Article 53. Recognition of Foreign Country Money Judgments · Last amended 2021 · Last verified July 21, 2026
In one sentenceCPLR 5302 limits Article 53 to foreign-country judgments granting or denying a sum of money that are final, conclusive, and enforceable abroad even if under appeal, while excluding tax judgments, fines, penalties, and divorce, support, or other domestic-relations judgments.
(a)Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b) of this section, the provisions of this article apply to a foreign country judgment to the extent that such judgment:
1. grants or denies recovery of a sum of money; and 2. under the law of the foreign country where rendered, is final, conclusive and enforceable even though an appeal therefrom is pending or it is subject to appeal.
(b)This article does not apply to a foreign country judgment, even if the judgment grants or denies recovery of a sum of money, to the extent the judgment is: 1. a judgment for taxes; 2. a fine or penalty; or 3. a judgment for divorce, support or maintenance, or other judgment rendered in connection with domestic relations.
(c)A party seeking recognition of a foreign country judgment has the burden of establishing that this article applies to the foreign country judgment.
Plain-English Summary
Not every foreign judgment gets the recognition treatment Article 53 provides. This section fences off what qualifies. To fall within the article, a foreign country judgment has to grant or deny recovery of a sum of money, and it has to be final, conclusive, and enforceable under the law of the country where it was rendered — even if an appeal is pending or still possible there.
Certain categories are excluded outright, even when they award or deny money: tax judgments, fines or penalties, and judgments for divorce, support, maintenance, or anything else rendered in connection with domestic relations. Those categories are left to other doctrines, like comity, rather than this statute.
The party seeking recognition carries the burden of showing the judgment fits within the article in the first place — that it's a qualifying money judgment, and final and enforceable where it was rendered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a New York court recognize a foreign tax judgment under Article 53?
No. Tax judgments, along with fines and penalties, fall outside the article's scope entirely.
Does a foreign country judgment have to be final to get recognition in New York?
Yes. It must be final, conclusive, and enforceable where rendered, even though an appeal there is pending or still possible.
Are foreign divorce or child support judgments covered by CPLR 5302?
No. Judgments for divorce, support, maintenance, or other domestic-relations matters are excluded, even if they award or deny a sum of money.
Who has to prove that Article 53 applies to a given foreign judgment?
The party seeking recognition carries that burden.
What kind of judgment does qualify under this section?
One that grants or denies recovery of a sum of money and is final, conclusive, and enforceable under the foreign country's law, outside the excluded categories.
Amendment History
Add, L 1970, ch 981, eff Sept 1, 1970; L 2021, ch 127, § 3, effective June 11, 2021.
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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