How Are Child Support Arrears Collected in Florida? Garnishment of wages. Placing liens against real estate. Seizing bank accounts. Taking tax refunds and applying them to child support arrearage. Seizing assets from the deceased parent's estate.
(1) A judgment, order, or decree becomes a lien on real property in any county when a certified copy of it is recorded in the official records or judgment lien record of the county, whichever is maintained at the time of recordation, provided that the judgment, order, or decree contains the address of the person who ...
File a certified copy of your judgment in the real estate records of the county in which the property is located. The lien is in effect for 10 years, and it can be renewed for an additional ten years.
Presently there is a Florida statute that limits judgment liens to 20 years,3 and there is a Florida statute that limits “actions” on certain judgments to 20 years and other judgments to five years. There is, however, no statute or court rule that places a time limit on the execution of judgments.
The lien is good for 10 years, but the creditor can renew the judgment before it expires for another 10 years, meaning the lien will survive for a maximum of 20 years. The good news is that because of Florida's homestead protections, a judgment lien cannot attach to homestead property.
A person can avoid paying a civil judgment with their earnings if they qualify as the head of household. The Florida statute defines earnings as wages, salary, commission, or bonus. Other types of earnings for labor have been held to also qualify for the head of household exemption.
Section 713.08 of the Florida Statutes, provides the proper form and specific requirements to complete the claim of lien document such as: name and address of lienor, statement of labor and materials provided, description of the property, name of property owner, lien amount, proof of service and the proper warning to ...