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

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

A certified abstract of a general district court judgement 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 judgement recorded in the circuit court clerk's office is 20 years from the date of the judgement.