Guide
California Judgments & Liens Search at a Glance
In California, money judgments come from the superior court in each county. A judgment becomes a lien on real property when an abstract of judgment is recorded with the county recorder, and a lien on some business personal property when a notice of judgment lien is filed with the Secretary of State. UCC financing statements are also filed with the Secretary of State.
Always confirm the official record by ordering a certified copy from the originating office when accuracy matters for closing, refinancing, or litigation.
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Where to search court judgments in California
California has no statewide trial court case search. Each county's superior court keeps its own case index, and the Judicial Branch's Find My Court page links to every court.
Guide
Where liens are recorded in California
A judgment lien on real property is created by recording an abstract of the money judgment with the county recorder in each county where the debtor owns land (Code of Civil Procedure 697.310). A judgment lien on business personal property such as equipment, inventory and accounts is created by filing a notice of judgment lien with the Secretary of State (CCP 697.510). A direct contractor must record a mechanics lien within 90 days after the work is completed, or 60 days after the owner records a notice of completion; other claimants have 90 days, or 30 days after that notice (Civil Code 8412 and 8414).
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California UCC filings
UCC financing statements and notices of judgment lien are filed with the California Secretary of State and searched on bizfile Online. Fixture filings are recorded with the county recorder where the land is.
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How long a judgment lien lasts in California
A recorded abstract of judgment is a lien until 10 years from the date the judgment was entered (CCP 697.310), the same period the judgment can be enforced (CCP 683.020). The creditor can renew the judgment by filing an application with the court, which extends it 10 years from the filing (CCP 683.120); the real property lien is extended only if a certified copy of the renewal is recorded with the county recorder before the lien expires (CCP 683.180). A judgment lien on personal property lasts five years from filing (CCP 697.510).
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Finding the debtor's assets after judgment in California
California's procedure is the examination of the judgment debtor under Code of Civil Procedure sections 708.110 to 708.170, started with Judicial Council form EJ-125, the Application and Order for Appearance and Examination, revised October 1, 2024. The court orders the judgment debtor to appear personally before the court or a referee to give information to help enforce the money judgment, or orders a third person who holds the debtor's property or owes the debtor money to appear and answer about it. The debtor must be personally served at least 30 days before the hearing, failure to appear can be punished as contempt and brings attorney fees, and written interrogatories and document demands to the debtor are available under sections 708.020 and 708.030.
Two court files may already hold part of the answer. A California dissolution file, read at the courthouse, holds any Income and Expense Declaration filed for support or fees, with the employer and the deposit accounts by type, and the judgment with its property division; the Schedule of Assets and Debts is not filed unless the court orders it. A bankruptcy file in any of the four California districts lists deposit accounts by institution and the employer by name. The California asset search page covers both.
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Court forms and self-help in California
The California Courts Self-Help Guide explains the ways to collect a civil judgment, including the writ of execution and the abstract of judgment form EJ-001.
Guide
Federal & National Authoritative Sources
By state
Judgments and liens in other states
Straight answers
California Judgments & Liens Search, questions
How long is a judgment lien enforceable in California?
In California, a money judgment is enforceable as a lien for 10 years from the date it is entered or properly docketed. Creditors who want to extend collection beyond that period must file a renewal motion with the issuing court before the lien lapses. Read the California statute.
What is the deadline for filing a mechanics lien in California?
In California, a mechanics lien (also called a construction or materialman's lien) must generally be filed within 90 days after the claimant last furnished labor or materials to the project. Different deadlines may apply to general contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers, so check the exact statute before relying on this window. Source: California statute.
What property is protected from judgment creditors in California?
California protects a homestead, the debtor's primary residence, up to $600,000 in equity from forced sale by most judgment creditors. Personal property exemptions (motor vehicle, household goods, tools of trade, retirement accounts) are listed separately in the state code. Confirm the current amount on the official source.
Where do I file or search a UCC-1 in California?
UCC-1 financing statements for personal-property collateral in California are filed with the Secretary of State (or equivalent state filing office). Open the official California UCC filing portal. Real-property liens (mortgages, judgment-lien dockets, mechanics liens) are recorded at the county recorder/clerk where the property is located, not at the state level.