CHAPTER 928*
UNIFORM ENFORCEMENT OF FOREIGN JUDGMENTS

      Sec. 52-604. Definition of foreign judgment. As used in sections 52-604 to 52-609, inclusive, "foreign judgment" means any judgment, decree or order of a court of the United States or of any other court which is entitled to full faith and credit in this state, except one obtained by default in appearance or by confession of judgment.

      (P.A. 73-498, S. 1.)

      "Full faith and credit" refers to a foreign judgment enforceable under laws of this state. 264 C. 498.

      Cited. 6 CA 541. Cited. 14 CA 384. Cited. 45 CA 798.

      Cited. 38 CS 468.

      Sec. 52-605. Filing of foreign judgment; certification; effect; notice. (a) A judgment creditor shall file, with a certified copy of a foreign judgment, in the court in which enforcement of such judgment is sought, a certification that the judgment was not obtained by default in appearance or by confession of judgment, that it is unsatisfied in whole or in part, the amount remaining unpaid and that the enforcement of such judgment has not been stayed and setting forth the name and last-known address of the judgment debtor.

      (b) Such foreign judgment shall be treated in the same manner as a judgment of a court of this state. A judgment so filed has the same effect and is subject to the same procedures, defenses and proceedings for reopening, vacating or staying as a judgment of a court of this state and may be enforced or satisfied in like manner.

      (c) Within thirty days after the filing of the judgment and the certificate, the judgment creditor shall mail notice of filing of the foreign judgment by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the judgment debtor at such judgment debtor's last-known address. The proceeds of an execution shall not be distributed to the judgment creditor earlier than thirty days after filing of proof of service with the clerk of the court in which enforcement of such judgment is sought.

      (P.A. 73-498, S. 2, 3; P.A. 00-191, S. 9; P.A. 01-195, S. 67, 181.)

      History: P.A. 00-191 amended Subsec. (c) by requiring mailing of notice of foreign judgment by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and prohibiting distribution of proceeds until proof of service is filed with clerk of court in which enforcement of judgment is sought; P.A. 01-195 made a technical change in Subsec. (c) for purposes of gender neutrality, effective July 11, 2001.

      Cited. 225 C. 102.

      Cited. 14 CA 157; Id., 384. Modification of a domesticated foreign judgment does not automatically require refiling in the domestication state. 86 CA 617. Judgment is a valid final judgment, the enforcement of which has not been barred and which implicates neither personal nor subject matter jurisdiction. 87 CA 337.

      Cited. 38 CS 468.

      Subsec. (a):

      Cited. 192 C. 10.

      Subsec. (b):

      Where enforcement in this state of an out-of-state judgment is challenged under the provision of Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act that purports to subject the foreign judgment to same defenses as may be raised against an in-state judgment, only those defenses that claim absence of personal or subject matter jurisdiction in the issuing court, which are permissible under full faith and credit clause of federal constitution, may be raised. 76 CA 814. Interpreting provision to allow judgment debtor to raise substantive defenses to continuing validity of a domesticated foreign judgment would put statute into conflict with full faith and credit clause of the U.S. Constitution. 86 CA 617. Because trial court ordered that interest be paid on domesticated judgment, the interest order was postjudgment. 87 CA 337.

      Sec. 52-606. Grounds for stay of enforcement. Notice to judgment creditor. (a) If the judgment debtor shows the court that an appeal from the foreign judgment is pending or will be taken, or that a stay of execution has been granted, the court shall stay enforcement of the foreign judgment until the appeal is concluded, the time for appeal expires or the stay of execution expires or is vacated, upon proof that the judgment debtor has furnished the security for the satisfaction of the judgment required by the state in which it was rendered. The judgment debtor shall provide notice of the stay of enforcement to the judgment creditor (1) by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, restricted delivery, or (2) by verified delivery to the judgment creditor as the named addressee by private messenger, delivery or courier service.

      (b) If the judgment debtor shows the court any ground upon which enforcement of a judgment of a court of this state would be stayed, the court shall stay enforcement of the judgment for an appropriate period, upon requiring the same security for satisfaction of the judgment as is required in this state. The judgment debtor shall provide notice of the stay of enforcement to the judgment creditor.

      (P.A. 73-498, S. 4; P.A. 00-191, S. 10.)

      History: P.A. 00-191 added provision to Subsec. (a) that judgment debtor shall provide notice of stay of enforcement to judgment creditor by registered or certified mail or verified delivery and added provision to Subsec. (b) requiring judgment debtor to provide notice of stay of enforcement to judgment creditor.

      Sec. 52-607. Other rights of action preserved. The right of a judgment creditor to proceed by an action on the judgment or a motion for summary judgment in lieu of complaint instead of proceeding under sections 52-604 to 52-609, inclusive, remains unimpaired.

      (P.A. 73-498, S. 5.)

      Cited. 45 CA 798.

      Cited. 38 CS 468.

      Sec. 52-608. Uniform interpretation. Sections 52-604 to 52-609, inclusive, shall be so construed as to effectuate their general purpose to make uniform the laws of those states which enact them.

      (P.A. 73-498, S. 6.)

      Sec. 52-609. Short title: Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act. Sections 52-604 to 52-609, inclusive, may be cited as the "Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act".

      (P.A. 73-498, S. 7.)