How to Collect a Judgment in Florida - Division of Corporations (2024)

Judgment Liens

Definitions

  • Judgment Debtor: The losing party (the party that is ordered to pay a monetary amount by the court).
  • Judgment Creditor: The winning party (the party that is awarded a monetary amount by the court).
  • Levy: The process of seizing a judgment debtor’s property to pay the judgment debt.
    • In Florida, the sheriff’s department levies the property.
    • The sheriff’s department sells the levied property in order to pay the creditor.
  • Execution: The process of selling the seized property and paying the creditor.

I was awarded a court ordered judgment. Can I file a judgment lien with the Department of State?

  • Yes, Florida law allows a creditor to file a Judgment Lien Certificate with the Department of State.
  • The filing is not required, but it can be an important factor in recovering your debt.
    • Florida law requires the sheriff’s department to pay all judgment creditors based on the order their judgment liens were filed.
    • If someone else filed their judgment before you filed yours, the sheriff’s department must pay them before they pay you.

What types of property can and cannot be levied by the sheriff?

  • The sheriff’s department can seize:
    • Personal property: movable things (e.g., cars, horses, boats, furniture, jewelry) owned by the debtor.
    • Real property: land and buildings owned by the debtor.
    • Exemptions: An individual may choose to exempt one motor vehicle worth $1,000 or less; and one additional personal property item worth $1,000 or less. Corporations and partnerships do not have any exemptions.
  • The sheriff’s department cannot seize:
    • An individual’s home or homestead.
    • Any property that is leased or rented by the judgment debtor.

How do I get the sheriff to levy personal property?

  1. Locate the property.
    • The property must be located in Florida.
    • The sheriff’s department will not locate the property for you.
  2. Return to the Clerk of the Court that originally issued your judgment and ask for a Writ of Execution.
  3. Deliver the Writ to the sheriff’s department for the county where the debtor’s property is located.
  4. Provide the sheriff’s department with:
    • A deposit to cover their fees and costs.
    • Your written Instructions for Levy:
      • Describing the property; and
      • Telling the sheriff’s office where the property is located.

What happens once the personal property is levied?

  • The sheriff’s department will sell the property at a public auction.
    • The property will be sold to the highest bidder for cash in hand.
    • You may bid on the property.
  • For the sheriff’s department to sell the property, you must:
    • Search our records by the judgment debtor’s name for other judgment liens filed under that name.
    • Search our UCC records by the judgment debtor’s name for creditors that have filed UCC security interests under that name.
    • Notify all creditors found (if any) of the date, time and place of the sale.
    • Provide the sheriff’s department with a signed affidavit containing the information you found in your search for any judgment lien certificates against the debtor.
    • Advertise the sale in a local newspaper once all notices have been sent.

If the levied personal property is sold, how is the money distributed?

The sheriff’s department will distribute the money in the following order:

  1. The sheriff’s department will deduct their costs.
    • If the property sale covers those costs, you will get your deposit back.
  2. The sheriff pays you $500 for your costs, regardless of the amount you actually spent.
  3. If anyone else obtained a judgment lien against the debtor, the sheriff’s office will pay all of the creditors in the order their judgment liens were filed.
    • If the sheriff’s department disburses all of the money before getting to you, you will not receive any payment.
    • If there are no other judgment liens against the debtor, you will be paid first.
    • Remaining funds will be returned to the debtor.

How long is a judgment lien valid?

  • A judgment lien is valid for 5 years.
  • Florida law allows you to file a second judgment lien to extend the lien for an additional 5 years.

How do I get a judgment lien on the debtor’s real property?

File a certified copy of your judgment in the real estate records of the county in which the property is located.

  • The lien is in effect for 10 years, and it can be renewed for an additional ten years.
  • This type of lien is not filed with the Department of State.

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How to Collect a Judgment in Florida - Division of Corporations (2024)

FAQs

How do I collect on a judgement in Florida? ›

Return to the Clerk of the Court that originally issued your judgment and ask for a Writ of Execution. Deliver the Writ to the sheriff's department for the county where the debtor's property is located. Provide the sheriff's department with: A deposit to cover their fees and costs.

