Guide
Connecticut Judgments & Liens Search at a Glance
In Connecticut, money judgments come from the Superior Court. A judgment lien on real property is placed by recording a judgment lien certificate with the town clerk of the town where the land is, since land records are kept by town. UCC financing statements and judgment liens on business personal property are filed with the Secretary of the 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 Connecticut
The Connecticut Judicial Branch's Civil and Family Case Look-up searches Superior Court civil cases by party name, docket number or attorney.
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Where liens are recorded in Connecticut
The judgment creditor or the creditor's lawyer signs a judgment lien certificate naming the court, the judgment date and amount, and describing the land, and records it in the town clerk's office; from then on the judgment is a lien on the debtor's interest in that property (C.G.S. 52-380a). A judgment lien on business personal property is filed with the Secretary of the State (C.G.S. 52-355a). A mechanics lien certificate must be lodged with the town clerk within 90 days after the claimant stops work or deliveries, and served on the owner within 30 days after that (C.G.S. 49-34).
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Connecticut UCC filings
UCC financing statements and judgment lien certificates on personal property are filed with the Connecticut Secretary of the State through Business.CT.gov, which also runs the lien records search. Fixture filings are recorded with the town clerk.
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How long a judgment lien lasts in Connecticut
A judgment lien on land secures the judgment until it is paid. Execution on a money judgment can issue for 20 years from the date it was entered, or 10 years for a small claims judgment, and a motion to revive must be filed before that time runs out (C.G.S. 52-598). A judgment lien on personal property lasts five years from filing (C.G.S. 52-355a). Once the judgment is paid, the creditor must release the lien, and owes damages if it fails to do so within 10 days of a written request (C.G.S. 52-380g).
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Finding the debtor's assets after judgment in Connecticut
Connecticut's tools are in chapter 906 of the General Statutes, Postjudgment Procedures. Under section 52-351b a judgment creditor may serve interrogatories, on Judicial Branch form JD-CV-23, on the judgment debtor or on a third party such as a bank or employer, asking for the debtor's assets and employment, and the recipient must answer and return them within thirty days of service, the judgment debtor signing under penalty of false statement, while a bank discloses only whether it holds funds of the debtor and the balance. Under section 52-397 the creditor may have the judgment debtor examined on oath before a judge or a committee about his or her property and means of paying the judgment, once an execution has been returned unsatisfied or the debtor has not answered postjudgment interrogatories within thirty days, and under section 52-356b the court may order the debtor to transfer specified personal property to a levying officer.
Two court files may already hold the answers. A Connecticut family file holds the sworn Financial Affidavit, JD-FM-6, with income, expenses, assets and liabilities, which Practice Book section 25-59A(h) keeps under seal unless a hearing on disputed financial issues has ended the automatic sealing or the court has unsealed it, and the judgment with its property division, unless the court has sealed it under the same section. A bankruptcy file in the District of Connecticut lists deposit accounts by institution and the employer by name. The Connecticut asset search page covers both.
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Court forms and self-help in Connecticut
The Connecticut Judicial Branch groups the forms used to collect a civil judgment, from post judgment interrogatories to wage executions and exemption claims.
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Federal & National Authoritative Sources
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Judgments and liens in other states
Straight answers
Connecticut Judgments & Liens Search, questions
How long is a judgment lien enforceable in Connecticut?
In Connecticut, a money judgment is enforceable as a lien for 20 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 Connecticut statute.
What is the deadline for filing a mechanics lien in Connecticut?
In Connecticut, a mechanics lien (also called a construction or materialman's lien) must generally be filed within 120 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: Connecticut statute.
What property is protected from judgment creditors in Connecticut?
Connecticut protects a homestead, the debtor's primary residence, up to $75,000 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 Connecticut?
UCC-1 financing statements for personal-property collateral in Connecticut are filed with the Secretary of State (or equivalent state filing office). Open the official Connecticut 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.