San Mateo, CA asked in Civil Litigation and Collections for California

Q: Can I "domesticate" a Federal Court money judgement (an order for sanctions), to State Court within the same state?

I have a US District Court money judgement, payable to me, that I am trying to collect. Can I bring the collection effort from the US District Court (located in CA), to the local State Superior Court (also in CA) for purposes of collections - for judgement debtor examination,writs, etc? I read about sister state judgements, but this would be within the same state. Can it be done? The State Superior Court procedure is much more familiar and more convenient.

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1 Lawyer Answer

A: One can typically file a new collection action in state court and file the federal court judgment as proof of right to collect, but it depends on the specific facts. The best first step is an Initial Consultation with an Attorney. You can read more about me on my law practice website. This answer does not constitute legal advice; make any predictions, guarantees, or warranties; or create any Attorney-Client relationship.

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