How to Renew a Small Claims Judgment in Utah Before It Expires

A Utah judgment does not last forever. Under Utah Code § 78B-2-311, it expires 8 years from the date of entry. Once it expires, you lose all enforcement power — no more garnishments, no more liens, no more debtor examinations. If the debtor still owes money as year 8 approaches, you need to renew.

The renewal process depends on which court entered the judgment, and the difference is significant.

District Court Judgments: Renew by Motion

If your judgment was entered in District Court, file a Motion to Renew Judgment under URCP 58C before the 8-year expiration date. The filing includes:

• The Motion to Renew Judgment
• A supporting affidavit showing the current balance (principal, accrued interest, costs, and credits for any payments received)
• A proposed Order (Form 1103DC)

Serve the motion on the debtor by first-class mail under URCP 5. The filing fee is one-half of the standard complaint filing fee for the amount claimed:

When the court signs the renewal order, the judgment gets a new 8-year lifespan starting from the renewal date. The post-judgment interest rate does not reset on renewal. If a judgment accrued at 6.81% when entered in 2024, that rate continues through renewal in 2026.

Justice Court Judgments: File a New Lawsuit

Here is the catch that surprises most small claims creditors. If your judgment was entered in a Justice Court — which is where the vast majority of Utah small claims cases are heard — you cannot renew by motion. Utah Code § 78B-6-1802 explicitly prohibits it.

Instead, you must file an entirely new Small Claims Affidavit or District Court complaint before the original judgment expires. This means new personal service on the debtor under URCP 4, a new filing fee, and potentially a new hearing if the debtor contests.

The new lawsuit is essentially a suit on the judgment — you are asking the court to enter a new judgment for the unpaid balance of the old one. The original judgment, your accounting ledger, and proof of any payments are your evidence.

Timing

Don't wait until the last month. The renewal motion or new lawsuit must be filed before the original judgment expires; allow time for personal service and court processing. Start the renewal process at least 6 months before expiration.

What Renewal Resets

Renewal restarts the 8-year enforcement clock. All enforcement tools — garnishment, execution, liens — remain available under the renewed judgment. Any real property liens you previously recorded continue to encumber the debtor's property as long as the judgment remains active.

What About Voluntary Payment Plans

A voluntary payment agreement between you and the debtor does not extend the judgment's 8-year life. Even if the debtor is making partial payments on an agreed schedule, the statutory clock keeps running. If the 8 years expire before full payment, you need to renew regardless of any payment arrangement in place.

For a full breakdown of the renewal process — including the Justice Court new-lawsuit workaround and how to calculate the balance for your renewal affidavit — see our Utah judgment collection guide.

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