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How Long Does a Judgment Last in NY?

Sarah Edwards | May 31, 2024

Sarah Edwards
Legal Expert
Sarah Edwards, BS

Sarah Edwards is a professional researcher and writer specializing in legal content. An Emerson College alumna, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication from the prestigious Boston institution.

Edited by Hannah Locklear

Hannah Locklear
Editor at SoloSuit
Hannah Locklear, BA

Hannah Locklear is SoloSuit’s Marketing and Impact Manager. With an educational background in Linguistics, Spanish, and International Development from Brigham Young University, Hannah has also worked as a legal support specialist for several years.

Summary: How long does a credit card judgment last in NY? After you lose your court case, creditors will have a legal claim over you and your property for up to 20 years. SoloSuit provides tips for navigating a judgment as well as a method to avoid judgments in a debt collection lawsuit.

What happens if a creditor or debt collector sues you and you lose? A court can render a judgment against you, giving your creditor certain rights over you in order to collect that debt. But how long does a judgment last? If you’ve recently lost a lawsuit, here’s what you can expect.

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How long does a credit card judgment last in NY?

In New York, a judgment remains enforceable for 20 years, though creditors can take additional steps to extend this period if the debt remains unpaid. After you lose a credit card debt lawsuit, a court will render a judgment that gives creditors the ability to recoup the debt by:

  • Liquidating some of your assets.
  • Garnishing your bank account.
  • Garnishing your wages to pay over time.

In some cases, a judge may render a stipulated judgment, which will give you the ability to pay your debt for a lower amount. Otherwise, your creditors will have the legal authority to collect your debt through another means.

If you’re not sure if a debt is yours, start by insisting that creditors validate your debt.

What is a judgment lien?

A judgment lien is a claim against your property. The lien will give your creditors a security interest in your property until you either pay off the debt or the creditor sells your property to recover their money.

In New York, a judgment lien lasts 10 years, but a creditor can extend it an additional 10 years.

How long does a judgment of eviction last in NY?

Your landlord can sue you for back rent. If you lose this case, the court can render both a money judgment for the rent and a warrant of eviction. This judgment will also endure for 20 years.

What should I do after receiving a court judgment?

Once a court renders a judgment, the debtor will have some options to consider. If you’ve recently lost a collections lawsuit, take a look at these tips.

Appeal the decision

After a judgment, the creditor must ensure that the clerk of court signs and files it. Your creditors cannot legally collect any debt until the judgment is officially entered. During this time, the creditor must serve a notice of entry and notify the judgment debtor of a 30-day appeal period.

If you have additional information to share in your defense — or you believe the judgment creditor misrepresented the case — you might appeal the court’s decision. However, there’s no guarantee that the original judgment will be overturned.

Pay the judgment

In many cases, your best option is to simply pay what you owe. If you have the financial means, you can pay the debt in one lump-sum payment, which will prevent future interest growth and get you out of debt once and for all.

Alternatively, you may try to work out a payment plan with your creditor or simply comply with a court-ordered wage garnishment program.

File for bankruptcy

When you file for bankruptcy, you can get a discharge from certain debts in order to get a fresh start. But keep in mind that this only works for certain types of consumer debt; it won’t discharge student loans, alimony, child support, or certain tax debts.

Also, a bankruptcy filing will impact your credit score for seven years (Chapter 13 bankruptcy) or 10 years (Chapter 7 bankruptcy). And in Chapter 7 bankruptcy, your assets can be liquidated to pay off your debt.

Learn more about bankruptcy filing in this informative video.

Wait it out

After a judgment expires, your creditor no longer has the legal right to collect the debt. It may be possible to simply wait out the judgment, though New York’s 20-year timeline may make this challenging.

Still, your creditors are barred from seizing your home if a non-debtor spouse is living there. But waiting it out doesn’t prevent creditors from seizing other assets or garnishing your wages.

How does a judgment impact my credit score?

Technically, a court judgment will not show up on your credit report at all. But the financial behaviors that led to the judgment can still have a major impact.

Missed payments, high outstanding balances, and debts sent to collections will lower your credit score. And if you file for bankruptcy after a judgment is rendered, your credit score can be affected for many years.

How to avoid a judgment in New York

A judgment may not be the end of the road, but it will limit your available options. Your best option is to avoid a judgment to begin with.

The very minute you receive notice of a debt collection lawsuit, you should file an Answer with the court to communicate your willingness to contest the charges. You need to act quickly since New York gives you just 10 to 30 days to file.

SoloSuit makes the process easier than ever. Just use the online platform to answer a few simple questions, then generate an Answer to file with the local court. SoloSuit can have your Answer reviewed by an attorney and file it on your behalf.

Let’s look at an example of how the process works:

Example: Kyle had initially ignored the debt collection phone calls. But then he received notice of a lawsuit for his credit card debt. Thankfully, a friend recommended he try SoloSuit. Using the simple interface, Kyle was quickly able to create an Answer and file it by the deadline. This gave him the time he needed to create a strategy to fight the lawsuit and settle his debt before a judgment could be issued.


Start your Answer today by using SoloSettle’s online tool.

To learn more about how to respond to debt collectors in court, we interviewed a consumer rights attorney. Check out the following video to discover what we learned.

You have options

Even after losing a lawsuit, you have options. Follow SoloSuit’s tips to deal with a judgment and move on with your life once your debt is resolved.

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