Can You Collect on an Out-of-State Judgment in NYC?

Winning a lawsuit in court is only half the battle. You’ve been awarded a judgment, but now you need to collect it. If the party you sued lives in a different state, or moved to NYC after the judgment was entered, it’s natural to wonder if you can collect an out-of-state judgment in New York City.

The short answer is yes. New York law allows creditors to enforce judgments from other states, as long as they follow certain procedures.

The process is called domestication or registration of a foreign judgment. After going through the process, your judgment is treated just like a New York judgment. You’ll be able to enforce it through local mechanisms like wage garnishment, liens, or asset seizure. If you’re unfamiliar with the basics, you may want to start with our overview of what judgment enforcement is and how it works.

In this guide, we’ll explain why enforcing judgments is important. Additionally, we’ll walk through the full legal process under New York’s Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act. Finally, we’ll show how a judgment enforcement lawyer in NYC can help you avoid pitfalls and recover what you’re owed.

Why Enforcing a Judgment Matters

A judgment is more than a moral victory or legal recognition that someone owes you money. It’s a legitimate court order that gives you access to legal remedies for collecting that debt. But it needs to be enforced.

Without enforcement, a judgment is just a piece of paper. Debtors may ignore it. They might hide their assets or move to another jurisdiction. If that happens, you’ll have little recourse without taking proactive steps.

Let’s say a contractor in Florida secured a judgment against a client who moves to Brooklyn. Or a business in Illinois wins a lawsuit over unpaid invoices, only to discover the debtor’s bank account is held in Manhattan. Both these creditors need to domesticate their judgments in New York to recover what they’re owed. These scenarios often arise in commercial conflicts. Learn more about how to resolve business disputes when collection becomes necessary.

That’s precisely why registering your judgment in the state where the debtor lives or has assets is important. Fortunately, New York law provides a straightforward path for out-of-state creditors to enforce judgments here.

What Legal Remedies Does a Judgment Give You?

Once a judgment is enforceable in New York, you can use several collection tools. These include garnishing wages, freezing bank accounts, placing liens on property, and seizing non-exempt assets.

But, you need to make the judgment enforceable in New York City to gain access to these actions. That’s what makes enforcement your legal pathway to actually getting paid. In some cases, especially those involving financial agreements, indemnity agreements may support or complicate the enforcement process.

What Is a ‘Foreign Judgment’?

In this context, “foreign judgment” means a judgment from another U.S. state, not another country.

It’s just a court order from another state or federal court. It’s defined in CPLR § 5401 as a judgment that’s entitled to full faith and credit. All that means is that New York agrees to recognize it.

Let’s say you won a case in California or Florida and got a money judgment. If the person who owes you money now lives in New York, that out-of-state judgment can be enforced here. It just needs to meet some basic requirements.

But not every judgment qualifies. New York doesn’t automatically enforce judgments that were entered by default or by confession.

That means:

If the person you sued never showed up in court, and you won by default, you can’t use the simplified process.
If they signed a document agreeing in advance to lose a case (a confession of judgment), that also won’t work under Article 54.

These limits are in place to protect people’s right to due process. If your judgment falls into one of those categories, you may still be able to collect in New York. But, you won’t be able to use the simplified process. You’ll need to file a new lawsuit here first.

Foreign judgments in NYC are valid, contested judgments from another U.S. court. They’re not international, and not based on a no-show or confession.

How to Enforce an Out-of-State Judgment in NYC

So you have a judgment from another state, and now you want to collect in New York. How do you do that?

The process is called domestication. It’s akin to asking the New York courts to recognize your judgment and treat it like it was issued here. Once that happens, you can start collecting like any other creditor in New York.

Here’s how it works, step by step.

Step 1: Get a Certified Copy of Your Judgment

Start by getting an official copy of your judgment from the original court. It has to be authenticated. That requires the court clerk to stamp it and certify it as real.

Once that happens, it shows the New York courts that your judgment is valid and enforceable. Make sure it’s up to date and includes all relevant details, including the amount owed and any post-judgment interest.

You need a certified copy of your judgment to prove it’s official and enforceable across state lines.

Step 2: File the Judgment with a New York County Clerk

Next, take your certified copy and file it with the clerk’s office in any New York county. You’re most likely to file in the borough where the debtor lives. If they live in Staten Island, you’ll file there. The same goes for Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx.

New York law (CPLR § 5402) says you must file within 90 days of the authentication date. So don’t wait too long.

You’ll also need to file an affidavit that says:

The judgment wasn’t entered by default or confession
It’s still unpaid
Enforcement hasn’t been paused or stayed in the other state
You have the debtor’s name and last known address

This document helps confirm that your judgment qualifies for enforcement in New York.

