Did the business transfer cash, equipment, inventory, contracts, or goodwill before closure? Transfers to insiders or for less than fair value are voidable under Chapter 726, F.S. (Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act). §56.29 proceedings supplementary reaches the transferee.
Did a "new" company appear with same employees, customers, equipment, location, or owners? Florida successor liability doctrines support reaching the successor where there is continuation of operations, fraudulent purpose, or de facto merger.
Many small business obligations are personally guaranteed by owners or officers. If the judgment named only the entity, separate enforcement against guarantors may require an additional action — but the underlying claim against the guarantor often survives entity dissolution.
A closed or dissolved Florida business can still be connected to a judgment debt. Recovery depends on remaining assets, transfers to insiders or successor entities, personal guarantors, and court-authorized remedies including proceedings supplementary under §56.29, F.S. for transferred assets.
A successor entity is a new business that continues the operations of a prior business — same employees, customers, equipment, or trade name — often after the prior business closed to avoid debts. Florida successor liability doctrines allow reaching the successor for predecessor judgments.
Generally only if the owner personally guaranteed the obligation, was named in the original judgment, or veil piercing applies. Veil piercing requires showing the entity was a sham, alter ego, or used to perpetrate fraud — high bar but achievable on the right facts.
The 20-year enforceability window under §55.081 applies. Proceedings supplementary, successor liability claims, and fraudulent transfer actions typically have their own limitation periods running from the transfer date or the date of discovery, often 4 years under Chapter 726.
Closed-business cases are our specialty. Successor and transfer investigation included in intake.
Submit for Free ReviewLast reviewed: April 2026