Guide
Texas Judgments & Liens Search at a Glance
In Texas, money judgments come from the district, county and justice courts. A judgment becomes a lien on the debtor's non-exempt real property in a county when an abstract of the judgment is recorded and indexed by that county's county clerk. UCC financing statements are filed with the Texas 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 Texas
re:SearchTX, from the Texas Judicial Branch, searches court records filed through eFileTexas. Users sign in with an eFileTexas account or register for one.
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Where liens are recorded in Texas
A recorded and indexed abstract of judgment, if the judgment is not dormant, is a lien on the debtor's real property in that county, other than property exempt under chapter 41 or the Texas Constitution, including property acquired later (Property Code 52.001). An original contractor files a mechanics lien affidavit with the county clerk by the 15th day of the fourth month after the month the work was completed, terminated or abandoned, or of the third month on a residential project (Property Code 53.052).
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Texas UCC filings
The Texas Secretary of State is the central filing office for UCC financing statements. Filings are made online through the SOS UCC Portal, which needs an SOSPortal account; paper filings are no longer accepted as of August 29, 2025.
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How long a judgment lien lasts in Texas
A judgment lien lasts 10 years from the recording and indexing of the abstract, but ends sooner if the judgment becomes dormant (Property Code 52.006). A judgment becomes dormant if no writ of execution issues within 10 years after it is rendered, or within 10 years after the last writ (Civil Practice and Remedies Code 34.001), and a dormant judgment can be revived by scire facias or an action of debt within two years after it became dormant (section 31.006).
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Finding the debtor's assets after judgment in Texas
Texas gives a judgment creditor two tools. Rule 621a of the Rules of Civil Procedure allows post-judgment discovery under the ordinary discovery rules, so interrogatories, requests for production and depositions about the debtor's accounts, employer and property run after judgment. The turnover statute, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 31.002, entitles the creditor to aid from a court of appropriate jurisdiction, including a justice court, through injunction or other means in order to reach property that is not exempt from attachment, execution or seizure; the court may order the judgment debtor to turn over non-exempt property in the debtor's possession or control, together with all documents or records related to the property, to a sheriff or constable for execution, otherwise apply the property to the judgment, or appoint a receiver to take possession of the property, sell it and pay the proceeds to the creditor.
Two court files may already hold the answers. A Texas divorce file is public, and a sworn inventory and appraisement, where a party filed one, lists every asset and debt with a value while the decree shows who received each. A bankruptcy file in the Northern, Southern, Eastern or Western District lists deposit accounts by institution and the employer by name. The Texas asset search page covers both.
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Court forms and self-help in Texas
The Texas Judicial Branch lists sources of information for people without a lawyer, and the Office of Court Administration, with the Texas Access to Justice Commission, created a self-help resources website for people representing themselves.
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Federal & National Authoritative Sources
By state
Judgments and liens in other states
Straight answers
Texas Judgments & Liens Search, questions
How long is a judgment lien enforceable in Texas?
In Texas, 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 Texas statute.
What is the deadline for filing a mechanics lien in Texas?
In Texas, a mechanics lien (also called a construction or materialman's lien) must generally be filed within 60 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: Texas statute.
What property is protected from judgment creditors in Texas?
Texas provides an unlimited-value homestead exemption capped only by acreage, not by a dollar amount. TX Property Code Ch 41: unlimited value, acreage-capped only. Personal property exemptions (motor vehicle, household goods, tools of trade, retirement accounts) are listed separately in the state code. Read the Texas statute.
Where do I file or search a UCC-1 in Texas?
UCC-1 financing statements for personal-property collateral in Texas are filed with the Secretary of State (or equivalent state filing office). Open the official Texas 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.