(a) Acknowledgment of Satisfaction. When any judgment or decree is satisfied, the judgment creditor shall immediately file an acknowledgment of satisfaction.
Rule 74.11.Satisfaction of Judgment.
Part I · Rule 74: Judgments, Orders and Proceedings Thereon · Last amended July 1, 2019 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceRule 74.11 requires a judgment creditor to promptly file an acknowledgment once a judgment is satisfied, allows the creditor's attorney or an authorized agent to enter that satisfaction, and lets an interested person ask the court to enter satisfaction if the creditor fails to do so.
Full Text of Rule 74.11
(b) Who May Enter Satisfaction. Satisfaction may be entered by the judgment creditor, his attorney of record, or an agent; if entered by an agent who is not the attorney of record, his authority shall be filed.
(c) Satisfaction of Judgment Entered by the Court. If a judgment creditor who has received satisfaction of a judgment fails to acknowledge such satisfaction immediately, any interested person may apply to the court where the judgment was entered for an order showing satisfaction.
Amendment History
Adopted May 22, 1987, eff. Jan. 1, 1988; amended July 1, 2019.
Plain-English Summary
Once a judgment debtor has paid off or otherwise satisfied a judgment, the record needs to reflect that fact — otherwise the judgment can continue to cloud the debtor's credit, property title, or ability to obtain financing. Rule 74.11 places that responsibility on the judgment creditor: as soon as a judgment or decree is satisfied, the creditor must immediately file an acknowledgment of satisfaction.
The rule allows some flexibility in who can file that acknowledgment. It can be entered by the judgment creditor personally, by the creditor's attorney of record, or by an agent. If an agent who is not the attorney of record enters the satisfaction, that agent's authority to do so must be filed with the court.
What happens if the creditor does not act at all, even after receiving payment? Subsection (c) gives any interested person — typically the debtor, but potentially another party with a stake in clearing the judgment from the record — the ability to apply to the court that entered the judgment for an order showing satisfaction. This prevents a creditor's inaction from leaving a satisfied judgment lingering indefinitely on the record.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for filing an acknowledgment of satisfaction?
The judgment creditor must immediately file the acknowledgment once the judgment or decree is satisfied.
Can someone other than the creditor personally file the satisfaction?
Yes. It can be entered by the judgment creditor, the creditor's attorney of record, or an agent. If an agent who is not the attorney of record enters it, that agent's authority must be filed.
What if the judgment creditor refuses or fails to acknowledge satisfaction?
Any interested person may apply to the court where the judgment was entered for an order showing satisfaction.
Is there a deadline for the creditor to file the acknowledgment?
The rule requires it to be filed immediately upon satisfaction, without specifying a separate numeric deadline beyond that immediacy requirement.
Why does the rule require an agent's authority to be filed with the court?
Because when someone other than the creditor or the attorney of record enters the satisfaction, the court needs a record showing that person had authority to act for the creditor.
Source & verification. Rule text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Missouri State & Federal Court Rules, adopted by the
Supreme Court of Missouri. Last verified July 22, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: satisfaction of judgment missouriacknowledgment of satisfactionpaid off judgment recordclearing a satisfied judgment