In Ohio, what occurs when a judgment becomes dormant?

When a judgment becomes dormant in Ohio, it signifies that the judgment is still valid but has not been enforced or acted upon within a specified time frame. This status does not render the judgment void or lost to creditors; instead, the judgment can still be revived through legal means. The process typically involves filing a motion or taking other necessary steps to re-establish the judgment's enforceability, allowing creditors to pursue collection actions. This mechanism demonstrates the balance between giving judgment debtors a reprieve from immediate collection efforts while still providing creditors a path to restore their rights if action is needed.

The options that suggest permanent voidance or complete loss to creditors incorrectly imply that the judgment is entirely rendered useless, which is not the case. As for automatic extension, it does not apply, as dormancy itself indicates a lack of activity rather than a continuous extension of enforceability. Therefore, the correct understanding is that while a judgment may become dormant, it can indeed be revived through appropriate legal channels.