Abstract of Judgment

Real Property Lien Recording Request

SECTION 1: COURT INFORMATION

Case Caption:

Court Name: _________________________________________________

Court Address: _________________________________________________

Case Number: _________________________________________________

Department/Division: _________________________________________________

SECTION 2: JUDGMENT INFORMATION

Date of Judgment Entry: _________________________________________________

Type of Judgment:
☐ Default Judgment
☐ Judgment After Trial
☐ Summary Judgment
☐ Stipulated Judgment
☐ Confession of Judgment
☐ Other: _________________________________________________

Original Principal Amount: $_________________________________________________

Pre-Judgment Interest: $_________________________________________________

Attorney's Fees Awarded: $_________________________________________________

Costs Awarded: $_________________________________________________

Total Judgment Amount: $_________________________________________________

Post-Judgment Interest Rate: _________% per annum

Interest Accrual Start Date: _________________________________________________

SECTION 3: JUDGMENT CREDITOR INFORMATION

Judgment Creditor Name(s):

☐ Individual
Full Legal Name: _________________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________________
City, State, ZIP: _________________________________________________

☐ Business Entity
Entity Name: _________________________________________________
Type: ☐ Corporation ☐ LLC ☐ Partnership ☐ Other: _______________
State of Formation: _________________________________________________
Principal Place of Business: _________________________________________________

Attorney for Judgment Creditor (if applicable):
Name: _________________________________________________
Bar Number: _________________________________________________
Firm Name: _________________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________________
Telephone: _________________________________________________
Email: _________________________________________________

SECTION 4: JUDGMENT DEBTOR INFORMATION

Judgment Debtor Name(s):

Debtor 1:

Full Legal Name: _________________________________________________
☐ Individual ☐ Business Entity

If Individual:
Last Four Digits of Social Security Number: XXX-XX-_________
Driver's License Number: _________________ State: _______
Date of Birth: _________________________________________________

If Business Entity:
Entity Type: _________________________________________________
State of Formation/Registration: _________________________________________________
State Entity Number: _________________________________________________
Federal EIN (last 4 digits): XXX-XX-_________

Last Known Address:
Street Address: _________________________________________________
City: ___________________________ State: _______ ZIP: ___________

All Known Aliases/DBA Names:
☐ _________________________________________________
☐ _________________________________________________
☐ _________________________________________________

Debtor 2 (if applicable):

Full Legal Name: _________________________________________________
☐ Individual ☐ Business Entity

Last Four Digits of Social Security Number: XXX-XX-_________
Last Known Address: _________________________________________________

SECTION 5: RECORDING INFORMATION

County Where Abstract is to be Recorded:
_________________________________________________

Recorder's Office Address:
_________________________________________________

Recording Fee Enclosed: $________________

Method of Recording:
☐ In Person
☐ By Mail
☐ Electronic Recording (where available)

Return Recorded Abstract To:
Name: _________________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________________
City, State, ZIP: _________________________________________________

SECTION 6: LIEN CALCULATION WORKSHEET

Calculation of Post-Judgment Interest:
Principal Amount Subject to Interest: $_________________
Interest Rate: _________% per annum
Days from Judgment to Recording: _________
Interest Calculation: $_________________ x ____% ÷ 365 x _____ days = $_________________

SECTION 7: CERTIFICATION AND DECLARATION

I, the undersigned, declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of _________________ that:

☐ I am the judgment creditor or authorized representative of the judgment creditor in this matter.

☐ The judgment described herein was entered by the above-named court on the date indicated.

☐ The judgment has not been satisfied in full.

☐ The judgment has not been vacated, modified, or reversed on appeal (except as noted below).

☐ The information contained in this abstract is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.

☐ The judgment debtor identification information is accurate based on court records and my investigation.

Modifications or Appeals (if any):
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

Signature: _________________________________ Date: _________________

Printed Name: _________________________________________________

Title/Capacity: _________________________________________________

SECTION 8: CHECKLIST FOR RECORDING

Pre-Recording Checklist:

☐ Obtained certified copy of judgment from court clerk
☐ Verified judgment is final and enforceable (not stayed or appealed)
☐ Confirmed correct spelling of all debtor names and aliases
☐ Obtained debtor's Social Security Number (last 4 digits) where required
☐ Verified debtor's current and last known addresses
☐ Completed state-specific abstract form (if required)
☐ Calculated current amount due including interest
☐ Identified county or counties where debtor owns property
☐ Obtained recording fees for each county
☐ Prepared self-addressed stamped envelope for return

Recording Checklist:

☐ Abstract form completed in full
☐ Original signature (not photocopy) where required
☐ Recording fee enclosed
☐ Return envelope included
☐ Copy retained for creditor's files

