American Express collection judgement against my wife,

It is unclear from your question whether the creditor has obtained a judgment against your wife.  I am also unclear as to the notice served on your wife by the Sheriff.  It sounds like a notice that a sheriff might serve pursuant to a writ of execution.  This could only occur once a judgment has been entered.  If a judgment has been entered, the age of the debt is irrelevant. Judgments are valid for ten years and can be "renewed" for an additional ten years.  Once a judgment is entered, a creditor may have the clerk issue a Writ of Execution. This is a directive to the Sheriff to seize personal and/or real property to satisfy a judgment.  Any real and/or personal property is potentially subject to seizure to satisfy the judgment.  However, there are exceptions, such as real property jointly owned by husband and wife.