How long does a Florida judgment lien last?

A real property judgment lien lasts for 10 years from the date of recording and can be extended for an additional 10 years by re-recording before expiration (F.S. §55.10). A personal property judgment lien lasts for 5 years, and you may file a second judgment lien certificate within 6 months before or after lapse, creating a new 5-year lien. No additional liens can be filed after the second lien expires (F.S. §55.204).

What is proceedings supplementary in Florida?

Proceedings supplementary (F.S. §56.29) is a post-judgment remedy that allows creditors to reach assets that are concealed, held by third parties, or otherwise difficult to collect through standard garnishment or levy. The court can implead third parties, void fraudulent transfers, and order turnover of assets that would otherwise be out of direct reach of execution.

Can wages be garnished in Florida?

Florida allows wage garnishment under Chapter 77, but head-of-family wages are generally exempt from garnishment without a signed waiver under F.S. §222.11. A person qualifies as head of family if they provide more than half the support for a dependent. If wages are deposited into a bank account, tracing may extend the exemption protection to those funds.

What property is exempt from judgment collection in Florida?

Florida provides several key exemptions: homestead property is protected by the Florida Constitution (Art. X, §4); head-of-family wages are exempt under F.S. §222.11; property held as tenancy by the entireties is exempt from individual spouse debts; and debtors may claim personal property, vehicle, and wildcard exemptions under F.S. §222.25 and related provisions. Social Security benefits and certain retirement accounts also enjoy exemption protection.

How do I collect on a judgment in Florida?

To collect on a Florida judgment, creditors should: (1) record judgment liens on real and personal property; (2) conduct post-judgment discovery including debtor exams under Rule 1.560; (3) file writs of garnishment on bank accounts and wages under Chapter 77; (4) coordinate with the sheriff to levy on non-exempt personal property; (5) pursue proceedings supplementary under §56.29 for concealed assets; and (6) monitor for exemption claims and maintain accurate records of all deadlines.

Collecting on a Judgment in Florida

Q: Can I renew a Florida judgment?

Florida doesn't use a 'renewal' form; instead, the judgment is enforceable for 20 years under F.S. §95.11(1). You preserve and extend liens by re-recording certified copies for real property liens (§55.10) or filing a second judgment lien certificate within the filing window for personal property liens (§55.204). Note that the second personal property lien is a new lien, not a continuation, and no additional liens can be filed after it expires. Creditors may also sue on a judgment within the enforcement period.

Q: Do I need to domesticate an out-of-state judgment?

Yes—use the Florida Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act (F.S. §§55.501–55.509) to domesticate an out-of-state judgment. After domestication, you can use all Florida collection tools including garnishment, levy, proceedings supplementary, and judgment liens on both real and personal property.

TL;DR

A Florida money judgment is enforceable for 20 years (F.S. §95.11(1)). To actually collect, creditors convert the paper judgment into leverage: record a real property judgment lien by recording a certified copy (F.S. §55.10), create a personal property judgment lien by filing a judgment lien certificate with the Florida Department of State (F.S. §55.202), and deploy tools like garnishment (Chapter 77), levy/sheriff sale (Chapter 56), proceedings supplementary (§56.29), and debtor exams & asset discovery (Rule 1.560). Expect exemptions (homestead, head-of-family wages, etc.) and post-judgment interest set quarterly (§55.03).

Plain-English Definitions

Judgment: A court order that you owe money. It’s the legal foundation for collection.
Judgment lien: A statutory lien that secures the judgment against a debtor’s property to improve collection priority.
Proceedings supplementary: A post-judgment action that lets the court reach assets/transferees and unwind fraudulent transfers (§56.29).

How Long a Florida Judgment Lasts

Florida judgments are enforceable for 20 years (F.S. §95.11(1)). That’s the lifespan of the judgment itself. Liens that secure the judgment have their own durations and renewal steps:

Real property lien: Record a certified copy in the county where the debtor owns real property (F.S. §55.10). The lien runs for 10 years from recording and can be continued by re-recording for an additional 10 years (subject to statutory conditions), aligning with the 20-year enforcement window.
Personal property lien: File a Judgment Lien Certificate with the Department of State (F.S. §55.202). It’s effective for 5 years. Within 6 months before or after the lien lapses, you may file a second judgment lien certificate, which creates a new 5-year lien (not a continuation of the first). The second lien permanently lapses after 5 years, and no additional liens may be filed (F.S. §55.204(3)).

