Federal restitution does not necessarily disappear 20 years after the judgment. Under section 3613(b), the liability generally ends on the later of 20 years from judgment or 20 years after release from imprisonment. The actual judgment, custody history, governing law, and collection record must be reviewed before declaring the debt expired. [1]
Start with the correct dates
A person sentenced to imprisonment can have a much later endpoint than someone counting only from sentencing. Obtain the judgment date and relevant release information. Do not assume the end of supervised release, probation, or a payment schedule automatically terminates the restitution liability.
The statute separately addresses death: the estate remains responsible for unpaid restitution, and the specified lien continues until the estate receives a written release of liability. That differs from simply applying a general statement about fines ending at death. [1]
Older cases and particular legal circumstances can require further analysis. A rough calendar count is not a substitute for determining which provisions apply.
Liability, liens, and payment schedules differ
Section 3613 supplies enforcement and lien rules for restitution, while section 3664 addresses restitution procedures and enforcement mechanisms. A lien record, a civil judgment instrument, and the underlying liability should be evaluated together rather than assumed to have identical effects. [1][2]
A modest court-approved installment does not necessarily mean the government is barred from every other lawful collection method. Likewise, making payments faithfully does not itself prove the balance or interest calculation is correct.
Example: judgment followed by a long prison term
If judgment occurred years before release, the release-based 20-year period can be the later date. A person should not stop paying at the twentieth judgment anniversary without reviewing that distinction. The responsible attorney or agency should identify the applicable calculation and any relevant legal issue in writing.
Keep records of payments, credits, garnishments, and recoveries from other liable parties. Where a balance appears wrong, dispute the specific accounting rather than assume the entire obligation has expired.
Request the actual collection record
Obtain the judgment, restitution order, payment history, current balance, lien information, custody dates, and relevant enforcement notices. Distinguish a challenge to the original order from a later accounting or collection dispute; different procedures and deadlines can apply.
Do not ignore a new garnishment or offset notice while investigating age of the debt. Use the stated process promptly and seek advice about exemptions, statutory limits, and the particular enforcement authority. Restitution has special collection rules, so ordinary consumer-debt advice may not answer the question.
Fines involve a different statutory calculation. Benefit collection issues also require the correct federal-exception analysis.
Primary sources
- 18 U.S.C. § 3613: Civil remedies for satisfaction of an unpaid fine
- 18 U.S.C. § 3664: Procedure for issuance and enforcement of order of restitution
Sources checked: October 31, 2026.