How can I enforce a small claims court judgment out-of-state?

If you have a small claims court judgment from the state of Washington, you may be able to enforce it out-of-state. To do this, you can file a motion in the court of the other state and ask the court there to recognize your judgment. The other state court will then send a copy of your motion and the judgment to the party you won the lawsuit against in Washington. This is known as "domestication." The other state court will enforce your judgment only if it meets the requirements of the Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act (UEFJA). UEFJA is a law adopted by most states that allows you to enforce a judgment in another state that issued it. To meet the requirements of UEFJA, your judgment must meet certain requirements, including: (1) be final and conclusive; (2) state the amount awarded and the name of the party who has been awarded; (3) be in writing; (4) be from a court which had jurisdiction over the defendant; and (5) be signed by a judge or other court official. If the other state court agrees to enforce the judgment, it will issue a “domestic judgment” that is legally enforceable in that state. This can then be used to collect from your debtor according to the rules of that state. The same process can be repeated if you need to collect from the same debtor in another state. It is important to note that this process only works if the other state has adopted UEFJA and the other state court agrees to the domestication of your Washington small claims court judgment.

Related FAQs

What is the difference between mediation and arbitration in small claims court?
Are there any special rules for parties under the age of 18 in small claims court?
What is the court's decision-making process for small claims cases?
What can I do if the other party fails to appear in small claims court?
Who can testify in a small claims court case?
How do I object to a witness or evidence in a small claims court hearing?
Are there any special rules or procedures I need to know when filing a claim in small claims court?
How much does it cost to appeal a small claims court decision?
Is there a limit on the amount of time I can spend in small claims court?
Can I get an extension on my small claims court case?

How can I enforce a small claims court judgment out-of-state?

Related FAQs

Related Blog Posts