| In collection cases, there is a solution for a | | | | foreign judgment is less costly as compared to |
| creditor who would like to enforce a judgment in | | | | when a judgment creditor who lives in Texas |
| Texas that has become final in another state or | | | | would enforce a judgment in another state. A |
| the state where the debtor resides and where his | | | | judgment creditor can save from transportation |
| assets are. A creditor only needs to | | | | costs and other hassles that are expected of |
| "domesticate" a foreign judgment to one of the | | | | long-distance cases. Once the procedure for |
| courts of Texas by virtue of the Uniform | | | | domesticating a foreign judgment has been |
| Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act or the | | | | perfected, a judgment creditor only has to wait |
| UEFJA. Foreign judgment here means judgments | | | | for thirty (30) days; thereafter, a creditor can |
| that have been issued by other states, territories | | | | then use all legal remedies available to process |
| or federal courts in the United States. | | | | collection. |
| Texas adopted UEFJA that allows a creditor to | | | | Procedures in domesticating a foreign judgment |
| bring to the soils of Texas a judgment that has | | | | A judgment creditor has to secure an |
| become final in another state, say in California, | | | | authenticated copy of the foreign judgment and |
| and perfect the same in Texas as though the | | | | prepare an Affidavit that states his intentions of |
| judgment of the California court has been issued | | | | domesticating the subject judgment to a court in |
| by the court of Texas. | | | | Texas. In the affidavit, the judgment creditor has |
| Why domesticate? | | | | to make sure that the right parties to the case |
| Creditor is moving - There is this job offer that is | | | | are mentioned in the affidavit, including the parties' |
| hard to resist. The only catch is if hired, an | | | | addresses and that of their attorneys. After |
| employee must relocate to Texas. Should a | | | | which, the creditor has to file the Affidavit (with |
| creditor's pending collection case filed in California | | | | the foreign judgment attached as an Annex) in |
| stop him from taking the offer? With the EFJA, | | | | the court of Texas or the court where the |
| the answer to this career question is easy: accept | | | | enforcement is sought. The creditor must furnish |
| the job offer, move to Texas and domesticate | | | | judgment debtor a copy of the Affidavit. |
| the foreign judgment (from California) if and when | | | | Domesticating a foreign judgment is like having a |
| the collection case filed receives favorable | | | | home court advantage: you have all the |
| judgment. | | | | resources, contacts and even time to process the |
| Creditor’s assets are domestic - | | | | collection. If you're still unsure how domesticating |
| Domesticating a foreign judgment is also an option | | | | a foreign judgment can help you with your |
| for a judgment creditor who just recently learned | | | | collection cases, you can anytime contact an |
| that a judgment debtor from California has assets | | | | attorney in Texas who could explain to you the |
| in Texas that can be collected. | | | | entire process, the costs and time frame of the |
| Practical and process is easy - Domesticating a | | | | legal procedure and how you could benefit from it. |