How to Collect Your Judgment in Ohio

A Ohio judgment is enforceable for 5 years, and can be renewed before it expires. A non-state judgment becomes dormant 5 years after the judgment date or the last execution/garnishment/proceeding-in-aid, whichever is later (R.C. 2329.07). A dormant judgment does not accrue interest and is unenforceable until revived. It may be revived by filing a motion/action within 10 years after it became dormant (R.C. 2325.15, 2325.18). Issuing an execution, garnishment, or proceeding in aid of execution at least once every 5 years keeps it from going dormant.

Yes. Garnishment in Ohio can reach 25% of disposable earnings, or the amount by which weekly disposable earnings exceed 30x the federal minimum wage, whichever is less (Ohio tracks the federal CCPA cap).. Exemptions: Statutory exemptions under R.C. 2329.66 apply; certain income (Social Security, SSI, unemployment, workers' comp, veterans benefits, public assistance, most pensions) is exempt.

Through Proceedings in aid of execution / examination of judgment debtor — the court orders the debtor to appear and disclose their assets under oath. After judgment, the creditor files for an order of examination under R.C. 2333.09-2333.12. A judge of the common pleas or other court that rendered the judgment (or where the debtor resides) orders the debtor to appear and answer under oath concerning property and income. Forms and fees are set by each local court; in municipal/county courts the clerk must assist self-represented parties with proceedings-in-aid forms upon payment of court costs (R.C. 1925.13).

A judgment is NOT automatically a lien on real estate. The creditor obtains a certificate of judgment from the clerk of the court that rendered the judgment and files it with the clerk of the court of common pleas in any county where the debtor owns or may own real property (R.C. 2329.02). The lien attaches from the date of filing. The lien lasts 5 years.

You pay the court and sheriff their own filing/levy fees directly (usually modest, and recoverable from the debtor). Our Judgment Collection service is a flat $299 — we prepare your Ohio-specific enforcement forms and a step-by-step filing playbook; you file them. Compared with collection firms that take 33–50% of what they recover, that's hundreds to thousands less on a typical judgment.

Some debtors are "judgment-proof" — no job, no bank account, no equity — and no tool can squeeze money that isn't there. The honest play is the debtor's exam to confirm what exists, then keep the judgment alive (it lasts 5 years and is renewable) and try again when their situation changes. We give you the tools, not a guaranteed payout.