Registering a Judgment from Another State (Foreign Judgment)

What is a Foreign Judgment?

A judgment entered outside of Utah is called a "foreign judgment." For example, a judgment from a California court is a foreign judgment in Utah. This page explains how to file a foreign judgment from another state in the United States under the Utah Foreign Judgment Act. This page and forms are not for judgments from another country.

What are you trying to do? 

Are you looking for help registering an order for custody or child support from another state?
See our page on Registering a Foreign Order.

Are you looking for help registering Utah ORS support orders with the Utah Court?
See our page on Registering an ORS support order.

How to File a Foreign Judgment 

Before a foreign judgment can be collected on through the court in Utah, it must be filed in a district court in Utah. To enter an out-of-state judgment in Utah, follow these steps.  

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1 To get a authenticated copy of the judgment, contact the court that issued the judgment: They will tell you how to order an authenticated copy of the judgment with an attached exemplification certificate, the cost and what information you need to provide. 

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1 Fill out the forms below

  • 1044XX - Utah District Court Cover Sheet for All Civil Actions (not Probate/Domestic Rel)

On page 2 check the box for $35 next to Foreign Judgment (Abstract of) under Judgments

  • 1501XX - Declaration of Filing Judgment from Another State stating the last known address of the person who owes you money
  • 1500XX - Notice of Judgment from Another State 

        Fill out the top portion of the Notice of Judgment from Another State. The court will fill out the         certificate of mailing, since  the clerk of court must do the mailing. 

The court will charge you a filing fee. Look at your Cover Sheet for the amount. If you cannot afford the fee you can ask for a fee waiver. Fill out those forms as well.

While the law allows you to file the judgment in any county in Utah, it's often a good idea to pick the county where it will be easiest to find the person who owes the money or their property. Here are things to think about when deciding which county to file the judgment in.

  • How will you collect the money that is owed once it's a Utah judgment?
  • Where does the person whe owes the money live in Utah?
  • Does the person who owes the money own a house or property in Utah?
  • Does the person who owes the money have a job in Utah?

Our How to Collect a Judgment page explains the different ways you can get the money that the judgment says you're owed, like taking money from someone's bank account or paycheck or putting a hold or lien on the property or land that they own.

1 Submitting papers to the court is called filing.

 

  1. How to File: Choose ONE:
    • 1 In Person: Take your papers to the courthouse clerk's office.
    • 1 Email: Send copies to your court's email address (find it here), write "New filing for [your name]" in the subject line, papers must be in English, filled out completely and only black and white.     
    • 1 Mail: Slowest method. Papers only filed when received by court.  
  2. Pay fee or ask for waiver: The court will tell you how to pay. If you cannot afford it, file a fee waiver with your other papers.
  3. Get Copies: Request date-stamped copies if filing in person. 

Need more help? See our page on Filing Procedures.

The court will mail the Notice of Judgment form and its supporting documents to all of the people named in the declaration. You may be asked to provide an addressed stamped envelope for use in mailing to the person who owes the money.

Enforcement of the Judgment

You must wait 30 days after you file the foreign judgment before you can begin the process to enforce it. For collection options after the judgment is entered, see our page How to Collect a Judgment. 

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