment to become a lien. Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-961. A judgment holder may have a writ of execution issued within ten years after the entry of judgment and within ten years after any renewal. Ariz.… |
| 15 |  Tennessee | 10 | A judgment is enforceable for a period of ten years. Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-110. A judgment creditor may renew their judgment by filing a motion within the ten-year period. Tenn. R.C.P. 69.04 |
| 15 |  Missouri | 10 | A judgment lien continues for a period of ten years. Mo. Sup. Ct. R. § 74.08. A judgment may be revived by order of the court within ten years of the entry or last revival. Mo. Sup. Ct. R. § 74.09. |
| 15 |  Wisconsin | 10 | A judgment creates a lien on all real property for 10 years from the date of entry. Wis. Stat. § 806.15. In order to renew, the judgment creditor must obtain permission from the court and refile an action against the judgment debtor within 20 years. Wis. Stat. §§ 806.23; 893.4… |
| 15 |  Minnesota | 10 | A judgment may be enforced for ten years from date of entry. Minn. Stat. § 550.01. |
| 15 |  South Carolina | 10 | Final judgments create a lien upon real estate for a period of ten years. S.C. Code Ann. § 15-35-810. |
| 15 |  Alabama | 10 | A judgment is valid for ten years. Ala. Code § 6-9-1. It may be revived after that, although there is a presumption the judgment has been satisfied. Ala. Code § 6-9-191. A judgment cannot be revived after 20 years. Ala. Code § 6-9-190. |
| 15 |  Louisiana | 10 | Generally, judgments expire after ten years. La Code Civ. Proc. Ann. art. 3501. A judgment may be revived by filing a motion with the court prior to the expiration of the original judgment. La. Code Civ. Proc. Ann. art. 2031. |
| 15 |  Oregon | 10 | Generally, judgment remedies expire after 10 years of the entry of the judgment. Or. Rev. Stat. § 18.180. However, judgment remedies may be extended for 10 years by filing a certificate of extension. Or. Rev. Stat. § 18.182. |
| 15 |  Arkansas | 10 | Judgments must be acted upon within ten years. Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-114. Any payment made towards the judgment or writ of execution on the judgment will toll the statute. Id. Judgments in the Arkansas Supreme Court, Arkansas Circuit Court, United States district courts or Un… |
| 15 |  Idaho | 10 | A lien resulting from a judgment continues for ten years. Idaho Code § 10-1110. The judgment may be renewed and the lien continued for an additional ten years. Idaho Code § 10-1111. |
| 15 |  West Virginia | 10 | A judgment creates a lien on all the real estate. W.Va. Code § 38-3-6. The lien will continue for 10 years from the date of entry. W.Va. Code § 38-3-7. The judgment may be renewed for an additional 10 years. |
| 15 |  Hawaii | 10 | Any judgment is presumed to be paid and discharged ten years after the judgment was rendered, however, a motion to extend judgment will renew the judgment for a period of ten years if sought within ten years from the initial judgment. Haw. Rev. Stat. §657-5. No judgment will b… |
| 15 |  Montana | 10 | An action upon a judgment must be commenced within ten years. Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-201. If before the ten years runs, the judgment holder files a separate action on the judgment, he may obtain a new judgment. Jones v. Arnold, 900 P.2d 917 (Mont. 1995). |
| 15 |  Delaware | 10 | A judgment lien expires after 10 years unless renewed for a further 10- year term. Del. Code Ann. tit. 10, § 4711. |
| 15 |  South Dakota | 10 | A judgment becomes a lien on real property for a period of 10 years. S.D. Codified Laws § 15-16-7. A judgment may be renewed for an additional period of ten years. S.D. Codified Laws § 15-16-35. |
| 15 |  North Dakota | 10 | A judgment is a lien on all real property for a period of ten years. N.D. Cent. Code § 28-20-13. A judgment may renewed by affidavit at any time within ninety days preceding the expiration of ten years from the first docketing of the original judgment. N.D. Cent. Code § 28-20-21. |
| 38 |  Utah | 8 | A judgment creates a lien upon real property and continues for eight years. Utah Code Ann. § 78B-5-202. A motion to renew the judgment will extend the judgment for an additional eight years. Utah Code Ann. § 78B-6-1802. |
