Domestication is the legal process by which a judgment from one state (or “foreign” court) is recognized and enforced in another state. Under the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the U.S. Constitution, North Carolina courts are generally required to honor judgments from courts in other U.S. states, provided they were obtained in accordance with due process.

If you've obtained a judgment in another state but the debtor lives or owns property in North Carolina, you may need to domesticate your judgment before you can enforce it here. This process allows a creditor to treat an out-of-state judgment as if it were originally issued by a North Carolina court, unlocking enforcement mechanisms such as property liens, bank garnishments, and asset seizures.

In order to domesticate your judgment in North Carolina, you must first obtain a certified or exemplified copy of the judgment from the original court to submit to the Clerk’s Office of the Superior Court in any North Carolina county where the debtor resides or has assets, along with an affidavit in support of docketing a foreign judgment. You will need to give notice to the Debtor of the filing of the foreign judgment.

North Carolina requires a 30-day waiting period after the date of receipt of the notice of the filing of the foreign judgment before any enforcement actions can begin. During this time, the debtor has the opportunity to challenge the judgment on limited grounds. Any objections must be filed within 30 days of receiving the notice. If no valid objections are raised, the judgment is fully domesticated and enforceable as a North Carolina judgment. The creditor may then pursue post-judgment remedies pursuant to North Carolina’s statutes.

Domesticating a judgment in North Carolina can be a powerful tool for creditors trying to collect from debtors who have moved across state lines. Thanks to the Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act, the process is efficient—but still must be handled correctly to avoid delays or complications.

If you need help enforcing an out-of-state judgment in North Carolina? Vann Attorneys, PLLC can handle the process efficiently and ensure your rights are protected. Contact us today for a consultation.