How Long Does a Judgment Last in Ohio? Dormancy, Revival and Deadlines

The Five-Year Dormancy Clock

An Ohio small claims judgment doesn't expire in the traditional sense, but it can go dormant. Under ORC 2329.07, if five years pass from the date of the judgment or the last qualifying renewal without execution, a Certificate of Judgment, a garnishment, or a proceeding in aid of execution, the judgment becomes dormant.

A dormant judgment can't be enforced. You can't file a new garnishment, levy on property, or freeze a bank account using a dormant judgment. The debtor's obligation still exists in theory, but you've lost your enforcement power until you revive it.

The five-year period starts from the date of the judgment or the most recent qualifying renewal, whichever is later. Qualifying renewal actions include execution, a Certificate of Judgment, a garnishment, or a proceeding in aid of execution.

What Counts as Enforcement Activity

Not everything you do keeps the judgment alive. The statute is specific about what resets the dormancy clock:

• Issuing execution on the judgment
• Filing a Certificate of Judgment with the Common Pleas Clerk
• Issuing an order of garnishment under ORC Chapter 2716
• Commencing or continuing a proceeding in aid of execution, including a debtor examination under ORC 2333.10

A payment demand letter or informal negotiation alone does not appear in the statute's list of renewal actions. A proceeding in aid of execution, including a debtor examination under ORC 2333.10, does count. If you're approaching the five-year mark, take a qualifying step such as issuing execution, filing a Certificate of Judgment, or commencing a proceeding in aid of execution.

Reviving a Dormant Judgment

If the judgment has already gone dormant, it's not permanently dead. You can seek revivor under ORC 2325.15 in the court that issued the original judgment. Under ORC 2325.18, an action to revive generally must be brought within 10 years after the judgment became dormant.

The revivor process works like this:

1. File the Motion — the motion must state that the judgment remains unsatisfied and explain why you're seeking revivor.
2. Serve the Debtor — the debtor gets notice of the motion and an opportunity to respond.
3. Court Hearing — the court reviews the motion and, if granted, enters an order reviving the judgment.

Once revived, the judgment's enforceability resumes. The judgment remains subject to ORC 2329.07's five-year renewal rules.

There are limits. An action to revive a judgment generally must be brought within 10 years from the date it became dormant under ORC 2325.18.

Practical Strategy

The simplest way to avoid dormancy issues is to take at least one qualifying renewal action within every five-year window. If wage garnishment or bank attachment isn't yielding results, filing a Certificate of Judgment against the debtor's real property is an inexpensive backstop — filing fees run $5 to $15 per county — that renews the judgment and adds lien protection.

Post-judgment interest accrues at the statutory rate before dormancy. Under ORC 2325.18, interest does not accrue from the date the judgment becomes dormant until it is revived. For a 2026 judgment, the rate is 7% per annum under ORC 1343.03. A $5,000 judgment grows to roughly $6,750 after five years of accrued interest — before any dormancy pause and assuming no payments reduce the balance.

The Ohio Small Claims Judgment Collection Guide includes a dormancy tracking timeline, the exact revival procedure, and strategies for keeping enforcement pressure consistent across the full life of your judgment.

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