Foreign Money Judgments

Purpose and authority
Domesticating/Registering a Foreign Judgment
Enforcing/Modifying a Foreign Money Judgment
Contesting Validity or Jurisdiction
Fee Schedule Link

Purpose and Authority

A foreign judgment is a judgment, decree, or order of a court from any other state or of the United States.  Please review Chapter 55 of the Florida Statutes for additional information.

The Florida Enforcement of Foreign Judgment Act was established to allow holders of uncollected foreign judgments to domesticate the judgment in the Florida County where the judgment is recorded without having to file suit or pay a filing fee until judicial action is needed for enforcement.

If the judgment holder wants to have the judgment enforced, the case is to be filed in Civil Court and there will be a filing fee.  This will happen 30 days after recording the judgment.

Domesticating/Registering a Foreign Judgment

To record your foreign money judgment, in person

OR by Mail

The creditor will submit the following:

• Certified Copy of Foreign Judgment
• Affidavit provided by the Judgment holder containing the last known address of judgment debtor(s), judgment creditor(s), and creditor(s) attorney, if any. The Clerk’s office does not have this document.
• Notice to Judgment Debtor(s). If not provided at time of recording, the Clerk’s office will prepare for $7.00 per Notice
• Applicable fees (Click here to view Fee Schedule)
• Self-addressed stamped envelope for return of recorded judgment, if documents are mailed

After the documents and fees are submitted, the Clerk’s office will:

• Prepare the Notice to Debtor if not provided by the creditor
• Record the judgment and affidavit
• Mail the Notice to the Debtor(s) by Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested
• Return the original documents to the creditor in person or the self-addressed stamped envelope if documents were mailed

Enforcing/Modifying a Foreign Money Judgment

To enforce or modify your foreign money judgment, visit in person 

OR by Mail

The creditor must: 

1. Retain these documents in order to file with the court if there has been no objection after 30 days 
   • Copy of the Notice to Judgment Debtor(s) 
   • Recorded certified copy of Foreign Judgment 
   • Affidavit provided by the Judgment holder containing the last known address of judgment debtor(s), judgment creditor(s), and creditor(s) attorney, if any 
2. Submit all documents to the Clerk and the appropriate filing fee which is based on the jurisdiction of the court 
3. It is the responsibility of the creditor recording the judgment to track the 30 day objection period before requesting enforcement

Contesting Validity or Jurisdiction

To contest your foreign money judgment, visit in person or by mail 

 The debtor must: 

1. Within 30 days, file the appropriate paperwork to object. The Clerk does not have this paperwork. 
2. Pay the appropriate filing fee based on the jurisdiction of the court 
3. Serve the creditor. Follow Rules of Civil Procedure for service