When a judgment debtor has shown to the satisfaction of the clerk of the court from which an execution has been issued that a sum of money which satisfies the judgment had been sent to the last known address of the judgment creditor by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, but was returned as unclaimed or undeliverable by the post office, the judgment debtor may deposit with the clerk of such court a certified check in an amount equal to the sum of money which satisfies the judgment. Upon receipt of such check any additional charges relating to an execution shall cease to accrue against the judgment debtor and the clerk shall forthwith notify each sheriff to whom an execution was issued that such execution is hereby rescinded. Such notice shall not be effective upon the sheriff until its receipt by him from the clerk. Provided, however, no entry of the satisfaction on the docket of the judgment made be made by the clerk except pursuant to the provisions of section 5021.
§ 5020-a.Payment of judgment in certain cases.
Article 50. Judgments Generally · Last amended 1981 · Last verified July 21, 2026
In one sentenceCPLR 5020-a lets a judgment debtor deposit a certified check with the court clerk when a satisfying payment sent to the judgment creditor's last known address was returned as unclaimed or undeliverable, stopping further execution charges from accruing.
Full Text of CPLR 5020-a
Plain-English Summary
A judgment debtor who tries to pay shouldn't keep racking up charges just because the creditor can't be reached. CPLR 5020-a addresses that exact situation: a debtor who sent full payment to the creditor's last known address by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, only to have it come back unclaimed or undeliverable, can deposit a certified check for the same amount with the clerk of the court that issued the execution.
Once the debtor makes that showing to the clerk's satisfaction and deposits the check, two things happen immediately. Additional charges tied to any execution stop accruing against the debtor, and the clerk notifies every sheriff holding an execution that it's rescinded. That rescission doesn't take effect for the sheriff until the sheriff receives the clerk's notice, so there's a clear, provable moment enforcement activity has to stop.
One limitation matters here: depositing the check doesn't automatically clear the judgment from the docket. The statute is explicit that the clerk can't enter satisfaction on the judgment's docket except through the process set out in CPLR 5021. The deposit stops the bleeding on execution costs, but formal satisfaction still has to go through that separate procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can a judgment debtor do if the creditor won't accept payment in New York?
Under CPLR 5020-a, if payment sent by registered or certified mail to the creditor's last known address is returned as unclaimed or undeliverable, the debtor may deposit a certified check for the amount owed with the court clerk.
Does depositing a certified check stop execution charges from accruing?
Yes. Once the clerk receives the certified check, additional charges relating to an execution stop accruing against the judgment debtor.
What happens to sheriffs holding an execution once the check is deposited?
The clerk notifies each sheriff that the execution is rescinded, but the rescission isn't effective for that sheriff until the notice is received.
Does depositing a certified check automatically satisfy the judgment on the docket?
No. CPLR 5020-a specifies that entry of satisfaction on the judgment's docket can only be made through the procedure in CPLR 5021.
What proof must the debtor show the clerk before depositing the check?
The debtor must show the clerk that a sum satisfying the judgment was sent to the creditor's last known address by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and was returned as unclaimed or undeliverable.
Amendment History
Add, L 1981, ch 274, § 1, eff Sept 1, 1981.
Source & verification. Provision text, History, and Advisory
Committee Notes are reproduced verbatim from the Consolidated Laws of New York.
Last verified July 21, 2026.
· Official source
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