California Judgment Guide
You won your lawsuit. Now what? This guide explains what a California money judgment is, what your options are, and how to decide what to do next.
What is a California money judgment?
A money judgment is a court’s official determination that one party owes another a specific dollar amount. When you win a lawsuit and the court enters judgment in your favor, you become the “judgment creditor” — legally entitled to collect that amount from the “judgment debtor.”
Here’s what most people don’t realize: winning in court doesn’t mean you get paid automatically. The court doesn’t collect for you. You have to take additional steps to actually recover the money — and the debtor has every incentive to make that as difficult as possible.
California judgments are enforceable for 10 years from the date of entry and can be renewed before expiration for another 10 years. Post-judgment interest accrues at 10% per year on the unpaid balance.
Your three options as a judgment holder
Option 1 — Collect it yourself
California provides several enforcement tools you can use directly: bank levies, wage garnishments, property liens, and writs of execution. This approach costs the least but requires significant time, legal knowledge, and persistence. Most individual judgment holders who try to collect themselves give up within six months.
Option 2 — Hire someone to collect on your behalf
A judgment enforcement attorney or collection agency can pursue the debt on a contingency basis — they keep a percentage of what they recover. This trades cost for effort, but you still wait for recovery with no guarantee. If the debtor is judgment-proof, you get nothing.
Option 3 — Sell the judgment
A judgment buyer pays you a lump sum now in exchange for the right to collect on the judgment themselves. You receive less than face value, but you receive it immediately — with no further risk, no waiting, and no collection costs. The buyer assumes all the risk and does all the work.
Not sure which option is right for you? Compare all three in detail →
Key concepts every judgment holder should know
- Post-judgment interest (10% per year) — Your judgment grows at 10% annually on the unpaid principal. A $50,000 judgment becomes $55,000 after one year and $60,500 after two.
- Abstract of judgment — A one-page document filed with the county recorder that creates a lien on any real property the debtor owns in that county. File this immediately in every county where the debtor owns property.
- Judgment renewal — You must renew a California judgment before its 10-year expiration date or it becomes dormant. Renewal extends enforceability for another 10 years.
- Exemptions — California law protects certain debtor assets from collection — a primary residence homestead exemption ($300,000–$678,391), vehicle equity up to $3,625, and Social Security income entirely. Know what’s collectible before investing in enforcement.
- Default vs. litigated judgments — A judgment entered because the defendant didn’t show up (default) can be challenged under CCP §473. A judgment entered after both sides appeared and argued is much harder to attack.
Explore the guide
Jump to the section that matches where you are:
- Your options as a judgment holder — Compare DIY collection, hiring a professional, and selling
- How judgment sales work — What selling means, what you’ll receive, and how to decide
- Our purchase process — Step by step from submission to wire transfer
- What judgments we buy — Eligibility criteria, minimums, case types
- How much you’ll receive — What drives offer prices, realistic ranges
Ready to find out what your judgment is worth?
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