If you've won a lawsuit and obtained a money judgment in Texas, how long do you have to collect this debt?
The short answer is 10 years.
However, Texas judgments don't simply expire after a set period. They follow a unique system of dormancy and revival that can keep your collection rights alive for decades if handled properly.
Understanding the timeline for judgment enforcement is crucial whether you're a creditor seeking to collect or a debtor wondering when your obligation might end.
Here's everything you need to know about judgment duration, renewal, and revival in Texas.
The 10-Year Active Period for Texas Judgments
Texas judgments remain fully active for 10 years from the date of entry. During this initial decade, you have access to all judgment enforcement remedies available under Texas law, including:
- Writs of execution to seize and sell property
- Bank account garnishments
- Wage garnishments
- Judgment liens on real estate
- Post-judgment discovery to locate assets
- Turnover orders for hard-to-reach assets
This 10-year period starts ticking from the date the court enters your judgment, not from when you first attempt collection.
What Happens to a Judgment Debt After 10 Years?
After 10 years, Texas judgments don't expire; they become “dormant.”
A dormant judgment still exists, it still earns interest, and it can still be enforced – but only after you revive it through legal proceedings. Think of dormancy as a pause button, not a delete button.
While a judgment is dormant:
- Judgment creditors cannot use standard enforcement remedies like writs of execution
- Banks and employers won't honor garnishment requests
Renew Your Judgment Before It Becomes Dormant
The smartest strategy for judgment creditors is renewal before the 10-year mark. Filing for renewal before your judgment becomes dormant extends its active life for another 10 years.
Judgment renewal requirements in Texas:
- Must be filed before the 10-year dormancy deadline
- Requires a formal motion to the court
- Court must issue a new judgment or order of renewal
- Resets the 10-year clock from the renewal date
A renewed judgment maintains all its original enforcement power, and you won't face the additional costs and procedural requirements that come with reviving a dormant judgment.
How to Revive a Dormant Judgment
If your judgment has already become dormant, don't panic. In Texas, you have two years from the date of dormancy to file a motion for revival. This means if your judgment became dormant on January 1, 2025, you have until January 1, 2027, to seek revival.
Judgment revival requirements in Texas:
- Work with your attorney to file a motion in the court that issued the original judgment
- Demonstrate why revival serves the interests of justice
- Pay applicable court costs and fees
- Serve notice on the judgment debtor
A successfully revived judgment regains its full enforcement power, as if it had never become dormant. You can immediately proceed with garnishments, executions, and other judgment collection remedies.
Texas Judgments Earn Interest
Here's a crucial point many people overlook: Interest continues to accrue on Texas judgments even during dormancy. The judgment amount grows year after year, potentially making older judgments more valuable than when originally entered.
How interest works:
- Texas judgments earn interest at rates set by state law
- Interest compounds over time, including during dormancy
- A $10,000 judgment can grow significantly over two decades
Real-world example: A $25,000 judgment from 2005 earning 5% annual interest would be worth approximately $66,000 by 2025 – even if no collection efforts occurred during that period.
This means that even dormant judgments can represent substantial value, making revival efforts potentially worthwhile despite the additional legal costs.
Common Judgment Collection Mistakes to Avoid
Don't assume old judgments are worthless. Even 15-year-old judgments – if kept active or revived – can be valuable due to accumulated interest and changed debtor circumstances.
Don't miss renewal deadlines. Renewal is much simpler and cheaper than revival. Set multiple calendar reminders to ensure you don't accidentally let a judgment go dormant.
Don't ignore dormancy rules. Attempting to enforce a dormant judgment without proper revival can result in sanctions and wasted effort.
Don't wait until the last minute. Both renewal and revival take time. Start the process well before your deadlines.
Texas judgments can last far longer than 10 years – potentially decades – if you understand and follow the renewal and revival rules.
