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Civil litigation

judgment lien

A judgment in a civil lawsuit will generally create a lien on the judgment debtor’s real property when notice of the judgment is filed with the county clerk in the county records where the judgment debtor owns real property. This public filing (often called an abstract of judgment) effectively puts all future purchasers and lenders on notice of the judgment creditor’s claim to the judgment debtor’s real property—to the extent necessary to pay/satisfy the judgment.

In California, when a judgment is obtained in a civil lawsuit, it can create a lien on the judgment debtor's real property. This occurs when the judgment creditor files a notice of the judgment, commonly referred to as an 'abstract of judgment,' with the county recorder in the county where the debtor's real property is located. The filing of the abstract of judgment serves as a public declaration of the creditor's claim against the debtor's property. It alerts future purchasers and lenders that the property is subject to a lien that must be satisfied or paid off to the extent necessary to satisfy the judgment amount. This lien remains attached to the debtor's property until the judgment is paid in full or the lien expires, which, under California law, is generally 10 years from the date of the judgment, with the possibility of renewal for additional 10-year periods.

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Civil litigation

judgment lien

Legal Services for Less than 99¢ a Day

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California State Code

Civil litigation

judgment lien

California State Code

Articles