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Judgment renewal · Checked October 23, 2026

Judgment renewal: keep a small claims judgment alive

General information, not legal advice. Ask a lawyer before you act on it.

A judgment does not last forever. California's lasts 10 years and you renew it with form EJ-190 ($45) after 5 years and before 10; a Texas judgment is generally good for 10 years and can be renewed; Florida's lasts 20 years.

California
Renew in years 5 to 10, $45
Texas
10 years, renewable
Florida
20 years

Work out your dates

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The steps

  1. California: file EJ-190 and EJ-195. EJ-190$45

    The Application for and Renewal of Judgment and the Notice of Renewal. Filing fee $45. "If you wait even 1 day after 10 years, you're too late." Source

  2. California: mail it to them. POS-030

    An adult who is not in the case mails the papers and fills in POS-030. They then have 60 days to ask to cancel or change it. You can't collect on the renewal until service is done. Source

  3. Texas: renew, or revive.

    Generally good for 10 years and renewable. If it goes dormant, you generally have two years to revive it. Source

  4. Florida: re-record the lien.

    The judgment lasts 20 years, but its real estate lien runs 10 years from recording unless you re-record. Source

  5. Pennsylvania: within 5 years.

    Ask for an Order of Execution within 5 years, or move the judgment to the Court of Common Pleas. Source

A worked example

A California judgment entered March 3, 2027 can be renewed from March 3, 2032 and must be renewed before March 3, 2037. A renewal usually adds 10 more years; a personal debt under $50,000 against an individual can be renewed only once, for 5 years.

Fees and forms change, and your court's clerk has the current ones. General information, not legal advice. Ask a lawyer before you act on it.

Ask once, in writing

Before the court steps, most winners send a letter asking for payment by a date. Fill one in and print it; nothing you type leaves this page.

Make the payment letter

Questions people ask next

How many times can I renew in California?

Generally with no limit, 10 years each time. Since January 1, 2023, an individual's medical debt under $200,000 or personal debt under $50,000 can be renewed only once, for 5 years.

Does renewing add interest?

In California, EJ-190 states the interest and costs to add; MC-012 adds collection costs.

Your state's full steps

California Texas Florida Pennsylvania

Related guides

Judgment Lien After Small Claims Florida Judgment Lien After Small Claims Writ of Execution After a Small Claims Judgment, by State

Sources

Checked on October 23, 2026 against these pages.