Foreign Judgments

"“Foreign judgment” means any judgment, decree, or order of a court of the United States or of any other court which is entitled to full faith and credit in this Commonwealth. (KRS § 426.950) A copy of any foreign judgment authenticated in accordance with the Act of Congress or the statutes of this state may be filed in the office of the clerk of any court of competent jurisdiction of this state. The clerk shall treat the foreign judgment in the same manner as a judgment of any court of this state. A judgment so filed has the same effect and is subject to the same procedures, defenses and proceedings for reopening, vacating, or staying as a judgment of a court of this state and may be enforced or satisfied in like manner. (KRS § 426.955) "

The purpose of the UEFJA is to give holders of foreign judgments the same rights and remedies as the holder of a domestic judgment. (Sunrise Turquoise v. Chemical Design Co., 899 S.W.2d 856, 857 (1995)). As long as the foreign judgment is valid under Kentucky’s own laws, then the foreign judgment is entitled to full faith and credit and to domestication in Kentucky. (Id.)