ENFORCING OUT-OF-STATE JUDGMENTS IN CALIFORNIA

If you have obtained a court judgment from another state, but the debtor’s assets are located in California, that judgment cannot be enforced in California automatically. Domestication of a judgment is the legal process by which a judgment issued by another jurisdiction is recognized and entered by a California court, allowing it to be enforced as if it were originally issued in California.

Once domesticated, the judgment may be enforced in California through the same legal enforcement methods used for California judgments. This allows the creditor to take standard enforcement actions, such as levying bank accounts and placing liens on the debtor’s real property.

Domestication of Sister-State Judgment

Under California’s Sister State Money-Judgments Act (Cal. Civ. Proc. Code §§ 1710.10–1710.65 ). The enforcement process begins by filing the required documents in a California court where the judgment debtor lives or holds assets. Once the filings are reviewed and approved, the California court enters the sister-state judgment. After entry, the judgment and notice of entry must be served on the judgment debtor. California law then provides the debtor with 30 days from the date of service to file a motion challenging the entry of the sister-state judgment. If no timely motion is filed, or if any motion is denied, the judgment may be enforced in California. 

In one of our cases, our client held a monetary judgment issued by the Supreme Court of the State of New York. We proceeded in accordance with California’s statutory framework governing sister-state judgments.

As a first step, we asked our client to obtain a certified copy of the New York judgment from the court that issued it, which was necessary to begin the enforcement process in California. To enforce our client’s New York judgment in California, we filed an Application for Entry of Sister-State Judgment in the debtor’s county of residence, including the applicable New York post-judgment interest rate and a certified copy of the judgment. We then submit a Notice of Entry of Sister-State Judgment. Once the required filings were approved, the court entered the sister-state judgment. We served the judgment debtor with the entered judgment and all filed documents, providing formal notice of the California proceeding. After service of the entered New York State judgment, we waited the statutory 30-day period for any motion challenging the judgment, and no such motion was filed. Through this process, the New York judgment was properly entered in California and made enforceable under California law.

Sari Law Firm provides focused guidance on judgment enforcement in California, helping clients pursue enforcement in the proper court and move forward with confidence, without unnecessary delay or complexity.

FAQ

Q1: Can an out-of-state judgment be enforced directly in California?

No. A judgment from another state must first be domesticated in California before enforcement actions may begin.

Q2: What law governs domestication of judgments in California?

The process is governed by California’s Sister State Money-Judgments Act (CCP §§ 1710.10–1710.65).

Q3: How long does the debtor have to challenge a sister-state judgment?

The debtor has 30 days after service of the notice of entry to file a motion challenging the judgment.

Q4: What enforcement actions are available after domestication?

Once domesticated, the judgment may be enforced through bank levies, wage garnishment, liens, and other standard California enforcement tools.

Q5: Where should a sister-state judgment be filed in California?

It is typically filed in the county where the judgment debtor resides or holds assets.