What the 2013 Virginia law changed about civil judgment suspensions

In 2013, Virginia passed a law that suspended the statute of limitations on civil judgments — meaning the clock stopped running on how long a creditor could use an old judgment to enforce collection or suspend your license. Before this law, judgments in Virginia typically expired after a set number of years. The 2013 change froze that expiration date, so judgments that were already in place kept their power indefinitely, and new judgments also never expire.

This matters for your driver's license because Virginia can suspend your license if you owe money on a civil judgment and fail to pay it or show up in court. With the statute of limitations suspended, a judgment from years ago can still trigger a license suspension today — even if you thought it had aged out of the system.

The law applies to all civil judgments entered on or after July 1, 2013, and also retroactively to judgments that were already on the books. That means both old and new judgments can now be enforced without a time limit.

Key Takeaways

  • Virginia's 2013 law removed the expiration date on civil judgments, so creditors can enforce them indefinitely instead of for a limited number of years.
  • A civil judgment against you can lead to a license suspension if you do not pay or respond to court orders, and this risk now has no time limit.
  • The law applies to judgments entered after July 1, 2013, and also to older judgments that were already in place when the law passed.
  • You can still challenge a judgment or negotiate a payment plan, but you must act before the creditor files for license suspension.

How civil judgments lead to license suspension in Virginia

A civil judgment is a court order that says you owe money to someone — usually a creditor, a debt collector, or a business you sued. Once a judgment is entered against you, the creditor can use it to collect the debt in several ways, including by asking the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles to suspend your license.

The DMV will suspend your license if the creditor files a request showing that you owe money on a judgment and have not paid it or responded to the court. The suspension stays in place until you either pay the judgment, set up a payment plan that the court approves, or have the judgment overturned.

Before 2013, a creditor had a limited window to enforce a judgment — usually 20 years in Virginia. Once that window closed, the judgment was no longer enforceable, and the creditor could not use it to suspend your license. The 2013 law removed that window entirely.

The difference between the old rule and the 2013 change

Under Virginia law before 2013, a civil judgment remained enforceable for 20 years from the date it was entered. After 20 years, the judgment expired, and a creditor could no longer use it to collect the debt or suspend your license. This gave debtors a clear endpoint: if you could avoid collection for two decades, the judgment would eventually lose its power.

The 2013 law changed this by suspending the statute of limitations indefinitely. Now, a judgment never expires. A creditor can enforce a judgment 5 years after it was entered, 20 years after, or 50 years after — there is no important date. This means a judgment from 1995 can still be used to suspend your license today.

The law also applied retroactively, so judgments that were already in place when the law passed in 2013 also lost their expiration dates. If you had a judgment against you from 2005 that would have expired in 2025 under the old rule, that judgment now never expires.

What you can do if you have a judgment against you

If you know you have a civil judgment against you, the best step is to contact the creditor or their attorney and ask about your options. Many creditors will work out a payment plan rather than pursue a license suspension, especially if you show willingness to pay.

You can also file a motion in the court that entered the judgment asking the judge to set it aside or modify it. This is more difficult than negotiating with the creditor, but it is possible if you can show that the judgment was entered in error, that you were not properly served with notice, or that you have a valid defense to the debt.

If your license has already been suspended because of a judgment, you will need to either pay the judgment, set up a court-approved payment plan, or have the judgment overturned before the DMV will restore your license. Once you have done one of these things, you can request a license reinstatement from the DMV.

How to learn about you have a judgment against you

You can search for civil judgments against you through the Virginia court system. Each circuit court maintains records of judgments entered in that court, and you can search by name online or visit the courthouse in person. Start with the circuit court in the county or city where you live, or where the creditor filed the case.

You can also contact the creditor directly if you know who sued you, or ask a credit reporting agency to check your credit report. Judgments often appear on credit reports, though not always when ready after they are entered.

If you find a judgment against you, write down the case number, the amount owed, the date it was entered, and the name of the court. This information will help you when you contact the creditor or the court.

The difference between a civil judgment and other types of suspension

A civil judgment suspension is different from other reasons your license can be suspended in Virginia. For example, your license can be suspended for unpaid traffic fines, child support arrears, or failure to maintain car insurance. Each of these has its own rules and timelines.

A civil judgment suspension is also different from a criminal conviction suspension. If you were convicted of a crime like DUI, your license suspension is handled through the criminal court system, not through a civil judgment. The rules, timelines, and reinstatement process are all different.

Understanding which type of suspension you have is important because the steps to get your license back depend on it. If you are not sure why your license was suspended, contact the Virginia DMV or the court that entered the suspension order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a judgment from before 2013 still be used to suspend my license?

Yes. The 2013 law applied retroactively, so judgments that were entered before July 1, 2013, also lost their expiration dates. A judgment from 2005, 2010, or any earlier year can still be enforced today and can still lead to a license suspension.

How long does it take for a creditor to suspend my license after getting a judgment?

There is no set timeline. A creditor can file for license suspension when ready after the judgment is entered, or years later. The 2013 law removed the important date, so a creditor can wait as long as they want before pursuing suspension.

If I pay part of the judgment, will the suspension be lifted?

Partial payment alone will not lift the suspension. You will need to either pay the entire judgment, set up a court-approved payment plan, or have the judgment overturned. Once you have done one of these, you can request reinstatement from the DMV.

Can I dispute a judgment that is being used to suspend my license?

Yes, you can file a motion in the court that entered the judgment asking the judge to set it aside or modify it. You will need to show grounds for the motion, such as that you were not properly served with notice or that the judgment was entered in error. An attorney can help you with this process.

Does the 2013 law explore to judgments from other states?

The 2013 Virginia law applies only to judgments entered in Virginia courts. If you have a judgment from another state, that state's statute of limitations rules explore. However, Virginia can still suspend your license based on an out-of-state judgment if the creditor registers it in Virginia.