Yes, a judgment can absolutely be enforced in another state. The process involves “domesticating” your original judgment in the new state where the debtor lives, works, or holds assets—essentially getting that state’s court to recognize and treat your judgment as its own.
The process for enforcing a judgment across state lines depends on where the judgment was obtained and where enforcement is sought. The method of enforcement also depends on the circumstances, such as whether the judgment was obtained in state or federal court and the specific legal procedures that apply in each court system.
Most valid U.S. money judgments can be enforced wherever you can locate the debtor or their assets. However, you cannot simply show up in Texas with a California judgment and start garnishing wages. Most states have adopted the Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act (UEFJA), which provides a streamlined process for enforcing a judgment obtained in one state in another state.
You must first follow a legal process to register (domesticate) your judgment in that other state before collection efforts can begin. This process is a key part of judgment collection, involving specific legal procedures and documentation to enforce judgments across state lines.
Enforcing a judgment in another state is crucial because it enables the winning party to collect money or property owed to them by the losing party. Locating and enforcing against the debtor’s assets in another state can be challenging, as it often requires identifying hidden or out-of-state assets and navigating different state laws.
It is especially important to identify the debtor's assets within the state where enforcement is sought—such as real property, inventory, or bank accounts—to facilitate effective collection actions.
Most valid U.S. money judgments can be enforced wherever you can locate the debtor or their assets. To domesticate a judgment in a new state, a creditor typically must file an authenticated copy of the judgment along with an affidavit and a notice of filing.
This article is written by Final Verdict Solutions, a nationwide judgment purchaser headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with additional offices in California. We focus on purchasing judgments of $10,000 or more—with no upfront fees. We handle the entire process, from asset investigation to court filings and enforcement actions, and we only get paid when money is actually collected by us. Read our success stories to see how we've had success nationwide.
In this guide, we will cover:
Struggling to collect on an out-of-state judgment? Contact Final Verdict Solutions for a free consultation.
Judgment enforcement is the legal process by which a judgment creditor seeks to collect a debt that a court has determined is owed by a judgment debtor. After a court issues a judgment—whether from a personal injury lawsuit, a contract dispute, or another legal matter—the creditor must take additional steps to collect the money or property awarded. This process becomes more complex when the debtor or their assets are located in a different state, requiring the enforcement of a foreign judgment.
The Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act (UEFJA) provides a uniform framework for creditors to pursue collection across state lines. To begin, the judgment creditor must obtain a certified copy of the original judgment from the issuing court. Certain courts require an “authenticated” copy, also known as an “exemplified” or “triple-sealed” copy of the judgment.
This certified or authenticated copy is then filed with the court in the county where the debtor lives, works, or holds assets. As part of the process, the creditor usually must submit an affidavit attesting to the judgment debtor’s last known address and that the judgment is valid, enforceable, and unsatisfied. The creditor must also provide notice to the judgment debtor, informing them that the foreign judgment has been filed and that enforcement proceedings may begin.
Understanding the procedures and requirements for judgment enforcement is essential for any creditor looking to collect what is owed. Each state may have its own specific rules, but the general process—filing the certified/authenticated judgment, executing an affidavit, providing notice, and following court procedures—remains consistent under the Foreign Judgments Act. By following these steps, creditors can increase their chances of successfully collecting debts, even when enforcement must cross state lines.
Enforcing a judgment in another state means collecting on a court order when the debtor or their assets are located outside the state where the judgment was originally entered. If you won your case in California but the debtor now lives in Nevada, you cannot simply call up a Nevada sheriff and demand that they seize property. You must first make your judgment enforceable under Nevada law.
Let’s clarify some key terms:
A money judgment rendered in Los Angeles County Superior Court does not automatically become a lien in Texas, New York, or Florida. Your California judgment gives you rights in California, but those rights do not extend across state lines without additional legal steps. You must domesticate the judgment in the new state before you can pursue the debtor’s assets there.
Once domesticated, all the enforcement tools—wage garnishment, bank account levies, property liens, sheriff’s sales, debtor examinations—are controlled by the laws of the state where you enforce, not where you originally obtained the judgment. This means exemption rules, garnishment limits, and procedures may differ significantly from what you experienced in your original lawsuit.
