How Long Does a Judgment Last in New Jersey?

Twenty Years From the Date of Entry

Under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-5, a New Jersey money judgment remains valid and enforceable for 20 years from the date the court entered it. During that entire period, you can use any enforcement tool — bank levies, wage executions, property seizures, or judgment liens — to collect the money owed.

Twenty years is a long time. A debtor who has no assets today may buy a house, start a business, or get a steady job in year five or year ten. You don't have to collect immediately — but you do need to keep track of the clock.

Interest Keeps Running the Whole Time

Post-judgment interest accrues automatically under Rule 4:42-11 for the entire life of the judgment. For judgments up to $20,000 (the Special Civil Part cap), the 2026 rate is 4.50% and the 2027 rate drops to 4.00%.

The math adds up over two decades. A $5,000 judgment at an average 4% interest rate accumulates $4,000 in simple interest over 20 years — nearly doubling what the debtor owes. Interest is calculated on the unpaid principal, not compounded, and partial payments are applied to accrued interest and costs first before reducing the principal.

Writs Have Their Own Expiration

While the judgment lasts 20 years, individual enforcement tools have shorter lifespans:

• Writ of Execution: Valid for 2 years from issuance. If the bank levy or property seizure doesn't fully satisfy the debt within two years, you need to request a new writ ($35 filing fee each time).
• Wage execution: Continues until the judgment is satisfied or the debtor's employment ends. If the debtor changes jobs, you need a fresh wage execution for the new employer.
• DJ judgment lien: Mirrors the 20-year judgment period. A lien docketed in Trenton encumbers the debtor's real property for the full term.

Don't confuse writ expiration with judgment expiration. You can pursue enforcement while the judgment remains valid, but each writ expires after two years and must be extended or reissued if collection is still needed.

What Happens at Year 20

If the judgment is still unsatisfied when the 20-year period approaches, you can file a formal motion to revive or extend it before it expires. The court can extend enforceability beyond the initial 20-year term.

The motion must be filed before the expiration date to seek an extension under this process. Calendar the date when you first receive the judgment so you don't miss the window decades later.

Practical Strategy for Long-Running Judgments

If the debtor currently has no attachable assets, you have options besides waiting passively:

1. Docket the judgment as a statewide real property lien ($35 in Trenton). If the debtor buys property at any point in the next 20 years, your lien attaches to it.
2. Serve an Information Subpoena every six months to check whether the debtor's financial situation has changed (the six-month rule prevents more frequent service without court permission).
3. Monitor public records — property transfers, new business registrations, or other litigation can reveal new assets.
4. Keep records of all costs and interest so when you do collect, you recover the full amount owed.

Our New Jersey judgment collection guide includes interest calculation worksheets and enforcement timelines to help you track your judgment over its full 20-year life.

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