Many judgment creditors assume that if their judgment is a few years old (or more), it’s no longer collectible.
If your judgment is sitting untouched, here are five signs it may still be recoverable:
1. The Debtor Is Employed
If the debtor has regular income, wage garnishment may be an option. Even partial payments add up over time.
2. The Debtor Owns Real Property
A recorded lien can sit on a property for years. When the debtor tries to sell, refinance, or transfer the property, your judgment may have to be paid first.
3. The Debtor Recently Resurfaced
Maybe you saw them on social media, ran into them downtown, or heard they returned to the area. When a debtor becomes active again, enforcement opportunities increase.
4. The Debtor Has a Business
Self-employed individuals, contractors, and small business owners often leave financial paper trails—even if they don’t realize it. Business assets, bank accounts, or receivables may lead to recovery.
5. You Never Attempted Enforcement
This is one of the most common situations. A judgment may be years old, but if no enforcement action was ever taken, the debtor may still have assets or income that can be pursued.
The Bottom Line
Old judgments aren’t dead judgments.
With proper asset discovery and enforcement strategy, creditors often recover money they thought was long gone.
If your judgment is older than you’d like, don’t assume it’s too late.
You may be closer to recovery than you think.
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