Florida Judgments & Liens Search

In Florida, money judgments come from the county and circuit courts. A judgment becomes a lien on real property in a county when a certified copy, with the creditor's address, is recorded in that county's official records, which the clerk of court keeps. Judgment lien certificates on personal property are filed with the Florida Department of State, and UCC financing statements with the Florida Secured Transaction Registry.

Always confirm the official record by ordering a certified copy from the originating office when accuracy matters for closing, refinancing, or litigation.

Florida has no single statewide court case search. The clerk of the circuit court in each county keeps the court files and the official records, and the State Library of Florida lists every clerk's office with its address and phone.

• Clerks of County CourtsEvery Florida clerk of court, from the State Library
• Florida court records guideCourts and clerks in Florida on PublicRecordCenter

A judgment becomes a lien on real property in a county when a certified copy is recorded in the county's official records, with the address of the person holding the lien in the judgment or in an affidavit recorded with it (Fla. Stat. 55.10). A judgment lien on personal property such as equipment, inventory and accounts is created by filing a judgment lien certificate with the Department of State (Fla. Stat. 55.202). A construction lien claim must be recorded in the clerk's office within 90 days after the lienor last furnished labor, services or materials (Fla. Stat. 713.08).

• Fla. Stat. 55.10Judgment liens on real property
• Fla. Stat. 55.202Judgment liens on personal property
• Fla. Stat. 713.08Claim of lien, 90 day deadline

UCC financing statements are filed with the Florida Secured Transaction Registry, which the Department of State points to for UCC forms, filings, searches and copies. Judgment lien certificates are searched separately on Sunbiz by debtor name. Fixture filings are recorded in the county official records.

• Florida Secured Transaction RegistryUCC filings, searches and copies
• Judgment lien searchDepartment of State search by debtor name

A certified copy recorded on or after July 1, 1994 is a lien for 10 years from recording. It can be extended for another 10 years by re-recording a certified copy with a current address affidavit before it expires (Fla. Stat. 55.10), but no judgment can be a lien more than 20 years after it was entered (Fla. Stat. 55.081). A judgment lien certificate on personal property lapses 5 years after filing, and a second certificate can be filed within 6 months before or after the lapse (Fla. Stat. 55.204).

• Fla. Stat. 55.081No judgment lien after 20 years
• Fla. Stat. 55.204Personal property judgment lien lapses after 5 years

Florida gives a judgment creditor two tools. Under section 56.29, when a judgment creditor holds an unsatisfied judgment or judgment lien, the creditor may file a motion and an affidavit so stating, identifying the judgment and the unsatisfied amount, and is then entitled to proceedings supplementary to execution, in which the court issues a Notice to Appear directing a person who holds property of the debtor to show cause why the property should not be applied to the judgment. Rule 1.560 of the Rules of Civil Procedure provides discovery in aid of execution from any person, including the judgment debtor, and under Rule 1.560(b) the court, at the creditor's request, must order the debtor to complete the Fact Information Sheet, Form 1.977, with all required attachments, under oath within 45 days and serve it on the creditor, with failure to obey punishable as contempt.

Two court files may already hold the answers. A Florida dissolution file is public under Rule 2.420(a), and a Family Law Financial Affidavit filed in it lists the debtor's income, expenses, assets including bank accounts, and liabilities under oath, unless the parties jointly waived filing it or the court conditionally sealed it under Family Law Rule 12.400(d), while the final judgment shows the equitable distribution. A bankruptcy file in the Northern, Middle or Southern District lists deposit accounts by institution and the employer by name. The Florida asset search page covers both.

• Fla. Stat. 56.29The motion, affidavit and Notice to Appear

Florida Courts Help, from the Office of the State Courts Administrator, has court forms and guides for people handling a case on their own, and the Department of State explains how to file a judgment lien certificate.

• Florida Courts HelpOffice of the State Courts Administrator
• Judgment lien filingDepartment of State forms and instructions

• PACER, federal court recordsFederal district, bankruptcy and appeals case files
• IRS, federal tax liensWhat a federal tax lien is and how it is released