§3201 Judgment Liens

Summary

A civil court judgment creates a lien on all of a debtor’s real property when a certified copy of the judgment is filed the same way federal tax liens are filed. The lien covers the amount needed to pay the judgment, including costs and interest, and it has priority over any later liens. The lien lasts 20 years unless paid. It can be renewed once for another 20 years if a renewal notice is filed before the first 20 years end and the court approves; the renewed lien counts from the original filing date. The lien is released when a satisfaction or release is filed the same way the judgment was filed. If the lien is for a debt to the United States, the debtor cannot receive federal grants, loans, or program funds (except benefits they are owed) until the judgment is paid, unless the responsible agency creates a waiver. On proper court application, the court may order the United States to sell the property under the rules for selling federal property; this does not stop the United States from selling by execution under other law.