(a) Assignment—Form—Filing. An assignment of a judgment may be made by a writing executed and acknowledged by the assignor. Such assignment shall be filed with the clerk of the court in which the judgment was entered, and a copy of the assignment shall be filed with the clerk of each court in which a transcript of the judgment has been filed.
Rule 74.12.Assignment of Judgment.
Part I · Rule 74: Judgments, Orders and Proceedings Thereon · Last amended January 1, 1988 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceRule 74.12 allows a judgment to be assigned through a written, acknowledged instrument filed with the court, with execution afterward issued in the original assignor's name but for the assignee's benefit.
Full Text of Rule 74.12
(b) Form of Execution. An execution on an assigned judgment shall issue in the name of the original assignor but shall be endorsed by the judge or clerk to be for the use of the assignee.
Amendment History
Adopted May 22, 1987, eff. Jan. 1, 1988.
Plain-English Summary
A judgment is a piece of property in its own right, and Rule 74.12 sets out how it can change hands. An assignment must be made through a writing executed and acknowledged by the assignor — the party giving up rights to the judgment. That written assignment then has to be filed with the clerk of the court where the judgment was entered, and if a transcript of the judgment has already been filed in other courts (as allowed under Rule 74.13), a copy of the assignment must be filed there too.
The rule also addresses how enforcement works after an assignment. Instead of requiring the assignee's name to appear on the execution, the rule keeps the original assignor's name on the execution — but the judge or clerk endorses it to show that the execution is for the use and benefit of the assignee. This preserves the judgment's chain of record while making clear who stands to collect.
Frequently Asked Questions
What form must a judgment assignment take?
It must be a writing executed and acknowledged by the assignor.
Where must the assignment be filed?
With the clerk of the court where the judgment was entered, and a copy with the clerk of each court where a transcript of the judgment has been filed.
Whose name appears on an execution after a judgment is assigned?
The execution still issues in the name of the original assignor, but it is endorsed by the judge or clerk to show it is for the use of the assignee.
Can a judgment be assigned informally, without a written instrument?
No. The rule requires a writing that is both executed and acknowledged by the assignor.
Does the assignee need to file anything with courts outside the original county?
If a transcript of the judgment has already been filed in other courts, a copy of the assignment must be filed with the clerk of each of those courts too.
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: assignment of judgment missouritransfer a judgmentjudgment assignee executionselling a judgment