Judgment lien
A lien from a court judgment against the owner. If the owner loses a lawsuit and doesn't pay, the winning side can attach the judgment to the owner's real estate.
Your Room opens on this part of the sale, with the offer and everything before it already ticked.
Organize my saleFree to set up. Pay once when you list: $89 or $189. 7-day refund.
See how it worksWhere this comes up in a sale, and what follows
- Buyer's inspection (comes before)
Part 1 of 4
Why a seller cares
A court judgment against you can attach to your home, and the title search finds it. It has to be paid or settled at closing, and a judgment against somebody with your name can hold things up until it is sorted.
Part 2 of 4
A simple example
The title commitment lists a $4,200 judgment from a credit card lawsuit you lost in 2019. It is paid from your proceeds at closing.
| What the search shows | What follows |
|---|---|
| A judgment against you | Paid from your proceeds, with a satisfaction recorded |
| A judgment against somebody with your name | An affidavit that it is not you |
| A judgment you settled but never released | Proof of payment, or a release from the creditor |
A judgment lien is a debt the county already knows about. Closing is where it gets paid.
Part 3 of 4
What people get wrong
That an old judgment has gone away. Liens last years and can be renewed, and the title search reads the whole record.
Part 4 of 4 · where to read next
Where it appears in the sale
What a definition is, and what it isn't
Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.
Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish
In your Room, this word explains itself where it appears.
Your Room defines judgment lien in the step you meet it in, beside the document or the date it belongs to. Free to set up, with an agent or on your own.
Organize my saleFree to set up. Pay once when you list: $89 or $189. 7-day refund.