How to Domesticate a Judgment: Collect Across State Lines
Your debtor moved to another state—does that mean you can’t collect? Not at all. Through a process called domestication (or registration), you can enforce your judgment in any state where the debtor has assets or income. Here’s how to do it.
📌 Key Takeaways
- Judgments from one state can be enforced in any other state
- The process is called domestication, registration, or filing as a foreign judgment
- Full Faith and Credit Clause requires states to honor each other’s judgments
- You’ll need certified copies of your original judgment
- Once domesticated, use the same collection tools as local judgments
- Skip tracing helps locate debtors who’ve moved across state lines
📑 Table of Contents
🎯 Why Domesticate a Judgment?
A judgment issued in California only has direct enforcement power in California. If your debtor:
- Moved to Texas and works there
- Has bank accounts in Florida
- Owns property in Arizona
You cannot garnish those Texas wages, levy those Florida accounts, or lien that Arizona property—until you domesticate your judgment in those states.
Domestication creates a local judgment with the same force as if you had sued and won in that state. Once domesticated, you can use all the collection tools available under that state’s laws.
⚖️ The Legal Basis
The U.S. Constitution’s Full Faith and Credit Clause (Article IV, Section 1) requires each state to honor the judicial proceedings of every other state. This means your valid California judgment must be recognized in Texas.
Two main laws govern the process:
Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act (UEFJA)
Adopted by most states, UEFJA creates a streamlined registration process. You file your judgment with the court clerk—no new lawsuit required.
Common Law Domestication
States that haven’t adopted UEFJA require you to file a new lawsuit on the judgment. More time-consuming but still effective.
💡 Most States Use UEFJA
Currently, 47 states plus Washington D.C. have adopted the UEFJA, making domestication relatively straightforward in most jurisdictions.
📋 The Domestication Process
Obtain Certified Copies
Get certified copies of your judgment from the original court. Most courts charge $5-25 per certified copy. Get at least two—you may need to file in multiple states.
Prepare Required Documents
In addition to the certified judgment, you typically need: an affidavit stating the judgment is final and unsatisfied, the debtor’s last known address, and sometimes a filing cover sheet.
File with the Court
File your documents with the appropriate court in the new state. This is usually the superior/district court in the county where the debtor lives or has assets.
Serve Notice on the Debtor
Most states require you to notify the debtor that you’ve domesticated the judgment. This gives them a chance to challenge it (they rarely succeed).
Wait for Any Challenge Period
Debtors typically have 30 days to challenge the domestication. Challenges usually only succeed if the original judgment was void or has been satisfied.
Begin Collection
Once the challenge period passes (or immediately in some states), you can use all local collection tools: wage garnishment, bank levies, property liens.
💰 Costs and Timeframes
| Expense | Typical Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Certified judgment copies | $5-25 each | From original court |
| Filing fee (new state) | $25-400 | Varies significantly by state |
| Service of notice | $50-150 | If personal service required |
| Attorney fees (if used) | $200-1,000 | Optional but helpful |
| Total DIY | $100-500 | Without attorney |
Timeframe: In UEFJA states, domestication can be complete in 1-2 weeks (plus any challenge period). Common law states requiring a new lawsuit may take 2-3 months.
⚠️ Don’t Wait Too Long
Judgments expire. Make sure your original judgment is still valid and hasn’t expired before domesticating. If it’s approaching expiration, consider renewing in the original state first. See our Judgment Renewal Guide.
📋 After Domestication: Collection Steps
Once domesticated, your judgment has local force. You can now:
- Garnish wages: File for wage garnishment with the debtor’s employer
- Levy bank accounts: Serve levies on banks where the debtor has accounts
- Lien property: Record liens against real estate in that state
- Conduct debtor exams: Compel the debtor to appear and disclose assets
If you haven’t already, now is the time for a comprehensive asset search to identify collection targets in the new state.
🔍 Find Your Debtor First
Before domesticating, make sure you know where your debtor is. Skip tracing locates debtors who’ve moved, and asset searches reveal what they own in each state.