Filing your judgment and affidavit with the court starts the domestication process. It also puts your claim on record in New York.

Step 3: Notify the Debtor Within 30 Days

Once you file the judgment and affidavit, you have to let the debtor know. Under CPLR § 5403, you must mail a notice of filing within 30 days to their last known address.

This is a required step, even if you think the debtor already knows about the judgment.

Remember, you can’t collect any money until 30 days after you file proof that you sent the notice. It’s part of the debtor’s right to due process, and gives them a chance to respond or raise any legal objections before enforcement kicks in.

You must notify the debtor within 30 days and wait another 30 before collecting anything.

Step 4: Start Enforcing the Judgment

After the 30-day notice period ends, your judgment is officially treated as a New York judgment (CPLR § 5402(b)). That means you can now use the full power of New York’s enforcement laws.

You can:

Garnish the debtor’s wages
Levy their bank accounts
Put a lien on their real estate
File an execution with the sheriff to seize non-exempt property

You can also serve subpoenas to find out where they work, where they bank, or what assets they own.

Enforcement can be time-consuming, but it’s powerful. And if you’re not sure where to start, a judgment enforcement lawyer in NYC can take care of the paperwork and strategy for you.

Once your judgment is registered and notice is served, you can start using New York’s enforcement tools to collect.

What If the Debtor Tries to Fight It?

Can someone block enforcement of a foreign judgment in New York? Sometimes, but only in specific scenarios.

Under CPLR § 5404, the debtor can ask the court to pause enforcement (this is called a stay) if:

They’re appealing the judgment in the original state
A stay of execution was already granted there
They’ve posted a bond or some kind of financial guarantee
They have a valid reason under New York law to delay enforcement

The court will review their request and decide whether to grant the stay. But if the debtor can’t show a good reason, enforcement still goes through.

This is why you need to act fast. If you wait too long, the debtor may move assets or prepare defenses to slow things down.

How Much Does It Cost to Register a Judgment in NYC?

Filing a foreign judgment isn’t free, but the cost is relatively small compared to what you’re collecting.

When you file, the court will assign an index number, and you’ll pay a filing fee. This is the same fee used for other civil cases in Supreme Court, usually around $210 (per CPLR § 5405).

You might also pay for certified mail, copies, or legal help. But, many of these costs can be added to the judgment and collected from the debtor later, if they have assets.

What If My Judgment Doesn’t Qualify?

If your judgment was entered by default or confession, or if there’s another problem, you might not be able to use the simplified process.

That doesn’t mean you’re out of options, though.

CPLR § 5406 says you can still sue the debtor in New York based on the original judgment. This is called an “action on a judgment.” You’ll file a new case in New York court and ask for a summary judgment based on the original ruling.

It’s a longer process and may need more paperwork. Even so, it can be effective if you already have a strong case record from the first court.

This is a good backup if the Uniform Act route doesn’t work for your situation.

Judgment Enforcement in NYC FAQs

Do I need a lawyer to enforce my judgment in NYC?

You don’t need one, but it’s a smart idea. The rules can be strict, deadlines matter, and enforcement strategies can get complex. A local attorney can help make sure you don’t miss anything. You may also want to understand what a general practice attorney does if you’re unsure who to speak to.

How long does the whole process take?

If everything goes smoothly, you might start enforcing the judgment within a month or two. But if the debtor contests it or files for a stay, it could take longer.

Can I enforce a judgment from another country?

That’s a different process. Judgments from foreign countries aren’t covered by Article 54. You’ll need to file a recognition action in New York Supreme Court, which usually takes more time and evidence.

Can I collect interest too?

Yes. In most cases, you can collect post-judgment interest. New York law may even allow a higher interest rate than the original state, depending on how the judgment is registered.

What if I don’t know where the debtor’s assets are?

You can serve an information subpoena to banks, employers, or even the debtor themselves to find out. An attorney can also help you use investigators or judgment search tools to locate assets. If negotiation is still on the table, mediation might offer an efficient resolution before proceeding with enforcement.

Your Judgment Is Enforceable, But Only If You Take Action

Getting a judgment in court is only part of the story. If the debtor is now in New York, it’s up to you to take the next step and register your judgment for enforcement.

The process isn’t complicated, but it does need attention to detail. From filing the affidavit and mailing notice to tracking assets and executing liens, each step moves you closer to real recovery.

If you’re not sure how to start, or want to avoid common mistakes, a judgment enforcement lawyer in NYC can guide you through the process. With the right help, your judgment can go from a court order on paper to money in hand.