What is the statute of limitations in Florida for collecting on a Judgement? ›

Florida Statute of Limitations on a Judgment Lasts 20 Years | Haber law Haber Law.

How to find out if you have a judgement against you in Florida? ›

Q: Where can I find judgments, filings, complaints, and divorce decrees (orders), or other case documents or information? A: You must contact the clerk's office at the court where your case was handled. You may find trial court clerks' phone numbers, street addresses, and website addresses through www.flclerks.com.

How do you negotiate a Judgement? ›

How Do I Go About Negotiating A Settlement After A Judgment Has Been Issued Against Me?
  1. Step One: Figure out who you need to pay. ...
  2. Step Two: Once you have figured out whom you need to talk to, call that person and find out your balance. ...
  3. Step Three: Attempt to negotiate with the creditor to pay a lower balance.

What happens if a defendant does not pay a Judgement in Florida? ›

If the judgment debtor does not pay, you are entitled to get the sheriff to seize the judgment debtor's property. The seizing of property by the sheriff is called a levy. Once the sheriff has levied on the property, the sheriff will then sell it, and pay you out of the money the sheriff receives from the sale.

What is exempt from a Judgement in Florida? ›

The State of Florida currently has several exemptions at a judgment debtor's disposal, including but not limited to, the homestead exemption provided for by the State Constitution, various personal property exemptions provided for by State Statute, certain protections provided to spouses that hold property jointly, and ...

Can a 13 year old debt still be collected? ›

A debt collector can contact your parents or guardian if you are under 18 years old or live with them. A debt collector can also contact your attorney and, if otherwise allowed by law, credit reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) about your debt.

How long before a debt becomes uncollectible in Florida? ›

The statute of limitations for debt in Florida is five years. A creditor has five years to sue you for the money you owe. Most debts are based on written agreements, and the statute of limitations period for contract actions is five years.

What happens to a judgement after 20 years in Florida? ›

Under Florida law, a judgment can only be enforced for twenty years. After twenty years, the creditor on the judgment cannot take any action to collect on the judgment amount. Before twenty years, a creditor can renew the judgment by filing a separate action.

Can a creditor get a judgement without me knowing? ›

Although it shouldn't happen, people have judgments entered against without their knowledge frequently. It may happen if you did not receive the original summons in the mail or you recently moved addresses.

How can I avoid paying a judgement in Florida? ›

Taking advantage of these exemptions can help a judgment debtor not pay a judgment. Some of the most important exemptions include the Florida homestead exemption, retirement accounts, tenants by entireties property, head of household earnings, and social security income.

Can a Judgement be reversed in Florida? ›

The rule does allow the court to relieve a final judgment if the judgment is void. So, because the error caused the trial court to be without subject matter jurisdiction, the order was considered void and vacated.

What is the 11 word phrase to stop debt collectors? ›

If you are struggling with debt and debt collectors, Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC can help. As soon as you use the 11-word phrase “please cease and desist all calls and contact with me immediately” to stop the harassment, call us for a free consultation about what you can do to resolve your debt problems for good.

How much should I offer to settle a judgement? ›

Offer a Lump-Sum Settlement

Some want 75%–80% of what you owe. Others will take 50%, while others might settle for one-third or less. If you can afford it, proposing a lump-sum settlement is generally the best option—and the one most collectors will readily agree to.

How to negotiate a judgement settlement letter? ›

If you're thinking about negotiating a settlement or repayment agreement with a debt collector, consider the following three steps:
  1. Confirm that you owe the debt. ...
  2. Calculate a realistic repayment plan. ...
  3. 3. Make a repayment proposal to the debt collector.
Aug 2, 2023

How long does a debt Judgement last in Florida? ›

How long does my judgment last. The lifespan of a judgment issued by a Florida court is defined by Florida law as twenty years. If it is recorded and operates as a judgment lien, it must be re-recorded before its tenth anniversary to maintain whatever priority it has as a result of the original recording.

What happens after a final judgment in Florida? ›

The Final Judgment ends the legal proceedings in that court and allows for appeal to a higher court. There are different types of judgments depending on the type of legal proceeding. In a proceeding for foreclosure of a lien or mortgage, the court may enter a Final Judgment of Foreclosure.

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