Filing Judgements in other states

[doyleprice]

A loan was signed for a Minster so that he could buy a car.
He told the person he would pay the loan and signed documents to that effect. He skipped and left an elderly person to pay for the loan. She got a Judgement against him for the amount of the loan. He now lives in another state, South Carolina. Can a judgement given in California have any effect in another state? The amount of the loan was
$20,000. Any advice would be appreciated.

Doyle Price
[email protected]

 

[JETX]

Yes, a judgment from one state can be enforced in another. This is done through a process called "domestication" or "sister state filing".

If you know where the debtor is located, contact a comparable court in that county. Ask them what they require to domesticate your California judgment to their court. They will normally require a 'certified judgment' and a filing fee and possibly an affidavit. When you have the information together, send it to the court (certified RRR) with a self addressed stamped envelope (for the courts return of accepted documents). Once the court confirms and accepts the filing, you can use the SC court system to enforce the judgment.