Wage Garnishment and the Statute of Limitations: When Does a Judgment Expire?

One of the least understood aspects of wage garnishment is that the court judgment enabling it does not last forever. Every state sets a statute of limitations on how long a judgment remains enforceable — after which the creditor loses the legal right to garnish wages, levy bank accounts, or take other collection actions based on that judgment. Understanding these deadlines can be critically important if you are dealing with an old debt.

How Long Do Judgments Last? State-by-State Overview

Judgment duration varies significantly by state. The following represents the general range, though specific rules depend on the type of debt and court:

• 5 years: California (renewable, see California Wage Garnishment Calculator), Louisiana
• 7 years: Georgia (Georgia Wage Garnishment Calculator), Missouri, New Hampshire
• 10 years: New York (New York Wage Garnishment Calculator), Florida (Florida Wage Garnishment Calculator), Texas (Texas Wage Garnishment Calculator), Illinois (Illinois Wage Garnishment Calculator), Ohio (Ohio Wage Garnishment Calculator), Michigan, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington (most common duration)
• 20 years: Maryland, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky

The clock on a judgment's statute of limitations typically starts from the date the judgment was entered by the court — not the date the original debt was incurred. This is an important distinction: a debt may be 15 years old, but if a creditor obtained a judgment 3 years ago, the judgment may still have 7 years of enforceability remaining.

Use our Wage Garnishment Calculator to understand the current garnishment rules in your state while you research the judgment timeline. You can also explore our detailed State Wage Garnishment Laws for a side-by-side comparison of state regulations.

Judgment Renewal: The Creditor's Reset Button

The existence of a statute of limitations does not mean creditors simply wait for the clock to run out. Most states allow creditors to renew a judgment before it expires, effectively resetting the clock for another full term. In California, for example, a 10-year judgment can be renewed for another 10 years by filing a renewal application before expiration. In New York, a 20-year judgment can be renewed indefinitely. See more on California Wage Garnishment Laws Explained and New York Wage Garnishment Laws.

Creditors who are actively pursuing collection — including through wage garnishment — almost always renew judgments before they expire. The renewal process is typically straightforward and inexpensive for the creditor. Do not assume that an old judgment will simply expire without action.

The Difference Between Judgment Expiration and Debt Expiration

There are two separate legal concepts that are often confused:

Statute of limitations on the debt — This is the time limit for a creditor to sue you to obtain a judgment. Once this period expires (typically 3–6 years from the last payment, depending on state and debt type), the creditor cannot file a new lawsuit. However, if they already have a judgment, this limitation is irrelevant. For details on how this works, see How Long Does Wage Garnishment Last?

Statute of limitations on the judgment — This is the time limit for a creditor to enforce an existing judgment through garnishment, bank levies, and other collection actions. This is what determines whether an existing garnishment order can continue. See also Wage Garnishment vs Bank Levy: What's the Difference?

If a creditor attempts to garnish your wages based on a judgment that has expired and has not been renewed, you can challenge the garnishment in court. File a motion to quash the garnishment order and present evidence that the judgment has expired. Courts will vacate garnishment orders based on expired judgments. Learn more about how to protect yourself in How to File a Wage Garnishment Exemption.

Dormant Judgments: When Inactivity Matters

Some states distinguish between active and dormant judgments. A judgment becomes dormant if the creditor takes no collection action for a specified period (typically 3–5 years). A dormant judgment cannot be enforced until it is revived through a court filing. If a creditor has not attempted to collect on a judgment for many years, it may be dormant and require revival before garnishment can resume.

If you receive a garnishment order on a debt you have not heard about in many years, check the original judgment date and your state's dormancy rules before assuming the garnishment is valid. An attorney can review the judgment history and advise whether a challenge is warranted. For state-specific guidance, review our State Wage Garnishment Laws listings.

What to Do If You Think a Judgment Has Expired

If you believe a garnishment order is based on an expired or dormant judgment, take the following steps:

1. Obtain a copy of the original judgment from the court that issued it. The judgment date is the starting point for the statute of limitations calculation.
2. Check your state's judgment duration and renewal rules via our state calculators, such as Texas Wage Garnishment Calculator or Illinois Wage Garnishment Calculator.
3. Search court records for any renewal filings by the creditor.
4. If the judgment appears to have expired without renewal, consult an attorney about filing a motion to quash the garnishment. For example, see How to Object to a Wage Garnishment Order in Georgia.

Use our Wage Garnishment Calculator to understand the current garnishment rules in your state and how much of your paycheck is legally protected while you work through the judgment timeline question.