Every now and again we mention statutes of limitation in a blog post. Any such mentions refer to the amount of time a judgment creditor has to collect on a money judgment. Suffice it to say that there aren’t many states – if there are any at all – that allow creditors to continue collection efforts endlessly. So what about the state of Washington?
The Evergreen State has its own statute of limitations on judgment collection. It is subject to a few curious details that are worth investigating if you have an outstanding judgment you are trying to collect. It always pays to know what you are up against before beginning collection efforts in earnest.
As you read this post, know that Judgment Collectors is active in Washington. We help WA judgment creditors track down and make contact with debtors. We work to find hidden property, verify income and assets, and generally pursue any other strategies we can to successfully collect. And we do it all while working on consignment.
10 Years to Collect
Washington’s statute of limitations on money judgments is 10 years. So from the moment a judgment is officially entered, a creditor has a full decade to pursue collection efforts. That is ten years to garnish wages, file property liens, set up a payment plan, and so forth.
There are some peculiarities that are too numerous and detailed to get into, but here is an example: if a judgment is won against someone who is incarcerated, the creditor has 10 years to collect from the date of the debtor’s release. Any years of incarceration do not count against the 10-year statute of limitations.
Renewing a Washington Judgment
Suppose a creditor goes the full 10 years and is still unsuccessful. State law allows renewing for an additional 10 years. However, renewal is contingent upon filing with the court within 90 days of expiration. Also note that filing does not equal approval.
Let’s say a creditor filed for renewal 14 days before exploration. The court doesn’t get to the creditor’s petition for 21 days due to an exceptionally busy docket. The application for renewal can still be approved because it was filed within the required window. Upon approval, the judgment is renewed retroactive to the original expiration date.
Why All of This Matters
You might be wondering why all this matters. After all, 10 years is plenty of time to collect, right? Not so fast. It is entirely possible for collection efforts to drag on year after year. When you are embroiled in collection efforts that don’t seem to be going anywhere, a decade can pass fairly quickly.
Another thing to consider is the judgment proof debtor. A debtor considered judgment proof has very little income, no valuable assets, and few prospects for the future. However, a lot can change in 10 years. A judgment proof debtor could experience a change in circumstances that makes them no longer judgment proof 8 or 9 years down the road.
Time Is Not Your Friend
It is good that Washington gives judgment creditors 10 years to collect along with the opportunity to renew. But this should never be interpreted as a reason to take your time with collecting. In the judgment collection game, time is not your friend. The sooner you get paid, the better off you are.
Judgment Collectors works with judgment creditors in Washington state. If you are looking at an unpaid judgment you have struggled to collect, reach out to us as soon as you can. We might be able to help you put it to bed.