Article 54. Enforcement of Judgments Entitled to Full Faith and Credit Summary of Article

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NY CPLR § 5401. DEFINITION

In this article “foreign judgment” means any judgment, decree, or order of a court of the United States or of any other court which is entitled to full faith and credit in this state, except one obtained by default in appearance, or by confession of judgment.

NY CPLR § 5402. FILING AND STATUS OF FOREIGN JUDGMENTS

(a) Filing.  A copy of any foreign judgment authenticated in accordance with an act of congress or the statutes of this state may be filed within ninety days of the date of authentication in the office of any county clerk of the state.  The judgment creditor shall file with the judgment an affidavit stating that the judgment was not obtained by default in appearance or by confession of judgment, that it is unsatisfied in whole or in part, the amount remaining unpaid, and that its enforcement has not been stayed, and setting forth the name and last known address of the judgment debtor.

(b) Status of foreign judgments.  The clerk shall treat the foreign judgment in the same manner as a judgment of the supreme court of this state.  A judgment so filed has the same effect and is subject to the same procedures, defenses and proceedings for reopening, vacating, or staying as a judgment of the supreme court of this state and may be enforced or satisfied in like manner.

NY CPLR § 5403. NOTICE OF FILING

Within thirty days after filing of the judgment and the affidavit, the judgment creditor shall mail notice of filing of the foreign judgment to the judgment debtor at his last known address.  The proceeds of an execution shall not be distributed to the judgment creditor earlier than thirty days after filing of proof of service.

NY CPLR § 5404. STAY

(a) Based upon security in foreign jurisdiction.  If the judgment debtor shows the supreme court that an appeal from the foreign judgment is pending or will be taken, or that a stay of execution has been granted, the court shall stay enforcement of the foreign judgment until the appeal is concluded, the time for appeal expires, or the stay of execution expires or is vacated, upon proof that the judgment debtor has furnished the security for the satisfaction of the judgment required by the state in which it was rendered.

(b) Based upon other grounds.  If the judgment debtor shows the supreme court any ground upon which enforcement of a judgment of the supreme court of this state would be stayed, the court shall stay enforcement of the foreign judgment for an appropriate period, upon requiring the same security for satisfaction of the judgment which is required in this state.

NY CPLR § 5405. FEES

When a foreign judgment is filed pursuant to this article, an index number shall be assigned in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (a) of section 8018 and the fee shall be as prescribed therein.

NY CPLR § 5406. OPTIONAL PROCEDURE

The right of a judgment creditor to proceed by an action on the judgment or a motion for summary judgment in lieu of complaint, instead of proceeding under this article, remains unimpaired.

NY CPLR § 5407. UNIFORMITY OF INTERPRETATION

This article shall be so construed as to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law of those states which enact these provisions.

NY CPLR § 5408. CITATION

This article may be cited as the “Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act.”

Updated: January, 18, 2020.

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