What is a judgment lien?

A judgment lien is a legal right or claim against a debtor’s property that a court has granted to a creditor. This lien protects the creditor by requiring the debtor to use the value of the property to pay back the debt. In California, judgment liens can affect both personal property, like cars or furniture, or real property, such as real estate or land. Once a judgment has been entered against a debtor, the court will issue an abstract of judgment that is recorded with the county recorder. Once the abstract has been recorded, the lien attaches to any property the debtor possesses in that county. The judgment lien will prevent the debtor from selling the property or transferring ownership until the debt has been fully paid. If the debtor does not pay the debt, the creditor may seize the property in order to recover their losses. The creditor can then auction the property and use the funds gained to pay for the judgment. A judgment lien can also be enforced against a debtor’s wages if the creditor is granted a writ of execution from the court. In California, the lien will remain in effect for ten years from the date of the judgment. If the debt remains unpaid, the creditor can renew the lien by filing a renewal of judgment in the court where the judgment was entered. If the debt is paid in full, the debtor should request a satisfaction of judgment in order to remove the lien.

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