I have a judgment from 1994. The creditor put a lien on my house and proceeded to add 10% judgment interest. On a debt with less than $1000 still owed, they demanded $10,500 to release the lien. I have since found out that a judgment has a life span of 10 years in California, and if not renewed, is no longer valid. I offered to pay the balance minus the 10% interest that had accumulated on the judgment, but they refused. Am I right in thinking the 10% judgment interest is not valid since the judgment expired?

A judgement will expire in 10 years but is easy to renew if they believe they can collect.

Next of course a lien does not expire, so the lien will stay until paid or until court action is done to remove it.

They did not renew the judgment. I personally went to the court and had the file pulled and the clerk confirmed there was no renewal. So how much can they collect? That is my main question. I don't believe they are entitled to the judgment interest of 10%.