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Total life span of a money judgment and life span of liens on personal property

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donjim

Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Florida

I am a judgment debtor in Florida. The judgment was entered in 2017.

(A). About the personal property: Based on § 55.204, Fla. Stat., A judgment lien certificate is initially valid for a period of five years. The creditor may extend the judgment lien certificate an additional five years by filing a second judgment lien certificate within six months before or six months after the initial judgment lien certificate is scheduled to lapse. No further judgment lien certificates may be filed after the second judgment lien certificate, meaning a lien on personal property arising from a judgment lien certificate may not encumber personal property for more than a total of ten years.

(B). However, § 55.205(1), Fla. Stat. states “A judgment creditor who has not acquired a judgment lien as provided in s. 55.202 or whose lien has lapsed may nevertheless proceed against the judgment debtor’s property through any appropriate judicial process. Such judgment creditor proceeding by writ of execution acquires a lien as of the time of levy and only on the property levied upon. Except as provided in s. 55.208, such judgment creditor takes subject to the claims and interest of priority judgment creditors.” Therefore, § 55.205(1) implies that during the life span of the judgment, the judgment creditor may enforce a judgment by, for example, obtaining a writ of execution and delivering it to the sheriff to levy on specific personal property belonging to the judgment debtor, even after that creditor’s judgment lien certificate has expired.

The claims in above paragraphs A and B are contradicting with each other or at least unclear. Could someone provide clarity on this matter?

(C). I am also totally confused on the total lifespan of a money judgment (or the period within which it may be enforced). For example, 55.081, Fla. Stat. states that the time period within which a creditor may enforce a judgment is limited to twenty years only. However, Florida courts have recognized that a creditor may bring an action within the twenty-year period to obtain a new judgment: Burshan, 805 So. 2d at 841; Marsh, 788 So. 2d at 355; Adams v. Adams, 691 So. 2d, 10, 11 (Fla. 4th DCA 1997).

The claims in Paragraph C are also contradicting with each other on the total lifespan of a money judgment. Could someone provide clarity on this matter as well?
 
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quincy

Senior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Florida

I am a judgment debtor in Florida. The judgment was entered in 2017.

(A). About the personal property: Based on § 55.204, Fla. Stat., A judgment lien certificate is initially valid for a period of five years. The creditor may extend the judgment lien certificate an additional five years by filing a second judgment lien certificate within six months before or six months after the initial judgment lien certificate is scheduled to lapse. No further judgment lien certificates may be filed after the second judgment lien certificate, meaning a lien on personal property arising from a judgment lien certificate may not encumber personal property for more than a total of ten years.

(B). However, § 55.205(1), Fla. Stat. states “A judgment creditor who has not acquired a judgment lien as provided in s. 55.202 or whose lien has lapsed may nevertheless proceed against the judgment debtor’s property through any appropriate judicial process. Such judgment creditor proceeding by writ of execution acquires a lien as of the time of levy and only on the property levied upon. Except as provided in s. 55.208, such judgment creditor takes subject to the claims and interest of priority judgment creditors.” Therefore, § 55.205(1) implies that during the life span of the judgment, the judgment creditor may enforce a judgment by, for example, obtaining a writ of execution and delivering it to the sheriff to levy on specific personal property belonging to the judgment debtor, even after that creditor’s judgment lien certificate has expired.

The claims in above paragraphs A and B are contradicting with each other or at least unclear. Could someone provide clarity on this matter?

(C). I am also totally confused on the total lifespan of a money judgment (or the period within which it may be enforced). For example, 55.081, Fla. Stat. states that the time period within which a creditor may enforce a judgment is limited to twenty years only. However, Florida courts have recognized that a creditor may bring an action within the twenty-year period to obtain a new judgment: Burshan, 805 So. 2d at 841; Marsh, 788 So. 2d at 355; Adams v. Adams, 691 So. 2d, 10, 11 (Fla. 4th DCA 1997).

The claims in Paragraph C are also contradicting with each other on the total lifespan of a money judgment. Could someone provide clarity on this matter as well?
The judgment and judgment liens are renewable. Before the time expires on the judgment, the judgment creditor can force the sale of property to satisfy the debt.

Essentially, it is to your benefit to pay what is owed as soon as possible because the debt is not going away until it is paid, one way or another.
 

quincy

Senior Member
Thanks for the valuable information, appreciate.
You're welcome, donjim.

I did fail to mention, by the way, that a bankruptcy can eliminate (most) debts and is something to consider and discuss with a bankruptcy lawyer if your debts are overwhelming.

Good luck.
 

latigo

Senior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Florida

I am a judgment debtor in Florida. The judgment was entered in 2017.

