Arizona Judgment Renewal

Ten Years, Then It's Gone

Arizona civil judgments — including small claims judgments from Justice Court — are enforceable for 10 years from the date the court entered the judgment (A.R.S. § 12-1551). After that, the judgment expires and becomes legally unenforceable. All associated enforcement tools, liens, and garnishments die with it.

That 10-year clock starts on the date the court enters the judgment, not the day you received your copy or started collection efforts.

The 90-Day Renewal Window

If you haven't collected the full amount and the 10-year mark is approaching, you can renew the judgment for another 10 years. But the window is narrow: you must file the renewal within the 90 calendar days immediately before the expiration date (A.R.S. § 12-1612).

File the affidavit too early and it does not renew the judgment. If you miss the affidavit window but the judgment has not expired, A.R.S. § 12-1611 separately allows renewal by action within ten years after the judgment date. After the judgment expires, it is no longer enforceable under that judgment.

How to Renew

The renewal process under A.R.S. § 12-1612:

1. File an Affidavit of Renewal of Judgment with the Justice Court clerk where the original judgment was entered. The affidavit states the original judgment date, the remaining unpaid balance (including accrued interest), and that the judgment has not been previously satisfied.

2. Check notice requirements. A.R.S. § 12-1612 does not prescribe certified-mail service on the debtor within 10 days. Follow the clerk's current instructions for any notice required in your court.

3. Re-record county liens — if you previously recorded judgment liens with any County Recorder, file a certified copy of the Affidavit of Renewal in every county where liens exist. Without this step, your real property liens expire even though the judgment itself was renewed.

What Changes After Renewal

The renewed judgment carries the same force as the original. All enforcement tools remain available — debtor exams, garnishments, writs of execution, liens. Post-judgment interest continues to accrue on the unpaid balance.

The renewed judgment lasts for another 10 years from docketing. Additional and successive renewals are allowed if you file within each later 90-day window.

What Happens If You Miss the Window

If the judgment expires without renewal, your enforcement authority vanishes:

• Active garnishments must be released
• Recorded liens lose their force
• You can no longer file for debtor examinations or writs of execution
• Any outstanding balance becomes uncollectable through the courts

Once the judgment expires, you can no longer enforce it under that judgment. A.R.S. § 12-1611's renewal-by-action procedure must be brought within ten years of the judgment date; do not assume you can restart collection by filing a new lawsuit on the original claim.

Watch for Stale County Information

Some Arizona county court websites still reference a 5-year judgment expiration period. This is outdated. The current statute clearly establishes a 10-year term under A.R.S. § 12-1551, and the renewal procedure is governed by A.R.S. § 12-1612. Don't rely on county web pages for this — check the statute directly.

Calendar It Now

If you have an outstanding judgment, set a calendar reminder for 100 days before the 10-year anniversary. That gives you 10 days of buffer before the 90-day window opens, and ensures you don't miss it. Budget for the court's filing fee and any recording fees for liens; check with the court for its current notice requirements. The cost of missing the renewal window can be the entire remaining judgment balance.

Get the complete Arizona judgment collection guide with a timeline tracker that calculates your renewal window and step-by-step filing instructions.

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