Judgments

Q. How do I know if my Judgment has been processed?

A. You may search the County Clerk’s judgment index online to determine what judgments, if any, have been filed. You may access that search tool via the following webpage here. You can only search by judgment debtor’s name or index number. TURN OFF YOUR POP-UP BLOCKER. If you see that there is a “Pending Judgment” listed, the judgment has been entered and is awaiting indexing. Once fully indexed, the index will be amended to state “Judgment”. Indexing typically takes 3-4 weeks from the entered date.

Q. Where do I file a Satisfaction of Judgment?

A. The original satisfaction must be filed with the Judgments & Liens Department by mail to: Suffolk County Clerk, 310 Center Drive, Riverhead, New York 11901. To obtain a stamped copy, please provide a copy of the satisfaction and a post-paid return envelope. The original satisfaction can also be filed in-person with the Judgments & Liens Department at 300 Center Drive, Riverhead, New York 11901.

Q. How do I file a transcript of Judgment/income execution?

A. The fee to file a transcript is $10, to sign/seal income execution is $5. One check for $15 is fine as long as you make it payable to Suffolk County Clerk. Send the original transcript, the income execution form filled out and a post-paid return envelope to Suffolk County Clerk, ATTN: Judgements and Liens, 310 Center Drive, Riverhead, NY 11901. We will send your income execution and stamped copy of transcript back with instructions to contact the Sheriff’s Department. Please allow 3-4 weeks for processing. This may also be done in-person with the Judgments and Liens Department at 300 Center Drive, Riverhead, New York 11901.

Q. How do I file a confession of Judgment?

A. Unrepresented filers who do not wish to participate in electronic filing must submit the Affidavit of the Defendant, the Bill of Costs and a proposed judgment to the County Clerk in-person or by mail to Court Actions in the Riverhead facility (310 Center Drive, Riverhead, NY 11901 for mail delivery). There is also a fee of $210 to be paid at filing. If paying by check or money order (cash only accepted in-person), please make the check or money order payable to the Suffolk County Clerk. If you are an attorney or an unrepresented litigant who is electronically filing the document, the commencing document is the Affidavit of the Defendant and is uploaded as CONFESSION OF JUDGMENT (AFFIDAVIT OF DEFENDANT). The proposed judgment is uploaded second as JUDGMENT BY CONFESSION (PROPOSED), and the third document is the Bill of Costs, if any, using the same document title. The proposed judgment MUST contain ALL of the docketing information set forth in Civil Practice Law and Rules 5018(c).

Q. How do I file a foreign money judgment issued by another state or United states territory?

A. If your judgment was obtained by default in appearance or by confession you must start a new action with Suffolk County seeking recognition of the judgment by the Court in New York. If it was not obtained by default or confession, you will need to file an affidavit stating the following pursuant to CPLR 5004 and 5402(a):

1. It has not been obtained by default in appearance or by confession of judgment;
2. Enforcement has not been stayed;
3. It remains unsatisfied, in whole or in part;
4. The amount remaining unpaid;
5. The name and last known address of the judgment debtor and creditor; and
6. State whether the judgment is for a consumer debt as defined under CPLR 5004.

The proposed judgment needs to include the name and addresses of all parties and attorneys and any other docketing information required by Civil Practice Law and Rules 5018(c). We do not calculate interest on foreign judgments so if interest is warranted you will need to calculate the interest due prior to entry and also file an affirmation on how you came to the total. We are mandatory e-filing in Suffolk County so this needs to be uploaded in NYSCEF unless you are unrepresented, in which case, it may be filed in paper. Your first document uploaded is the certified copy of the judgment, filed within 90 days of authentication in the other state, using the document type Judgment – Foreign (5402). Authentication in this situation means it must be exemplified by the foreign jurisdiction (See CPLR 4540). Please make sure the total amount of the judgment is listed in the affidavit. Document #2 will be the affidavit mentioned above. The third document will be a proposed judgment that contains all docketing information required by CPLR 5018, briefly reciting the procedural history in the other state and is uploaded in NYSCEF as a Judgment - To County Clerk (Proposed). There is a $210.00 fee to file this foreign judgment.

In the case of a foreign divorce, please see the Divorce and Separation FAQ's here. A judgment issued in another country is governed by Civil Practice Law and Rules Article 53.

Q. How do I obtain the payoff amount to satisfy a judgment?

A. The County Clerk DOES NOT provide payoff information for judgments (or mortgages). You must contact the person or entity to whom the judgment is owed.

If you have any additional questions, please email the County Clerk at CAJudgments@suffolkcountyny.gov.