A circuit court judge's order in a civil suit is automatically recorded as a judgment in the circuit court clerk's office. Orders of general district court judges are automatically recorded as judgments in the general district court clerk's office.

Although all judgments are permanently archived, general district court judgments remain valid for 10 years from the date of the judgment, and circuit court judgments remain valid for 20 years from the date of the judgment.

A certified abstract of a general district court judgment may be brought to the circuit court clerk's office to be recorded for a fee of $10.00. The validity of a general district court judgment recorded in the circuit court clerk's office is 20 years from the date of the judgment.