California Debt Collection Blog

In California, a judgment expires 10 years after the judgment is entered. However, the 10-year judgment enforcement period can be extended by renewing the judgment. See CCP 683.110(a). Renewal of the judgment is automatic if a renewal application is timely filed with the California court that entered the judgment. However, a judgment cannot be renewed within 5 years of a previous renewal. See CCP 683.110(b). This is to prevent creditors from renewing judgments too often to take advantage of compound interest. This can be important ...

In California, if the judgment creditor causes the sheriff to serve a Notice of Levy on a third party (for example, a company owing money to the judgment debtor), what are the third party's obligations under California's Enforcement of Judgment Laws? The answer is that, absent “good cause” for refusal, the third party needs to: 1. Deliver to the levying officer property of the judgment debtor levied upon that was in the possession or control of the third person at the time of levy; 2. Provide to the levying officer any documents necessary ...

After a California judgment has been satisfied (i.e., collected), what should the creditor do? The answer is that the creditor should file an Acknowledgment of Satisfaction of Judgment. Pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 6373(b), the Acknowledgment of Satisfaction of Judgment must contain the following information: (1) The title of the court where the judgment is entered and the cause and number of the action. (2) The date of entry of the judgment and of any renewals, and where entered in the court records. (3) The name ...