Post-Recording Checklist:

☐ Received recorded abstract with recording information
☐ Recorded date: _________________________________________________
☐ Instrument/Document Number: _________________________________________________
☐ Book/Page (if applicable): _________________________________________________
☐ Calendar lien renewal date (typically 10 years minus 60 days)
☐ Monitor for property transfers or refinancing
☐ Update judgment creditor records

SECTION 9: STATE-SPECIFIC VARIATIONS

California

• Required Form: Judicial Council Form EJ-001
• Statutory Authority: CCP Sections 674, 697.310-697.410
• Lien Duration: 10 years from date of recording
• Required Information: Must include last four digits of judgment debtor's Social Security Number per CCP Section 674(a)(6)
• Recording Fee: Varies by county (approximately $15-40)
• Renewal: Record certified copy of renewed judgment; re-record abstract
• Special Notes: Must file separate abstract in each county where debtor owns property; errors in required statutory information may invalidate lien

Texas

• Required Form: Abstract of Judgment (one-page form per Property Code Chapter 52)
• Statutory Authority: Texas Property Code Chapter 52
• Lien Duration: 10 years from date of recording; may be renewed
• Required Information: Debtor's name, address; creditor's name, address; case information; judgment amount
• Recording Fee: Varies by county
• Filing Location: County Clerk's Office
• Special Notes: Lien attaches within approximately 24 hours of recording; creates general lien on all non-exempt real property in county; abstract must be certified by court clerk

Florida

• Required Form: Certified copy of judgment recorded as lien
• Statutory Authority: Florida Statutes Section 55.10
• Lien Duration: 10 years; renewable for additional 10-year periods
• Alternative Method: Record judgment with Department of State for statewide lien
• Recording Fee: Varies by county
• Special Notes: May record judgment directly rather than abstract; statewide recording available through Florida Department of State

New York

• Required Form: Transcript of Judgment
• Statutory Authority: CPLR Section 5018
• Lien Duration: 10 years from filing
• Filing Location: County Clerk's Office where debtor resides or owns property
• Docketing Fee: Varies by county
• Special Notes: Judgment becomes lien when "docketed" (entered in county clerk's judgment book); lien attaches to all real property in county; must file in each county where debtor owns property

SECTION 10: ADDITIONAL RECORDING COUNTIES

If recording abstract in multiple counties, complete for each additional county:

County 2:

County Name: _________________________________________________
Recorder's Office Address: _________________________________________________
Recording Fee: $_________________
Date Recorded: _________________________________________________
Instrument Number: _________________________________________________

County 3:

County Name: _________________________________________________
Recorder's Office Address: _________________________________________________
Recording Fee: $_________________
Date Recorded: _________________________________________________
Instrument Number: _________________________________________________

County 4:

County Name: _________________________________________________
Recorder's Office Address: _________________________________________________
Recording Fee: $_________________
Date Recorded: _________________________________________________
Instrument Number: _________________________________________________

SECTION 11: IMPORTANT NOTICES AND REMINDERS

Effect of Recording Abstract:

Once recorded, the abstract of judgment creates a "general lien" that:
- Attaches to all non-exempt real property owned by the debtor in that county
- Attaches to any real property the debtor acquires in that county during the lien period
- Provides notice to title companies, lenders, and potential purchasers
- May block sale or refinancing of property until judgment is satisfied
- Establishes priority based on recording date

Critical Deadlines:

☐ Lien Renewal Date: _________________ (typically 10 years from recording)
☐ Judgment Renewal Date: _________________ (must renew judgment to renew lien)
☐ Statute of Limitations for Enforcement: _________________

Common Errors to Avoid:

☐ Misspelling debtor's name (check court records carefully)
☐ Omitting required debtor identification numbers
☐ Using outdated debtor address
☐ Failing to include all known aliases
☐ Mathematical errors in judgment amount
☐ Failing to record in all relevant counties
☐ Missing renewal deadlines

SECTION 12: ACKNOWLEDGMENT

For Notarization (if required by jurisdiction):

State of _______________________
County of _______________________

On _________________, before me, _________________________________, a Notary Public, personally appeared _________________________________, who proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person(s) whose name(s) is/are subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged to me that he/she/they executed the same in his/her/their authorized capacity(ies), and that by his/her/their signature(s) on the instrument the person(s), or the entity upon behalf of which the person(s) acted, executed the instrument.

I certify under PENALTY OF PERJURY under the laws of the State of _________________ that the foregoing paragraph is true and correct.

WITNESS my hand and official seal.

Signature: _________________________________ (Seal)

This template provides general guidance for recording an abstract of judgment. Requirements vary significantly by jurisdiction. Always verify current requirements with the applicable county recorder's office and consult with legal counsel before recording.