How Long Is a Judgment Good for in Connecticut?

The Clock Starts at Judgment Entry

A Connecticut small claims judgment doesn't last forever. Under CGS § 52-598, an execution on a small claims judgment can be issued by the court clerk for up to 10 years from the date the judgment was originally entered. After that window closes, you can no longer use the court's enforcement machinery — wage executions, bank levies, and property levies all become unavailable unless you take action to extend the judgment.

Regular Superior Court money judgments get a longer runway — 20 years — but small claims judgments are capped at 10.

What "10 Years" Actually Means

The 10-year period governs when the court clerk can issue new executions on your judgment. It doesn't mean the debt vanishes at year 10. But practically, once the execution window expires, you lose access to every involuntary collection tool: no more garnishing wages, no more freezing bank accounts, no more levying property through a State Marshal.

Any judgment lien you recorded on the debtor's real property under CGS § 52-380a remains effective as long as the judgment itself is enforceable — but an expired judgment makes the lien unenforceable too.

If post-judgment interest is ordered, it can continue accruing under CGS § 37-3a during the enforceable period. At an awarded 10% annual rate, a $5,000 judgment could accrue $5,000 in simple interest over a decade if nothing is collected.

Reviving an Expiring Judgment

If you're approaching the 10-year mark and the judgment hasn't been fully collected, you need to act before the window closes. Under CGS § 52-598(c), a judgment creditor may file a Motion to Revive Judgment in Superior Court before the 10-year period expires.

This is a court motion to maintain execution enforceability within statutory limits, not a new lawsuit. Don't wait until the last month — court scheduling and service requirements mean you need to start the process well before the expiration date.

Timeline Planning

If you won your judgment on October 1, 2020, your execution window runs until October 1, 2030. Mark the expiration date early and build backward:

• Year 1–2: Pursue active enforcement — discovery, wage executions, bank levies
• Year 3–5: If the debtor has been uncollectible, revisit periodically (people change jobs, open bank accounts, buy property)
• Year 7–8: Seriously evaluate whether to pursue revival if the judgment is still unsatisfied
• Year 9: Begin the revival process if needed — don't cut it close

When a Judgment Becomes Uncollectible

Some debtors genuinely have no collectible assets. They may be unemployed, have no bank accounts with non-exempt funds, and own no real property. Connecticut's statutory exemptions — the $250,000 homestead exemption, the $677.60 weekly wage floor in 2026, the $1,000 bank account protection — can make small debts effectively uncollectible.

But circumstances change over 10 years. A debtor who was uncollectible at year 1 might have a full-time job and a savings account at year 5. Recording a judgment lien on any real property they own costs relatively little and ensures you're positioned to collect when they eventually sell.

The Collecting a Small Claims Judgment in Connecticut guide covers the full 10-year strategy — from immediate enforcement tools to long-term monitoring, lien recording, and revival planning.

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