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MortgagePoint » Your Trusted Source for Mortgage Banking and Servicing News 28 July 2025 F E A T U R E S T O R Y DOMESTICATION AND COLLECTION OF FOREIGN JUDGMENTS IN CONNECTICUT B y L U C A S R O C K L I N W hen a court outside Connecticut, whether in another U.S. state or a foreign coun try, issues a judgment, that judgment cannot automatically be enforced against a debtor's assets Connecticut. Before any collection efforts can begin, the judgment must first be formally recognized through Connecticut's domestication process. Connecticut law establishes two primary procedures for recognizing and enforcing such judgments, depending on how the judgment was originally obtained. Judgments that qualify under the Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act (UEFJA), codified at Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-604 et seq., may be domesticated through a relatively sim- ple filing process. Judgments that do not meet the UEFJA's requirements, such as those entered by default or confession, require the creditor to file a separate civil action in Connecticut under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-607. This article provides an overview of the legal procedures for domesticat- ing out-of-state and foreign-country judgments in Connecticut. It explains the enforcement tools available once the judgment is recognized. Domestication Under the Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 52-604 et seq.) C onnecticut's adoption of the UEFJA provides a streamlined process for enforcing certain judgments rendered by courts of other U.S. states. Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-604, a "foreign judgment" is defined as any judgment, decree, or order of a court of the United States or any other state that is entitled to full faith and credit in Connecti- cut. The statute excludes judgments obtained by default in appearance or by confession of judgment. Procedure: • Obtain an authenticated judg- ment. The creditor must obtain an authenticated copy of the judgment from the originating state, certified under court seal in accordance with the authentication requirements of the issuing jurisdiction. • File the judgment and affidavit with the court. The creditor must file the authenticated judgment, together with a sworn affidavit, with the clerk of the Connecticut Superi- or Court. The affidavit must include the names and last known addresses of both the judgment creditor and debtor, confirm that the judgment remains unsatisfied in whole or in part, state the amount currently due, affirm that the judgment was not obtained by default in appearance or by confession of judgment, and L U C A S R O C K L I N practices litigation, bankruptcy and creditors rights, and labor law at the firm of Neubert, Pepe & Monteith, P.C. He has extensive experience in representing financial institutions and creditors in commercial litigation matters including collections, foreclosures, work- outs, bankruptcy, and landlord-tenant matters. His labor law practice includes collective bargaining agreement negotia- tions and arbitration. Rocklin is decisive, effective, and efficient and provides clients with regular communication about their matters. He is a graduate of Syracuse University, B.A., and Brooklyn Law School, J.D. Awarded distinction in law school for his excellence in labor law and academic achievement, he received the Robert Lewis Labor Law Award and Academic Progress Award. He is admitted to practice in Connecticut and New York.