Foreign Judgments

E-file with court OR submit paper documents to recording department:

• One document (PDF) containing (1) certified or authenticated copy of the foreign judgment; and (2) affidavit with the judgment debtor’s name, last known address, and social security number, if known, the judgment creditor’s address. It is optional to add the creditor’s attorney's name, address, telephone number, and bar number.
• Notice to the judgment debtor, see sample form here, to be completed and submitted by the judgment creditor. DO NOT include this notice as part of the foreign judgment PDF, since it does not get recorded. The judgment creditor may mail a separate notice of recording of the judgment to the debtors and file proof of mailing in the domestication file when opened.
• If the paper-ink original documents were delivered or mailed to the recording department, provide a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of the recorded documents.

To e-file:

• Select Division Circuit Civil for judgments of $15,000 or more or Division County Civil for judgments less than $15,000.
• Then select Case Type Specialized Other and Sub Type Foreign Judgment Domestication

E-file with court:

• Complaint for enforcement of foreign judgment
• One document (PDF) containing (1) certified or authenticated copy of the foreign judgment; and (2) affidavit with the judgment debtor’s name, last known address, and social security number, if known, the judgment creditor’s address. It is optional to add the creditor’s attorney's name, address, telephone number, and bar number.
• Notice to the judgment debtor, see sample form here, to be completed and submitted by the judgment creditor. DO NOT include this notice as part of the foreign judgment PDF, since it does not get recorded. The judgment creditor may mail a separate notice of recording of the judgment to the debtors and file proof of mailing in the domestication file when opened.

To e-file:

• Select Division Circuit Civil for judgments of $15,000 or more or Division County Civil for judgments less than $15,000.
• Then select Case Type Specialized Other and Sub Type Foreign Judgment Domestication

If proper proofs of mailing are filed, the clerk will issue a writ of execution upon presentment. A proposed writ of execution can be e-filed.

A motion for a writ of garnishment requires judicial involvement and therefore requires the payment of a full filing fee for instituting a new civil action based on the jurisdictional amount of the foreign judgment in addition to the garnishment fee of $85. Your writ of garnishment must include the garnishee's address. The motion and proposed writ can be e-filed, however, do not e-file the proposed writ until it is ready to be issued.

For more information regarding writs of garnishment, please contact the Civil Department at: civil-dept@alachuaclerk.org

Do not compute the amount of interest into the total amount due on your motion and writ. Indicate that interest is owed, the percent, and the date interest began to accrue, but do not add this amount to your judgment. The interest rate is the interest rate in effect as of the law of the state or country where the judgment was entered. If the interest rate is not shown on the face of the judgment, provide a separate memo or letter explaining what the interest rate is and documentation to support that interest rate.

For additional information refer to in chapter 55 of the Florida Statutes and the “Florida Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act” contained in sections 55.501 through 55.509

Fees

Upon a request of a notice of non-objection under FS 55.604(4) and payment of the additional fees shown below the Clerk will:
• Search the Official Records to determine whether an objection has been recorded;
• Prepare a certificate as to the results of that search;
• Record the certificate; and
• Mail the recorded certificate to the party who requested the Certificate of Non-Objection.

The Clerk:
1. Records the judgment and affidavit.
2. Mails the notice and recorded certified copy of the foreign judgment and affidavit by certified mail with return receipt requested to the judgment debtors at the mailing addresses provided in the affidavit and notice.
3. Retains proof of mailing when received and if a civil action is filed will file this in the civil case.

Foreign Judgment Fee Computation

Description	$ per item	# of items	Total
Record 1st page judgment and attachments	$10.00	Flat fee	$10.00
Record additional pages of judgment/attachments	$8.50
Certified mail, per judgment debtor address	$6.74
Service charge for filing with court	$42.00	Flat fee	$42.00
Copy fee per page (# of copies per package per address)	$1.00
Verification of Notice	$3.50	Flat fee	$3.50
TOTAL