Mississippi Small Claims Post-Judgment Interest: How the Rate Is Set

You lost your case in Mississippi Justice Court and the judge entered a money judgment against you. The amount on the judgment order may grow through interest, but the rate and start date depend on the judgment and the kind of claim.

The Statutory Rate

Miss. Code Ann. § 75-17-7 does not set one flat rate for every judgment. A judgment founded on a sale or contract bears interest at the same rate as the contract evidencing the debt. Other judgments bear interest at an annual rate set by the judge hearing the complaint.

When Interest Starts

For a judgment founded on a sale or contract, check the contract for the applicable interest rate. For other judgments, the judge sets both the annual rate and a fair start date, which cannot be earlier than the complaint filing date. Read the judgment order for the rate and date that apply to your case.

If you perfect an appeal under RJC Rule 27 within 10 days, check the judgment and any later order for how interest is treated while the appeal is pending. The appeal does not by itself change the rate or start date set by the contract or judge.

How to Calculate It

For a simple-interest estimate, use the rate stated in the judgment or contract:

Interest = Unpaid Amount × Applicable Annual Rate × (Days Outstanding ÷ 365)

For example, if the judgment sets 8% simple annual interest, a $3,500 unpaid balance accrues $280 over one year. Use the actual rate and start date from the judgment or contract; 8% is not a universal Mississippi rate.

The amount depends on the rate in the judgment or contract. Court costs and any garnishment fees add to the balance.

Interest on Enrolled Judgments

If the plaintiff enrolls the Justice Court judgment on the Circuit Court judgment roll under Miss. Code Ann. § 11-7-191, the interest terms in the judgment or contract continue to apply. Enrollment creates a lien against real property in the county.

A judgment lien generally lasts seven years from rendition under Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-47. A judgment may be renewed before expiration under § 15-1-43. If 8% simple annual interest applies for seven years, a $3,500 unpaid balance would accrue $1,960 in interest, before adding collection costs.

Reducing the Interest Burden

Pay promptly. The most direct way to minimize interest is to pay the judgment quickly. Even if you need a payment plan, starting payments immediately slows the interest accumulation.

Negotiate a settlement. Some judgment creditors will accept a lump-sum payment for less than the full judgment plus interest in exchange for filing a Satisfaction of Judgment. This is more likely when the alternative is a lengthy garnishment process.

File Satisfaction of Judgment. Once you pay in full, make sure the plaintiff files a Satisfaction of Judgment with the court. If they enrolled the judgment in Circuit Court, a separate satisfaction must be filed there. An unsatisfied judgment continues to appear on public records even after payment.

Pre-Judgment Interest Is Separate

Some contracts include interest provisions that apply before a lawsuit is filed. For a judgment founded on a sale or contract, § 75-17-7 applies the contract's rate after judgment as well. For other judgments, follow the rate and start date set by the judge.

For a full walkthrough of what happens after a Justice Court ruling — appeals, payment plans, garnishment, and judgment satisfaction — the Responding to a Small Claims Case in Mississippi guide covers the complete post-decision process with deadline trackers and action planners.

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