Judgment Liens on Property in Arizona

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 Arizona property. After a quick review of how judgment liens differ from judgments, we'll turn our attention to the specifics of Arizona law. In particular, we cover:

• the kinds of property subject to Arizona judgment liens
• how you put judgment liens on Arizona property
• how long your judgment lien lasts and how you can extend it, 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, once you take the correct steps to record your judgment, it becomes a lien against the judgment debtor's property. At that point, you can look for ways to turn your judgment into cold, hard cash.

Kinds of Property Subject to Arizona Judgment Liens

In Arizona, you can attach judgment liens only to real estate, meaning land, buildings, and other improvements. When you properly record an Arizona judgment (see below), the lien attaches to real estate the judgment debtor:

• presently owns, and
• acquires later, as long as your judgment lien is still good.

No Liens on Personal Property

You can't put judgment liens on Arizona personal property—cars, artwork, antiques, electronics, household furnishings, and the like. But that doesn't mean a judgment debtor always gets to keep their autos, boats, and other big ticket items. Even without judgment liens, there's a way to have the sheriff seize personal property.

If you're considering this step, speak to an Arizona 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.

Arizona Exemptions

Like all states, Arizona exempts some property—both real and personal—from the reach of creditors. A few examples include:

• a house, condo, co-op, or affixed mobile home (plus the lot) used as a primary residence and having a value of up to $400,000, adjusted annually for inflation
• a maximum of $15,000 ($25,000 if the debtor or a dependent is disabled), adjusted annually for inflation, in one motor vehicle
• up to $15,000, adjusted annually for inflation, in household furniture, appliances, and furnishings, and
• professional books, equipment, and tools (including a website) used in a commercial trade, business, or occupation, and worth up to $5,000.

Also exempt are enough food, fuel, and provisions to last the debtor and their family for six months.

How to Attach Judgment Liens to Real Estate

An Arizona state court judgment becomes a judgment lien when you file and record a certified copy of the judgment, together with the required information statement (see below), in the county recorder's office. When your judgment is from a justice or municipal court, you have the option to file and record a certified transcript (summary) of the judgment with the information statement, instead of the judgment itself.

Once a judgment is properly recorded, the lien remains in force for up to 10 years from the date of the judgment. A lien can be extended as described below.

The Information Statement

Note, importantly, that for your judgment lien to be effective, you must attach to the certified judgment (or, if applicable, the certified transcript) an information statement that includes:

• each judgment debtor's correct name, last known address, and the address where they were served with the lawsuit
• the judgment creditor's name and address
• the amount of the original judgment and, if it's been revised, the amount of the most recently-revised judgment
• for any judgment debtor who's a natural person, their date of birth, social security number (if obtained voluntarily from the debtor), and driver's license number, and
• a statement indicating whether the court has stayed enforcement of the judgment and, if so, the date the stay expires.

This information statement is also required when you renew your judgment and want to extend your judgment liens, as discussed below.

Getting a Certified Copy or Transcript of the Judgment

You get a certified copy or transcript of your judgment from the clerk of the court where it was entered, upon paying a nominal fee. The clerk certifies that the judgment is authentic and attaches the certification to the judgment. You'll need one certified copy for each county where you want to file and record.

How Long Does Your Arizona Judgment Last?

An Arizona judgment entered on or after August 3, 2018 lasts for 10 years from the later of the date it's:

• entered by the court, or
• timely renewed (see below).

A judgment entered before August 3, 2018 is only good for 5 years from the date of original entry.

Renewing Your Judgment

If your money judgment was entered on or after August 3, 2018, you can renew it for successive 10-year periods. The fastest and easiest way to do that is by filing a renewal affidavit with the court that originally entered it. You can file the affidavit up to 90 days before the 10-year judgment expiration period.

Special rules apply to renewals of judgments entered before August 3, 2018. You'll need to get advice from an Arizona lawyer.

Be Sure to Extend Your Judgment Liens

Renewing a judgment doesn't automatically extend your judgment liens. To do that, you must record your renewed judgment—along with the information statement described above—with the county recorder's office in each county where you want a judgment lien.

How Do You Turn an Arizona Judgment Lien Into Money?

In general, there are three ways you can try to collect on an Arizona 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 probably 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 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

Want to have a look at Arizona's judgment lien laws? You'll find most of them at Ariz. Rev. Stat. tit. 33, ch. 7, art. 5 (§§ 33-961 to 33-968) (2025).)

We've covered the basics, but of course, the devil's in the details. After reviewing Arizona's statutes, you might decide that your best option is to get help collecting your judgment. An experienced Arizona 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.