Judgment Liens on Property in Maine

You went to court and got a judgment that says you're entitled to money from the party you sued, now called a "judgment debtor." What comes next? How can you—the judgment creditor—collect the money you're due? That's the focus of this article.

One way to collect is by putting judgment liens on the judgment debtor's Maine property. After a quick review of how judgment liens differ from judgments, we'll turn our attention to the specifics of Maine law. In particular, we cover:

• the kinds of property subject to Maine judgment liens
• how you put judgment liens on Maine property
• how long your judgment lien lasts, and
• the ways you can turn your judgment lien into money.

If you want some background information, here's more about how court judgments are collected.

What's the Difference Between a Judgment and a Judgment Lien?

A judgment is a court order that says a judgment creditor is legally entitled to a sum of money from a judgment debtor. But a judgment, standing alone, isn't self-enforcing. That is, you can't take a judgment to your county sheriff's office and demand that the judgment debtor's real estate be sold to pay you.

If you want to seize and sell the judgment debtor's property, you first have to attach your judgment to specific items of property. That's what a judgment lien does. As we'll see below, when you file a writ of execution with the county registry of deeds (for real estate) or the Secretary of State (for personal property), your judgment becomes a lien against the judgment debtor's nonexempt property. At that point, you can look for ways to turn your judgment into cold, hard cash.

Kinds of Property Subject to Maine Judgment Liens

In Maine, you can attach judgment liens to:

• real estate, such as land, buildings, and other improvements, and
• personal property like cars, artwork, antiques, electronics, and household furnishings.

A properly recorded judgment attaches a lien to the judgment debtor's nonexempt real estate—both presently owned and later acquired—in that county. Judgment liens on personal property get attached in a different way. We discuss the processes for attaching judgment liens below.

Property Exempt From Maine Judgment Liens

Like all states, Maine exempts some property—both real and personal—from the reach of creditors. Unless stated otherwise, dollar amounts mentioned here represent the value of the debtor's exempt equity in the property, which might not be the same as the property's market value.

Here are a few examples.

• Homestead exemption. Maine's homestead exemption protects equity of up to $80,000 in the judgment debtor's residence and the land on which it's situated. The exemption increases to $160,000 if the debtor is 60 years of age or older, or is physically or mentally disabled.
• Motor vehicle exemption. Maine law protects equity of up to $10,000 in one motor vehicle.
• Household goods exemption. A Maine judgment debtor gets to keep furniture, furnishings, appliances, books, and similar property worth as much as $500 per item, with no limit on the total number of items that can be claimed as exempt.
• Tools of the trade exemption. This exemption shields up to $9,500 worth of equipment, tools, books, and other property the judgment debtor uses in their trade, business, or employment.

How to Attach Maine Judgment Liens

Attaching judgment liens to real estate and personal property involve different processes. Make sure you use the right one for the kind of property on which you want a lien.

Judgment Liens on Real Estate

A Maine superior court or district court judgment, once final, becomes a judgment lien on the debtor's nonexempt real estate in the county when you complete these steps.

• Get a writ of execution. First, you'll need to get a writ of execution—an order directing the sheriff to locate and seize the judgment debtor's property—from the court that entered your judgment. You get this writ from the court that entered your judgment. Check online or call the court clerk's office for instructions. You need one writ of execution for each county where you want to attach a judgment lien.
• File the writ of execution. Within three years from the date the writ was issued, you must file it (or an attested copy of it) with the registry of deeds in each county where you want to attach a lien. A judgment lien attaches once the writ is filed.
• Notify the judgment debtor. Within 20 days after you file the writ, you must send the judgment debtor written notice, by certified or registered mail, to their last known address. Get a return receipt for proof of mailing. The notice must include all the information required by Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 4651-A.5 (2025). If you don't provide this notice, your judgment lien is void.

Note, importantly, that getting and filing a writ of execution doesn't mean you're actually executing on—taking steps to collect—the judgment. If you want to do that, you must deliver the writ to the sheriff, with instructions to seize and sell the judgment debtor's property. There might be good reasons not to do that, as we discuss below under "How Do You Turn a Maine Judgment Lien Into Money?"