| 38 |  Vermont | 8 | A judgment constitutes a lien on any real property of a judgment debtor. 12 Vt. Stat. Ann. § 2901. A judgment lien is effective for 8 years from the issuance of a final judgment. 12 Vt. Stat. Ann. § 2903. An action for the renewal or revival of a judgment must be brought withi… |
| 40 |  Illinois | 7 | A judgment is a lien on real estate for 7 years from the time it is entered or revived. 735 Ill. Comp. Stat. § 5/12-101. A judgment may be revived at any time prior to 20 years after the entry of such judgment. 735 Ill. Comp. Stat. § 5/13-218. |
| 40 |  Georgia | 7 | A judgment becomes dormant and unenforceable when seven years lapse after the granting of the judgment, but may be revived by an additional entry within seven years from the initial judgment. Ga. Code Ann. § 9-12-60. |
| 40 |  Mississippi | 7 | An action must be brought within seven years after the entry of the judgment or the last renewal of judgment. Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-43. A judgment can be renewed only if the existing judgment has not expired. |
| 43 |  Nevada | 6 | A judgment is valid for six years but can be renewed by filing a petition within the six year period. Nev. Rev. Stat. § 17-150. |
| 44 |  Pennsylvania | 5 | A judgment creates a lien upon real property for 5 years. Pa. R.C.P. § 3023. An action for revival of a judgment lien on real property must be commenced within 5 years from the date of the judgment. Pa. R.C.P. § 3031.1; 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5526(a). An execution against person… |
| 44 |  Ohio | 5 | A judgment becomes dormant after five years from the date of the judgment or renewal of the judgment. Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2329.07. An action to revive a judgment can be brought within ten years from the time the judgment became dormant. Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2325.18. |
| 44 |  Michigan | 5 | A judgment lien expires after 5 years from the date it is recorded but may be re-recorded once for another period of 5 years not less than 120 days before the expiration of the initial judgment. Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.2809 |
| 44 |  Oklahoma | 5 | A judgment becomes unenforceable if not executed upon or renewed within five years. 12 Okla. Stat. § 735. |
| 44 |  Kansas | 5 | A judgment becomes dormant if the judgment holder does not begin execution proceedings or file a renewal affidavit within five years after the date of judgment. Kan. Stat. Ann. § 60-2403. |
| 44 |  Nebraska | 5 | A judgment becomes dormant if not executed on within five years. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-1515. A dormant judgment may be revived by bringing an action but must be within ten years of the judgment becoming dormant. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-1420. |
| 44 |  Alaska | 5 | Judgments are valid until satisfied or discharged; however, when a period of five years lapses, the judgment holder must file a motion with the court and prove sufficient cause for failure to obtain a writ of execution. Alaska Stat. § 09.35.020. A recorded judgment lien may is… |
| 44 |  Wyoming | 5 | A judgment becomes dormant if execution is not issued within 5 years. Wyo. Stat. § 1-17-307. A dormant judgment generally may be revived within 10 years. Wyo.Stat. §1-16-503. |
What correlates with Judgment Valid Years?
Pearson r against 2,075 other state metrics sharing at least 31 states. Correlation is not causation.
Higher together
Places that have a higher Judgment Valid Years tend to score higher on these
Opposite directions
Places that have a higher Judgment Valid Years tend to score lower on these
Quick answers
- Which state has the highest Judgment Valid Years?
- Florida has the highest Judgment Valid Years, at 20, followed by New Jersey (20) and Massachusetts (20).
- Which state has the lowest Judgment Valid Years?
- Wyoming has the lowest Judgment Valid Years, at 5.
- What is the median Judgment Valid Years across US states?
- The median is 10 across the 51 US states with data.
- Where does this judgment expiration by state data come from?
- Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: Judgment Lien Duration, Expiration, Renewal or Revival - White and Williams LLP; Limitations on enforcement of judgments - Virginia Law.