Judgments and Enforcement

A money judgment entered in the Courts of Indiana may be enforced within a period of ten (10) years. The enforcement period may be extended only by Court Order (Indiana Code 34-1-34-2.) All judgments generally is deemed satisfied after the expiration of twenty (20) years. (Indiana Code 34-1-2-14.)

All final judgments for the recovery of money becomes a lien on the judgment debtor's real property in the county where it is entered and indexed in the judgment docket as provided by law for a period of ten (10) years. (Indiana Code 34-1-45-2.) A judgment creditor may execute the judgment by levying upon the non-exempt real and personal property of the judgment debtor. Some of the property which may be levied include current coin and lawful money, bank notes, goods and chattels pledged, shares of stock in any corporation or company, and any debt or thing in action, legally and equitably assigned to the debtor and land. (Chapter 36, Article 1, Title 34 of the Indiana Code.)

The State of Indiana permits a debtor to confess judgment. Any debtor may personally appear in a court of competent jurisdiction, with the consent of the creditor, confess judgment. The cause of action shall be briefly stated in a writing and filed and copied into the judgment. The confession of judgment generally operates as a release of errors. (Chapter 28, Article 1, Title 34 of the Indiana Code.)

A debtor and his creditor may also, by agreement, submit any matter of controversy between them, to any court which has jurisdiction over the matter, an agreed statement of facts signed by both parties, and appear by affidavit that the controversy is real, for a determination by the Court. A judgment entered under this procedure may be enforced in the same manner as if it had been rendered in an action. (Chapter 29, Article 1, Title 34 of the Indiana Code.)

Foreign Judgments:

The Indiana Code contains no specific provision governing the enforcement of a foreign judgment in the State of Indiana.

Statutes Of Limitations: