Oklahoma Post-Judgment Interest Rate: How to Calculate What the Debtor Owes
Post-judgment interest is money the law adds to your Oklahoma judgment every day it goes unpaid. It compensates you for the time value of money the debtor owes but has not delivered. And unlike the principal, which stays fixed, the interest keeps growing until the debtor pays in full or the judgment expires.
How the Rate Is Set
Under 12 O.S. § 727.1(I), the post-judgment rate each year is the prime rate listed in the first edition of the Wall Street Journal published for that calendar year, plus two percentage points. The State Treasurer certifies the rate to the Administrative Director of the Courts.
The Administrative Office of the Courts issues the applicable rate annually. Recent rates:
| Year | Post-Judgment Rate |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 9.50% |
| 2024 | 10.50% |
| 2025 | 9.50% |
| 2026 | 8.75% |
If your judgment spans multiple calendar years, the rate that applies changes at each year boundary. A judgment entered in December 2025 accrues at the 2025 rate through December 31, then switches to the 2026 rate starting January 1.
Exception: If a contract specifies a lawful interest rate and that rate is stated in the journal entry of judgment, the contract rate applies instead of the statutory formula (12 O.S. § 727.1(D)). Most small claims judgments involve informal disputes (unpaid services, property damage, security deposits) without a written interest clause, so the statutory rate controls.
Interest Compounds Annually
Each calendar year, interest is calculated on the original judgment amount, including prejudgment interest, plus post-judgment interest accrued in prior years. For a partial year, prorate the annual amount for the days in that calendar year (12 O.S. § 727.1(C)).
For a $5,000 judgment at the 2026 rate of 8.75%:
- Annual interest: $5,000 × 0.0875 = $437.50
- Daily interest in 2026: $437.50 / 365 = $1.20 per day
Over six months (180 days), that adds about $215.75 to the balance. Post-judgment interest is not dramatic for small claims amounts, but it accumulates steadily — and the debtor cannot avoid it by dragging their feet.
How Partial Payments Are Applied
When the debtor makes a partial payment — whether through garnishment, voluntary payment, or sheriff's sale proceeds — the payment is applied to accrued interest first, then to the principal.
Example with the same $5,000 judgment at 8.75%:
- Day 90: debtor pays $1,000
- Accrued interest through Day 90: $5,000 × 0.0875 × 90 / 365 = $107.88
- Applied to interest: $107.88
- Applied to principal: $1,000 − $107.88 = $892.12
- New principal balance: $5,000 − $892.12 = $4,107.88
From Day 91 forward, daily interest recalculates on the reduced principal: $4,107.88 × 0.0875 / 365 = about $0.98 per day.
This interest-first allocation is important. If you receive a $500 garnishment payment after six months of accrued interest, much of that $500 may go to interest before reducing the principal. Your balance tracker needs to reflect this — otherwise you may file a satisfaction of judgment prematurely and owe the debtor a correction.
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Court Costs Also Earn Interest
Court costs and attorney fees allowed by the court bear interest from the earlier of the date the judgment or order is pronounced, if the written judgment expressly states the award, or the date it is filed with the Court Clerk (12 O.S. § 727.1(A)(2)). They accrue at the same statutory rate.
Where to Find the Current Rate
The Administrative Office of the Courts issues an annual notice of interest rates, available on OSCN. The 2027 post-judgment rate will use the prime rate in the first Wall Street Journal edition published for 2027, plus two percentage points (12 O.S. § 727.1(I)).
For a detailed ledger worksheet that tracks partial payments, interest allocation, and the declining principal balance across calendar-year rate changes, the Oklahoma Judgment Collection Guide includes a post-judgment balance tracker you can fill in as each payment arrives.
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