Legal Question in Consumer Law in California

It's 10 years, and the judgment creditor can renew it. Take the credit hit, settle, or file for bankruptcy.

Mr. Stone's answer is not quite correct. There is NO statute of limitations on a judgment. The statutes of limitations govern how long you have to file a lawsuit after a particular cause of action arises. If you file a lawsuit in that time, the statute of limitations has been satisfied and is no longer relevant. So if you have a judgment against you, which necessarily results from a lawsuit being filed and completed, the statute of limitations obviously was satisfied. What Mr. Stone is referring to is the law that judgments expire in ten years, but only if not renewed. They can be renewed indefinitely. He is, therefore, correct that your only options are to continue to run from the debt and take the credit consequences, pay or settle the debt, or file for bankruptcy.