(a) Except as herein provided, no judgment shall be enforced after the expiration of 7 years from the time the same is rendered, except upon the revival of the same by a proceeding provided by Section 2-1601 of this Act; but real estate, levied upon within the 7 years, may be sold to enforce the judgment at any time within one year after the expiration of the 7 years. A judgment recovered in an action for damages for an injury described in Section 13-214.1 may be enforced at any time. Child support judgments, including those arising by operation of law, may be enforced at any time. Consumer debt judgments may be revived or enforced in accordance with subsection (a-10) of Section 2-1602.
12-108.Limitation on enforcement.
Article XII. Judgments - Enforcement · Part 1. In General · Last amended 2026 · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceAn Illinois judgment generally can't be enforced more than seven years after it was entered unless revived, though child support, certain injury judgments, and consumer debt judgments follow different rules.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/12-108
(b) No judgment shall be enforced against a police officer employed by a municipality if the corporate authority of the municipality files with the clerk of the court in which the judgment was entered a statement certifying: (1) such police officer was employed by the municipality and was within the scope and course of his employment at the time of the occurrence giving rise to the action in which the judgment is entered and (2) the municipality indemnifies the police officer in the amount of the judgment and interest thereon. In such event, the judgment creditor may enforce the judgment against the municipality in the same manner and to the same extent as if the municipality were the judgment debtor.
(c) If a judgment or a consumer debt judgment becomes dormant during the pendency of an enforcement proceeding against wages under of Part 14 of Article II or Part 8 of Article XII, the enforcement may continue to conclusion if the enforcement is done under court supervision and includes a wage deduction order or turn over order and is against an employer, garnishee, or other third party respondent.
Plain-English Summary
The default rule caps enforcement of a judgment at seven years from the date it was rendered, unless the judgment is revived under the procedure in Section 2-1601. Real estate levied on within that seven-year window gets a grace period: it can still be sold to satisfy the judgment up to one year after the seven years run out.
Several categories escape the seven-year cap. A judgment for damages for an injury described in Section 13-214.1 can be enforced at any time. Child support judgments, including those arising by operation of law, can also be enforced at any time. Consumer debt judgments instead follow the revival and enforcement rules in subsection (a-10) of Section 2-1602.
Two more provisions round out the section. A judgment can't be enforced against a police officer personally if the employing municipality certifies that the officer was acting within the scope of employment and that the municipality will indemnify the judgment plus interest; the creditor then enforces against the municipality instead. And if a judgment becomes dormant while a wage enforcement proceeding against an employer, garnishee, or other third-party respondent is already underway, that proceeding can continue to conclusion if it's court-supervised and includes a wage deduction order or turnover order.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a judgment be enforced in Illinois before it expires?
Seven years from when it was rendered, unless it's revived under Section 2-1601.
Can a creditor still sell real estate levied on after the seven-year deadline passes?
Yes, if the levy happened within the seven years, the sale can go forward up to one additional year after the seven-year period ends.
Do child support judgments ever expire under this section?
No. Child support judgments, including those arising by operation of law, can be enforced at any time.
Can a judgment be enforced against a police officer personally in Illinois?
Not if the employing municipality certifies that the officer acted within the scope of employment and that the municipality will indemnify the judgment; enforcement then proceeds against the municipality instead.
What happens if a judgment becomes dormant while a wage garnishment is already in progress?
The enforcement proceeding can continue to conclusion if it's under court supervision and includes a wage deduction order or turnover order against an employer, garnishee, or other third-party respondent.
Amendment History
(Source: P.A. 104-120, eff. 1-1-26.)
Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Illinois Compiled Statutes, published by the
Illinois Compiled Statutes, Illinois General Assembly / Legislative Reference Bureau. Last verified July 20, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: how long is an illinois judgment validjudgment expiration illinoisreviving a judgment illinoisstatute of limitations to enforce a judgment illinoisdormant judgment illinois wage garnishment