How Long Does a Judgment Last in Arkansas?

An Arkansas District Court judgment — including small claims judgments — starts with a 10-year limitations period from the date of entry. Arkansas law also allows revival by Scire Facias, and issuance of execution or garnishment process or payment on the judgment can start a new limitations period.

Here's how the timeline works and what you need to do to protect your judgment.

The 10-Year Enforcement Window

Under A.C.A. § 16-56-114, a money judgment entered by an Arkansas court starts with a 10-year limitations period from the formal date of entry. Arkansas appellate authority treats issuance of execution or garnishment process, and payment on a judgment, as tolling the period and starting a new one. During the enforcement period, you can pursue garnishment, execution, liens, or asset discovery.

The clock starts on the date the District Court Clerk makes the formal docket entry, not the date of the hearing.

Post-judgment interest accrues as simple interest on unpaid principal at the rate set under A.C.A. § 16-65-114. For a judgment entered January 15, 2026, the rate is 5.75%; a $3,000 unpaid judgment accrues $172.50 per year, or $1,725 over 10 years before costs or payments.

How to Renew Before Expiration

If 10 years pass without revival or a qualifying enforcement process or payment that starts a new limitations period, collection is barred.

To renew, you file a Writ of Scire Facias in the court where the judgment was originally entered. The process:

1. File the writ with the District Court Clerk before the 10-year mark ($10 issuance fee)
2. Have the debtor served with the writ
3. Filing the writ and serving the debtor revives the judgment for another 10 years

Calendar this deadline well in advance. If you miss it by even one day, the judgment is dead.

Judgment Duration vs. Lien Duration

These are separate clocks, and confusing them is a common mistake:

Renewing the judgment via Scire Facias does not automatically renew a recorded judgment lien. The lien expires on its own 3-year cycle. If your lien expires but the judgment is still active, you record a new certified copy with the Circuit Clerk to establish a fresh 3-year lien.

The 30-Day Appeal Window

Before worrying about the 10-year clock, watch the shorter ones. Unless the court orders otherwise, the initial 10-day stay under Arkansas District Court Rule 10 bars enforcement after entry. The debtor then has 30 calendar days from the date of judgment entry to file an appeal to Circuit Court under District Court Rule 9. Filing an appeal alone does not extend the initial stay; an approved supersedeas bond creates a stay during the appeal. If an appeal is filed and bonded, enforcement pauses until the Circuit Court resolves the case de novo.

What to Do If the Debtor Can't Pay Now

Sometimes a debtor genuinely has nothing collectible today — no job, no bank balance, no non-exempt property. That doesn't mean the judgment is worthless. People's circumstances change. The 10-year limitations period, with revival and reset options, gives you time to wait for the debtor to get a job, open a bank account, or buy property.

In the meantime, interest keeps accruing at the rate set under A.C.A. § 16-65-114. At 5.75% for a judgment entered January 15, 2026, a $2,500 judgment accrues $1,437.50 in interest over 10 years without any payment.

The Collecting a Small Claims Judgment in Arkansas guide walks through the full enforcement timeline, including when to pursue collection actively and when waiting is the better strategy.

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