(A). About the personal property: Based on § 55.204, Fla. Stat., A judgment lien certificate is initially valid for a period of five years. The creditor may extend the judgment lien certificate an additional five years by filing a second judgment lien certificate within six months before or six months after the initial judgment lien certificate is scheduled to lapse. No further judgment lien certificates may be filed after the second judgment lien certificate, meaning a lien on personal property arising from a judgment lien certificate may not encumber personal property for more than a total of ten years.

(B). However, § 55.205(1), Fla. Stat. states “A judgment creditor who has not acquired a judgment lien as provided in s. 55.202 or whose lien has lapsed may nevertheless proceed against the judgment debtor’s property through any appropriate judicial process. Such judgment creditor proceeding by writ of execution acquires a lien as of the time of levy and only on the property levied upon. Except as provided in s. 55.208, such judgment creditor takes subject to the claims and interest of priority judgment creditors.” Therefore, § 55.205(1) implies that during the life span of the judgment, the judgment creditor may enforce a judgment by, for example, obtaining a writ of execution and delivering it to the sheriff to levy on specific personal property belonging to the judgment debtor, even after that creditor’s judgment lien certificate has expired.

The claims in above paragraphs A and B are contradicting with each other or at least unclear. Could someone provide clarity on this matter?

(C). I am also totally confused on the total lifespan of a money judgment (or the period within which it may be enforced). For example, 55.081, Fla. Stat. states that the time period within which a creditor may enforce a judgment is limited to twenty years only. However, Florida courts have recognized that a creditor may bring an action within the twenty-year period to obtain a new judgment: Burshan, 805 So. 2d at 841; Marsh, 788 So. 2d at 355; Adams v. Adams, 691 So. 2d, 10, 11 (Fla. 4th DCA 1997).

The claims in Paragraph C are also contradicting with each other on the total lifespan of a money judgment. Could someone provide clarity on this matter as well?
1. Sections 55.204 and 55. 205(1) are not contradictory. You are confusing a judgment lien certificate (Section 55.204) with a lien that only attaches upon the levy of a writ of execution against the judgment debtor's personal property(Section 55. 205(1). Which is available to the judgment creditor throughout the life of the judgment. The advantage to the judgment creditor in securing the lien under 55.204 is that it establishes a priority as to those liens subsequently attaching.

2. You misread F. S. Section 55.081. It provides that any lien resulting from the judgment expires after 20 years, not that the judgment itself expires.
 

quincy

Senior Member
... 2. You misread F. S. Section 55.081. It provides that any lien resulting from the judgment expires after 20 years, not that the judgment itself expires.
The initial judgment is for 20 years but the judgment creditor can obtain a new 20 year judgment. Lien certificates must be renewed after 5 years.
 
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donjim

Junior Member
Thanks for further valuable information.

Therefore, is it safe to assume that the judgment (by renewal) and liens can be enforced for the rest of the life of the debtor if the creditor is alive?
 

quincy

Senior Member
Thanks for further valuable information.

Therefore, is it safe to assume that the judgment (by renewal) and liens can be enforced for the rest of the life of the debtor if the creditor is alive?
For a long time, at any rate.

The judgments are 20+20 years.

The judgment lien certificates are 5+5 years.

The judgment liens are 10+10 years.

And the judgment creditor can force a judicial sale through foreclosing on an attached property lien.

Debts are no fun. Bankruptcy is an option to consider - although it should never be the FIRST option to consider.
 

justalayman

Senior Member
Thanks for further valuable information.

Therefore, is it safe to assume that the judgment (by renewal) and liens can be enforced for the rest of the life of the debtor if the creditor is alive?
The debt or judgment wouldn't die even if the creditor did. Creditors heirs or assigns would be able to continue collection efforts.
 

quincy

Senior Member
I guess the positive is that few debts will take that long to collect. Or bankruptcy will be filed to erase the debt.

A Chapter 7 bankruptcy will be removed from credit reports 10 years after the filing date and a Chapter 13 bankruptcy will be removed from credit reports after 7 years.
 
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justalayman

Senior Member
I guess the positive is that few debts will take that long to collect. Or bankruptcy will be filed to erase the debt.

A Chapter 7 bankruptcy will be removed from credit reports 10 years after the filing date and a Chapter 13 bankruptcy will be removed from credit reports after 7 years.
That's presuming a bankruptcy will be sought or granted. Obviously not all filings are accepted and (wisely) not all debtors will seek bankruptcy. Sometimes the damage caused by a bankruptcy far outweighs the benefits of escaping a money judgment.
 

quincy

Senior Member
That's presuming a bankruptcy will be sought or granted. Obviously not all filings are accepted and (wisely) not all debtors will seek bankruptcy. Sometimes the damage caused by a bankruptcy far outweighs the benefits of escaping a money judgment.
True. I mentioned earlier that bankruptcy should not be the first option considered. :)
 

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