California Judgments: Expiration, Renewal & What You Owe After 10 Years

A California judgment expires after 10 years. But that does not mean you're off the hook. Collectors can renew judgments before they lapse, and most do. If you lost a lawsuit or ignored one altogether, you need to know exactly when your judgment clock starts, when it stops, and what happens if a creditor misses the renewal window.

How Long a California Judgment Lasts

California judgments remain enforceable for 10 years from the date the court enters them. The clock starts when the clerk records the judgment, not when you get served or when the trial ends. After 10 years, the judgment becomes unenforceable unless the creditor renews it.

During those 10 years, the creditor can garnish your wages, levy your bank account, or place a lien on real property you own. Interest accrues at 10% per year, compounding the balance. A $5,000 judgment grows to $12,969 in 10 years if you pay nothing.

When the Clock Starts

The entry date is what matters. If a court enters judgment on March 15, 2024, it expires on March 15, 2034, unless renewed. You can check the entry date on your court documents or by searching the case online through your county's civil case index.

Default judgments follow the same 10-year rule. If you never responded to the lawsuit, the judgment still expires 10 years from entry.

How Creditors Renew Judgments in California

Before the 10 years expire, a creditor can file an Application for Renewal of Judgment (form EJ-190). If approved, the judgment extends for another 10 years. There is no limit to how many times a creditor can renew. A judgment from 2004 could still be enforceable in 2044 if renewed properly.

The creditor must file the renewal application before the judgment expires. If they miss the deadline, the judgment lapses. Once lapsed, the creditor cannot garnish wages or levy accounts. They can try to revive it through an Action on a Judgment, but courts are not required to grant it, and many will not if the creditor simply forgot.

What Happens If They Miss the Deadline

If a creditor fails to renew before expiration, the judgment becomes unenforceable. You are not legally obligated to pay, and the creditor cannot use wage garnishment, bank levies, or property liens to collect. The debt itself does not disappear. It is still owed in theory, and the creditor can ask you to pay voluntarily, but you can refuse.

Some creditors file an Action on a Judgment after the expiration date. This is a separate lawsuit asking the court to revive the old judgment. Courts have discretion to grant or deny it. If the creditor offers no good reason for missing the renewal deadline, courts often deny the request.

What a Judgment Allows Creditors to Do

An active California judgment gives creditors several collection tools:

• Wage garnishment: Up to 25% of your disposable earnings can be taken each pay period, or the amount by which your weekly disposable earnings exceed 40 times the state minimum wage, whichever is less.
• Bank levy: The creditor can freeze and withdraw funds from your checking or savings account.
• Property lien: If you own real estate, the creditor can record an Abstract of Judgment with the county recorder, creating a lien. If you sell or refinance, the lien must be paid from the proceeds.
• Till tap: For business owners, creditors can take money directly from the cash register.

Certain income is exempt from garnishment, including Social Security, SSI, unemployment, and most pension income. If your bank account holds only exempt funds, you can file a Claim of Exemption to stop the levy.

How to Stop a Judgment Before It Happens

The easiest way to beat a judgment is to respond to the lawsuit before the court enters one. If you ignore the case, the creditor wins by default. Once that happens, your options shrink.

You have 30 days from the date you are served to file an Answer. The Answer is a legal response that disputes the debt, raises defenses, or questions the creditor's evidence. It forces the creditor to prove their case. Many debt buyers lack the documentation needed to win, and some will dismiss or settle rather than fight.

If you are unsure whether you owe the debt, or if the amount seems inflated, you have grounds to challenge it. Creditors must prove the original contract, the amount owed, and their legal right to collect. If they cannot, the case can be dismissed.

If you are dealing with a debt lawsuit right now, use our screener to see if bankruptcy or another option makes sense for your situation.

What to Do If You Already Have a Judgment

If the court already entered a judgment, you still have options. You can negotiate a settlement, file a motion to vacate the judgment, or consider bankruptcy to discharge the debt.

Negotiate a Settlement

Creditors know that collecting a judgment can be difficult. Many will settle for a lump sum that is less than the full balance. If you have cash or can borrow from family, offer 40% to 60% of the total judgment amount. Get the agreement in writing before you pay, and make sure it includes language stating the judgment will be dismissed or satisfied once payment clears.

Motion to Vacate the Judgment

If you were never properly served, or if the creditor committed procedural errors, you can file a motion to set aside the judgment. California Code of Civil Procedure Section 473 allows courts to vacate judgments based on mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect. You must act quickly. The deadline is typically six months from the date of entry, though some exceptions apply.

Bankruptcy as a Reset

Chapter 7 bankruptcy wipes out most unsecured judgments, including credit card debt, medical bills, and personal loans. Once you file, an automatic stay goes into effect, halting all collection activity, including wage garnishment and bank levies. If you qualify, the judgment is discharged, and the creditor cannot collect.

Chapter 13 bankruptcy creates a repayment plan. You pay what you can afford over three to five years, and the rest of the unsecured debt is discharged. This can be a better option if you are behind on a mortgage or car loan, or if you earn too much to qualify for Chapter 7.

If you are facing multiple judgments or ongoing garnishment, bankruptcy might be the fastest way to stop it. You can file without an attorney, and the cost is manageable for most people.

How to Check If a Judgment Has Expired

You can search for judgments in your county's civil case index. Most California counties offer online access. Look for the case number, entry date, and any renewal applications. If the judgment is more than 10 years old and shows no renewal, it is likely expired.

If you are not sure, pull your credit report. Judgments used to appear on credit reports, but since 2017, the major bureaus stopped including them. That does not mean the judgment is gone, just that it will not hurt your credit score. You still need to check court records to confirm expiration.

What If the Creditor Tries to Collect After Expiration

If a creditor attempts wage garnishment or a bank levy after the judgment has expired, you can fight it. File a Claim of Exemption or motion to quash the garnishment, citing the expiration date. Bring proof: a copy of the judgment showing the entry date and the absence of any renewal.

If the creditor continues to harass you after the judgment expires, they may be violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). You can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or sue the creditor for damages.

The Bottom Line

California judgments last 10 years and can be renewed indefinitely. If a creditor misses the renewal deadline, the judgment becomes unenforceable, but you still owe the debt in theory. Your best move is to respond to the lawsuit before a judgment is entered. If you already have a judgment, you can settle, vacate it, or discharge it in bankruptcy. Check the entry date, know your rights, and do not assume the judgment will expire on its own. Most creditors renew.