How Long Does a Judgment Last in New York? 20 Years, Unless...

A judgment against you in New York isn't a slap on the wrist. It's a 20-year claim on your assets that creditors can enforce through wage garnishment, bank levies, and property liens. The clock starts ticking the day the judgment is entered, and creditors can renew it for another 20 years if you haven't paid by then.

Here's what you need to know about judgment timelines in New York, what creditors can do during that period, and how to protect yourself.

New York Judgment Basics: 20 Years and Counting

Under New York CPLR § 211(b), a money judgment remains enforceable for 20 years from the date of entry. That's one of the longest judgment periods in the country. Most states cap it at 10 years.

The 20-year period applies to all civil judgments, including:

• Credit card debt judgments
• Medical debt judgments
• Personal loan judgments
• Eviction judgments with money damages
• Breach of contract judgments

Creditors can renew the judgment before it expires. That means if you owe $15,000 today and ignore it for 19 years, the creditor can file to extend enforcement for another 20 years. With interest compounding at 9% annually (New York's statutory rate), that $15,000 could balloon to over $75,000.

What Creditors Can Do With a New York Judgment

Once a judgment is entered, creditors gain powerful collection tools. They don't need your permission or another court order to use them.

Wage Garnishment

Creditors can garnish up to 10% of your gross wages in New York (or 25% of your disposable income, whichever is less). That garnishment continues every pay period until the debt is satisfied. If you earn $3,000 per month gross, expect $300 to go straight to the creditor before you see your paycheck.

Bank Account Levy

Creditors can freeze and seize funds in your bank accounts. The bank holds your money for 21 days while you scramble to file exemption claims. If you don't act fast, the creditor withdraws the balance to satisfy the judgment.

Certain funds are exempt from bank levies, including:

• Social Security benefits (if directly deposited and clearly identifiable)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Veterans benefits
• Railroad retirement benefits
• Public assistance

You must prove these exemptions. The creditor won't do it for you.

Property Liens

Creditors can file a judgment lien against any real property you own in New York. That lien attaches to your house, condo, or land and doesn't go away until you either pay the debt or sell the property. When you sell, the lien gets paid from the proceeds before you see a dime.

New York judgment liens last 10 years but can be renewed for another 10. They also accrue interest at 9% annually, so that $10,000 lien becomes $23,673 after 10 years if unpaid.

Restraining Notice

Creditors can serve a restraining notice on anyone who owes you money or holds property for you. That includes employers, banks, tenants (if you're a landlord), or anyone else. The restraining notice freezes those funds for up to a year while the creditor figures out how to collect.

The 30-Day Appeal Window

After a judgment is entered, you have 30 days to file a notice of appeal. That 30-day clock starts when the creditor serves you with a "Notice of Entry" of the judgment, not when the judge rules.

Filing an appeal doesn't automatically stop collection. You need to post a bond or file a motion to stay enforcement. That bond typically equals 110% to 120% of the judgment amount, which most people don't have. Without a stay, creditors can start garnishing wages and levying accounts while your appeal crawls through the courts.

Appeals rarely succeed unless you have new evidence or can show the creditor violated your rights during the lawsuit. "I didn't know I was being sued" isn't enough. You need proof of improper service or procedural errors.

How to Stop a Judgment From Ruining You

Negotiate a Settlement

Creditors don't want to chase you for 20 years. Many will settle for 40% to 60% of the judgment amount if you can pay a lump sum. Offer what you can afford and get the agreement in writing before you pay anything. Once paid, demand a satisfaction of judgment filed with the court.

Set Up a Payment Plan

If you can't pay in full, negotiate monthly payments. Get the plan in writing and make sure it includes a provision to file a satisfaction of judgment once you've completed payments. Miss a payment and the creditor can restart garnishments.

File for Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy wipes out most judgment debts, including credit card and medical judgments. Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharges the debt within four to six months. Chapter 13 lets you pay what you can afford over three to five years and discharges the rest.

Filing for bankruptcy also triggers an automatic stay that immediately stops wage garnishments, bank levies, and collection calls. Judgment liens on property can be stripped in some cases, depending on your home equity and exemptions.

If you're facing multiple judgments or the debt is more than you can ever pay back, bankruptcy might be your fastest path to relief. Our free bankruptcy screener shows whether you qualify in under two minutes.

Challenge the Judgment

If you were never properly served or didn't know about the lawsuit, you can file a motion to vacate the judgment. You'll need to show:

• You had a reasonable excuse for not appearing (like improper service)
• You have a meritorious defense to the debt
• You acted quickly once you discovered the judgment

Judges are skeptical of these motions. You need documentation. Affidavits from witnesses, proof you lived elsewhere during service, records showing the debt isn't yours.

What About Eviction Judgments?

Eviction judgments work differently. A warrant of eviction expires after 60 days if not executed. But if the landlord also won a money judgment for back rent or damages, that money judgment lasts 20 years and follows the same collection rules.

Landlords can garnish your wages or levy your bank accounts to collect unpaid rent, even years after you moved out. The 20-year clock gives them plenty of time to find you.

The Interest Problem: 9% Annually

New York law adds 9% annual interest to all judgments. That interest compounds, so a $10,000 judgment becomes $11,950 after two years, $14,256 after five years, and $23,673 after 10 years.

If you're making small payments but not keeping up with interest growth, you're running in place. The balance won't shrink. Do the math before you agree to a payment plan that doesn't cover at least the annual interest.

Does the Judgment Affect Your Credit?

Yes. Judgments used to appear as separate entries on credit reports, but the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) stopped reporting civil judgments in 2017.

That doesn't mean you're off the hook. The underlying debt that led to the judgment still appears on your credit report for up to seven years from the date of first delinquency. And creditors can still enforce the judgment for 20 years, regardless of what's on your credit report.

Statute of Limitations vs. Judgment Duration

Don't confuse these two timelines. The statute of limitations is how long a creditor has to sue you for a debt. In New York, that's typically six years for credit card debt and written contracts.

Once a creditor sues and wins, the statute of limitations no longer matters. The 20-year judgment period takes over. Even if the original debt was from 2005, a judgment entered in 2023 remains enforceable until 2043.

Can You Ignore a Judgment?

Technically, yes. Practically, no. Ignoring a judgment doesn't make it disappear. Creditors will garnish your wages, freeze your accounts, and place liens on your property. They'll wait for you to get a job, inherit money, or buy a house. Then they'll strike.

Some people dodge garnishments by working under the table or keeping money out of banks. That's a 20-year prison sentence of financial instability. You can't get a mortgage, open a business, or build wealth with a judgment hanging over you.

What Happens If You Leave New York?

Moving out of state doesn't erase a New York judgment. Creditors can domesticate the judgment in your new state, which means filing paperwork to enforce it under that state's laws. Once domesticated, they can garnish wages and levy accounts in your new location.

Some states have shorter garnishment limits or better exemption protections, but creditors will adapt. The judgment follows you.