Judgment Liens on Personal Property

In Maine, you're allowed to attach judgment liens to some kinds of personal property. As with real estate liens, start by getting a writ of execution. Within three years after the writ is issued, you must file it with the Secretary of State. Different rules might apply when you want a lien on a motor vehicle. You also must notify the judgment debtor within 20 days after filing, following the same requirements as for liens on real estate.

Not all Maine personal property is subject to a judgment lien. If you're considering this step, speak to a Maine collection lawyer first. They can tell you whether it's worth your time and expense to go after the judgment debtor's personal property—and there's a good chance it won't be. If it's likely to be worthwhile, they'll guide you through the process.

When Does a Maine Judgment Lien Expire?

The answer is: It depends on when you got your lien. Maine law was amended, effective September 1, 2020. Liens originating before that date last longer than those created later.

Before September 1, 2020

As a general rule, a judgment lien created before September 1, 2020 is good for 20 years from the date the writ of execution was recorded with the registry of deeds or filed with the Secretary of State. Before it runs out, you can renew the lien for another 20-year term (see below).

On or After September 1, 2020

A judgment lien created on or after September 1, 2020 expires 10 years from the date the writ of execution was recorded with the registry of deeds or filed with the Secretary of State, unless it's renewed for another 10-year term as described below.

Renewing a Judgment Lien

You're allowed to renew a Maine judgment lien one time. Here's an overview of the steps.

• Get a new writ of execution. Within 10 years from the date the last writ of execution issued, ask the court for a new writ of execution, called an "alias" or a "pluries" writ. The Maine Supreme Court has issued an approved form to request the writ. Go to this Court Forms Search page, type, "writ" in the Quick Filter box, and select Form CV-181, Request for Renewal Writ of Execution.
• Record or file the writ. Once the new writ has issued, follow the same recording or filing procedures outlined above (including notice to the judgment debtor) to extend your lien. If your lien was originally created before September 1, 2020, your extension is good for 20 years. Otherwise, your lien will be extended for 10 years.

If you miss the 10-year deadline for requesting a new writ, you'll need to start by asking the court for permission to execute on the judgment. You do this by filing a motion—a written request asking the court to order the judgment debtor to show cause why execution shouldn't be issued. Think about hiring Maine legal counsel to prepare and handle the motion.

How Long Does a Maine Judgment Last?

Maine law presumes that most judgments have been paid 20 years after judgment was entered. This presumption is rebuttable, meaning you can try to collect on a judgment that's more than 20 years old, but you'll first need to show the court your judgment remains unpaid.

If you haven't collected what you're owed and the end of the 20-year term is approaching, give some thought to speaking with an experienced lawyer about your options. Find out whether it makes sense to get more time to collect, or whether you're probably just throwing good money after bad.

How Do You Turn a Maine Judgment Lien Into Money?

In general, there are three ways you can try to collect on a Maine judgment lien:

• negotiate a settlement
• wait for the judgment debtor to sell or refinance the property, and
• execute on your lien.

Negotiate a Settlement

If you want payment sooner rather than later, this is likely your best choice. No, you won't get all the money you're entitled to, but that's the nature of a settlement. You'll collect faster—and more inexpensively—than via the other two options.

Wait for the Judgment Debtor to Sell or Refinance

Most often, a buyer or lender will insist on clear title, free of all judgment liens. So, to sell or refinance, the judgment debtor will have to approach you to make a deal. Only now, you've got more negotiating leverage. As long as you're willing to sit tight and wait, this too is a low-cost, low-stress way to collect.

Execute on Your Lien

Executing on your lien means having the sheriff seize and sell the judgment debtor's property at auction. This might seem like a tempting option. But before you head down this path, check with a local attorney to find out about the legwork and costs involved. In addition, see who's ahead of you in payment priority, or you might discover—too late—that the sale proceeds aren't enough to pay you in full (or at all).

Lastly, be aware that this step might be just the push the judgment debtor needs to declare bankruptcy. Should that happen, you're likely to be standing in a long, very unhappy line of creditors with little chance of getting paid.

Next Steps

We've covered Maine judgment lien basics, but of course, the devil's in the details. Now that you're familiar with Maine law, you might decide that your best option is to get help collecting your judgment. An experienced Maine creditor's rights or collection attorney can answer your questions and help you chart a collection path that gives you the best chance to maximize your recovery.