Judgments and Liens Search

A judgment is a court's formal decision that one party owes money to another. A lien is a legal claim against an asset, property, vehicle, or other collateral, used to secure that debt. These two instruments are deeply intertwined in public records: a money judgment from a court can be converted into a judgment lien that attaches to real property the debtor owns. Tax agencies at the federal and state level also file liens when taxes go unpaid. Mechanic's liens protect contractors and suppliers who improve real property but are not paid. Understanding where these records are filed - and how to find them - is essential for anyone buying property, extending credit, or conducting due diligence on an individual or business. All records referenced below are official public documents, accessible under state and federal public records laws. Updated March 2026.

A money judgment becomes a lien on real property when it is recorded with the county recorder or clerk. Federal court judgments are searchable through PACER. State court judgments must be searched in the specific state and county where they were entered. In most states, a judgment lien lasts 5 to 10 years and can be renewed. Always search the debtor's name in every county where they own property.

• PACER, Federal Court Judgments, Search federal district court judgments and civil case dockets
• https://www.pcl.uscourts.gov/
• State Court Websites (NCSC), Directory of all 50 state court e-filing and public access portals
• Library of Congress Federal Dockets Free searchable federal court docket database
• Judgments vs. Judgment Liens, Due Diligence Guide Expert explanation of the legal distinction and search strategy

A judgment is a piece of paper until it is matched to an asset. Every state gives a judgment creditor a lawful way to make the debtor say, under oath, what they own and where it is. The procedure has different names, a debtor examination, supplementary proceedings, an information subpoena, a fact information sheet, interrogatories in aid of execution, but it always does the same work: it compels disclosure after judgment, with contempt behind it. The state pages linked from this one name the rule in each state. This section explains the tools that are common everywhere and the court files that shorten the search.

The sworn disclosure the court can compel

In most states the creditor files a short application, the court orders the debtor to appear, and the debtor is questioned under oath about employment, bank accounts, vehicles, real estate, business interests and money owed to them. Some states add written questions the debtor must answer under oath within a fixed time, and several let the creditor subpoena third parties, a bank or an employer, to answer about property they hold for the debtor. Failure to appear is punishable as contempt, and in many states a warrant can follow.

Two court files that already contain the answers

Before examining a debtor, an experienced creditor checks two other court files, because the debtor may already have disclosed everything under oath.

• A divorce file. A contested divorce usually contains a sworn financial statement listing the employer, income, bank accounts, retirement plans, vehicles, real estate and debts, plus a settlement agreement and decree that say who kept which asset. Whether a non-party may read the sworn statement depends on the state, but the decree and agreement are public almost everywhere. The asset search page for each state explains the rule.
• A bankruptcy file. Schedule A/B lists every deposit account by institution and type, Schedule I lists the employer by name and address with monthly pay, and the Statement of Financial Affairs lists accounts closed in the year before filing. These are public under 11 U.S.C. 107 and cost at most $3 per document on PACER. A discharged debt cannot be collected, but a judgment that survived the bankruptcy, or a judgment entered later, can be enforced against assets the schedules reveal.

Public records that confirm the disclosure

County recorder indexes confirm real estate by owner name. Secretary of State business filings and UCC filings show company interests and secured loans. Motor vehicle records are restricted under the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act, which lists use in connection with a civil proceeding, including the execution or enforcement of judgments, as a permissible use in 18 U.S.C. 2721(b)(4), applied through each state's motor vehicle agency. Professional license rosters confirm employment in a licensed trade. None of these replace the sworn disclosure, but together they show whether the debtor's answers are complete.

Key Takeaway: Read before examining. A divorce decree or a set of bankruptcy schedules can hand a creditor the bank, the employer and the property list for a few dollars. The debtor examination then confirms what is still there and catches what was moved.

• Common Mistake: levying blind on every bank in town. A levy on a bank that holds nothing costs the fee and tips off the debtor.
• Common Mistake: letting the judgment age. Most states put a time limit on the supplementary proceeding and on the judgment itself, and renewal has its own deadline.
• Common Mistake: treating retirement accounts as collectible. Qualified plans named in a QDRO or on a bankruptcy schedule are usually exempt from creditors.

Collecting a judgment is governed by each state's statutes and rules, and exemptions protect some income and property in every state. Nothing on this page is legal advice.

The IRS files a Notice of Federal Tax Lien (NFTL) in the public records of the county where the taxpayer resides or owns property when federal taxes go unpaid. State tax agencies file equivalent notices. Federal tax lien searches are available through the IRS FOIA reading room and through county recorders. A federal tax lien attaches to all current and future property of the taxpayer until satisfied or released.

• IRS, Understanding Federal Tax LiensOfficial IRS explanation of NFTL filing, priority, and release procedures
• IRS FOIA Tax Lien Reading RoomSearch publicly released IRS records including lien information

Mechanic's liens are filed by contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers when they improve real property and are not paid. Rules differ by state, some states require filing within 30 days of completing work; others allow up to 90 days. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) financing statements secure loans against personal property and business assets. They are filed with the Secretary of State and are publicly searchable.

• California SOS, UCC Search, Search UCC filings in California, model portal for other states
• Florida SOS, UCC Search, Search UCC filings via the Florida Department of State Sunbiz portal
• Municipal Lien Search Guide Step-by-step guide to finding property liens by jurisdiction
• How to Remove a Lien from Property Official steps for clearing a lien and obtaining a release

Most lien records are maintained at the county level, filed with the county recorder, register of deeds, or clerk of court depending on the state. The most reliable search is a direct query to the county office for the jurisdiction where the property is located. Many counties now offer free online searches. Title companies perform comprehensive lien searches as part of every real estate transaction.

• 7 Steps to Finding Property Liens (2026) Home buyer's guide to conducting a thorough lien search before purchase
• PropLogix, Title Search & Lien Guide Professional guide to finding recorded and unrecorded liens
• PACER, Federal Court Records Find federal judgments and bankruptcy-related liens
• Bankruptcy Search Search for bankruptcy filings that may affect property titles

Select your state to find state-specific public records resources.

Related Resources

• PACER Guide
• Court Records
• Bankruptcy Search
• Business Records
• Find an Attorney

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