California judgments are enforceable for 10 years. If you don't renew before expiration, your judgment dies and all liens release. File the renewal application between years 5 and 10 to extend for another decade.
Under CCP 683.020, a California money judgment is enforceable for 10 years from the date of entry. After that, unless renewed, the judgment expires and becomes unenforceable.
When a judgment expires:
There's no grace period, no late filing allowed. If the judgment expires without renewal, it's gone forever. Courts have no power to revive an expired judgment. Calendar your renewal deadline and don't miss it.
Renewal can be filed during years 5-10 of the judgment's life. Calculate from entry date.
Fill out Application for and Renewal of Judgment with current balance.
File in the court that entered the original judgment. Pay the filing fee.
Serve notice of renewal on the judgment debtor within 30 days.
Under CCP 683.110, you can only file for renewal during a specific window:
Example: Judgment entered January 15, 2020
Filing at the last minute is risky. Court processing delays, clerical errors, or your own miscalculation of the date could result in expiration. File in year 8 or 9 to give yourself margin for error.
When you file for renewal, the judgment is renewed for the total amount then owed, including:
Original judgment: $50,000 entered January 1, 2016. Renewed January 1, 2024 (8 years):
The renewed judgment continues accruing 10% annual interest on the new total. That $77,000 renewed judgment earns $7,700 per year in additional interest. Over another 10 years, it could grow significantly.
| Form | Name | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| EJ-190 | Application for and Renewal of Judgment | Main application with current balance calculation |
| EJ-195 | Notice of Renewal of Judgment | Notice to serve on judgment debtor |
The filing fee for a renewal application is typically $45-50 in most California courts (varies slightly by county). This is recoverable as a cost added to the judgment.
After filing, you must serve the Notice of Renewal on the judgment debtor within 30 days. Service can be by mail. Keep proof of service - it's required for future enforcement.
Yes. There's no limit on the number of renewals. Each renewal extends enforceability for another 10 years. Some creditors have renewed judgments multiple times over 20-30+ years, watching the balance grow with interest while waiting for the debtor's circumstances to improve.
If you filed before the 5-year mark, the renewal is void. You'll need to file again during the proper window. The court may reject an early filing, or it may be filed but have no legal effect. Watch your dates carefully.
Yes, but you may need to record an updated abstract of judgment. The original abstract lien lasts 10 years. To extend the property lien, obtain a certified copy of the renewed judgment and record it with the county recorder where the property is located.
The debtor can challenge errors in your application - wrong amount, already paid, wrong debtor, etc. They can also argue the judgment was void from the start. But they can't stop renewal simply because they don't want to pay. Valid judgments are renewable as a matter of right.
You can still renew the judgment. The debt survives death and can be collected from the debtor's estate. Serve the renewal notice on the estate's personal representative. If the estate is closed, you may need to petition to reopen it or file a creditor's claim if still within the claims period.
The renewal is effective upon filing - serving notice doesn't make it valid, but is required for future enforcement. If you can't locate the debtor, document your attempts. You can serve when you find them later. The renewal itself is already in effect from the filing date.
I help creditors renew judgments and maintain their enforcement rights. Don't let years of accrued interest disappear because you missed the renewal deadline.