Identifying and seizing the debtor's assets across state lines can be challenging, as assets may be hidden or spread across multiple jurisdictions. Understanding the nature and location of the debtor's assets is crucial for successful enforcement.
Example: Suppose you obtained a $50,000 judgment in California against a contractor who owes you money. That contractor has since moved to Nevada, holds a bank account in Illinois, and owns rental property in Arizona. To collect, you would need to domesticate your judgment in each of those states where you want to pursue assets.
The ability to enforce judgments across state lines is grounded in the U.S. Constitution. The Full Faith and Credit Clause requires each state to respect and honor final money judgments from other U.S. states. This constitutional principle ensures that a debtor cannot simply escape their obligations by crossing state lines.
However, the Constitution does not specify exactly how this recognition should work. That is where the Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act (UEFJA) comes in.
The UEFJA is a model statute adopted by most states since the 1960s and 1990s. It creates a streamlined process for taking a judgment from State A and making it enforceable in State B. States including New Jersey, Texas, New York, Illinois, and Pennsylvania have all adopted some version of UEFJA, though specifics can vary. California has a similar law called the Sister-State Money Judgments Act, which is very similar to the UEFJA.
Under the typical UEFJA framework, the process works like this:
For judgments originally obtained in federal court, a parallel process exists under 28 U.S.C. § 1963. This allows registration of federal judgments in other federal district court locations, after which they can typically be enforced using state court procedures under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 69.
It is important to note that while UEFJA creates uniform enforcement procedures in adopting states, not every state uses identical rules. Some states have older versions of the statute or impose different notice requirements. This is why understanding the specific law of the enforcing state matters.
Most final, valid money judgments can be enforced in another state, but certain conditions must be met before domestication will succeed.
Main eligibility factors:
Example: A default judgment from 2013 may face challenges in 2024 if the debtor argues the original state’s 10-year enforcement window has lapsed, or if the enforcing state has a shorter limitation period.
An experienced judgment purchaser or attorney can anticipate these issues, gather supporting documentation, and effectively oppose debtor objections. Proper preparation often makes the difference between a successful collection and a prolonged legal fight.
Final Verdict Solutions is a specialized judgment purchasing firm—not a traditional collection agency or legal representative. We focus exclusively on purchasing judgments that clients have already won in court. Our headquarters is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but we operate nationwide.
We provide comprehensive support for purchasing judgments across state lines:
This arrangement is especially attractive to judgment creditors who have already invested significant time and money in obtaining a judgment and prefer to sell their judgment rather than manage complex multi-state enforcement proceedings on their own.
Ready to sell your judgment? Contact Final Verdict Solutions for a free consultation. We will evaluate whether your judgment can be enforced in another state.
Deadlines depend on both the issuing and enforcing states. Some states allow 10 to 20 years or more, with possible renewals. For example, Arizona provides a 5-year window while Montana allows 10 years. Check both states’ statutes to ensure your judgment remains enforceable before starting the domestication process.
Under UEFJA, usually no. You domesticate the existing judgment rather than starting from scratch. The domestication process registers your judgment so it receives the same effect as a local state judgment, without requiring you to re-litigate the underlying case.
Yes, in many such cases, you can pursue enforcement. You must follow those states’ specific filing and notice rules, but the judgment can typically be domesticated and enforced against the debtor’s assets in those jurisdictions.
No. Judgments from a foreign country are governed by different statutes, such as the Uniform Foreign-Country Money Judgments Recognition Act. These require additional court proceedings and formal recognition before enforcement can begin. This article does not constitute legal advice on international judgment enforcement (or anything else, as we are not a law firm), which involves separate considerations.
Asset investigations and skip-trace searches can help locate new addresses, employers, and bank relationships. Professional judgment purchasers have access to databases and investigative tools that can uncover this information when the debtor has gone silent.
If the debtor refuses to comply voluntarily, you can use the full range of enforcement tools available in that state—wage garnishment, bank levies, property liens, and more. The court order gives you legal authority to pursue collection through these mechanisms.
Cross-state judgment enforcement is possible in many cases, and thousands of creditors successfully collect from debtors who have moved or hold assets in other jurisdictions. If you have questions about your specific judgment, dates, or debtor information, reach out to Final Verdict Solutions. We will review your case and help you understand the path forward.