Your Florida Collection Toolkit (Creditors’ Rights)

1) Record & Perfect Liens

Real estate: Record a certified copy of the judgment in each county where the debtor owns real property (F.S. §55.10). Consider recording a judgment lien affidavit where appropriate, and monitor for sales/refinances.
Personal property (statewide): File the judgment lien certificate with the Department of State (F.S. §55.202). File a second lien certificate before the first expires to maintain priority for an additional 5 years (F.S. §55.204).

2) Discovery in Aid of Execution

Use post-judgment discovery to locate assets: interrogatories, requests for production, depositions, and a judgment debtor exam (Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.560).
Subpoena banks, employers, tenants, business partners—anyone likely to have information on the debtor’s assets and income.

3) Garnishment (Chapter 77)

Bank accounts: Serve a writ of garnishment on the bank; be prepared for exemption claims (e.g., Social Security, some retirement funds).
Wages: Florida allows wage garnishment, but head-of-family wages are generally exempt absent a signed waiver (F.S. §222.11). Confirm status and tracing if funds are deposited.

4) Levy & Sheriff Sale (Chapter 56)

Obtain a writ of execution and coordinate with the sheriff to levy non-exempt personal property (vehicles, equipment, inventory) and, in some cases, real property.
Follow statutory notice, advertisement, and sale procedures; evaluate whether the cost/benefit of sale supports the strategy.

5) Proceedings Supplementary (§56.29)

When assets are concealed or transferred, move for proceedings supplementary. The court can implead third parties, void fraudulent transfers, and reach assets otherwise out of direct reach of levy/garnishment.

6) Post-Judgment Interest & Attorneys’ Fees

Interest: Accrues at the CFO-published rate under F.S. §55.03 (updated quarterly).
Fees/Costs: If your judgment or contract provides for fees/costs, pursue them; many collection steps allow taxable costs.

Common Florida Exemptions & Obstacles

Homestead: Robust constitutional homestead exemption (Art. X, §4) generally shields a primary residence from forced sale.
Head-of-family wages: Exempt from garnishment without written waiver (F.S. §222.11); tracing may protect deposits.
Tenancy by the Entireties: Assets owned by spouses as TBE are typically exempt from collection on the separate debt of one spouse.
Personal property exemptions: Debtors may claim personal property, vehicle, and “wildcard” exemptions in certain amounts (F.S. §222.25 and related provisions).

Timeline: From Judgment to Money in the Bank

Week 1–2: Record judgment in real property counties; file the statewide personal property judgment lien certificate; calendar all renewal dates.
Week 2–6: Serve post-judgment discovery; set debtor exam; pull credit, property, and corporate records; send third-party subpoenas.
Month 2–4: File garnishments (banks/employers); coordinate with sheriff on levy if indicated.
Month 3–6: If evasion/fraud is suspected, file proceedings supplementary (§56.29) to reach hidden assets or transferees.

Compliance Tips (Keep Your Judgment Collectible)

Track all deadlines: 20-year enforcement window; 10-year real property lien continuation; 5-year personal property lien filings (remember: second filing creates a new lien, not a continuation).
Update your asset map periodically—employment changes, bank switches, new entities, and real estate acquisitions happen.
Mind exemptions before you spend on garnishment/levy; evaluate cost-benefit and likelihood of recovery.
Consider settlement leverage: structured payments, consent to judgment amendments, or stipulated turnover to shorten time to recovery.

FAQ

Is a judgment the same as a lien?

No. The judgment is the court’s decision that money is owed; the lien is how you secure it against property. You must take additional steps to perfect liens.

Can I renew a Florida judgment?

Florida doesn’t use a “renewal” form; instead, the judgment is enforceable for 20 years. You preserve/extend liens by re-recording (§55.10) or filing a second judgment lien certificate within the filing window (§55.204). Note that the second personal property lien is a new lien, not a continuation, and no additional liens can be filed after it expires. Creditors may also sue on a judgment within the enforcement period.

Do I need to domesticate an out-of-state judgment?

Yes—use the Florida Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act (§§55.501–55.509). After domestication, you can use Florida collection tools.

Talk to a Florida Creditors’ Rights Lawyer

Every debtor, asset mix, and exemption landscape is different. A targeted strategy can mean the difference between paper victory and real recoveries. This article is general information, not legal advice.

What is a Judgment and How Do You Collect on One in Florida?