Judgment Liens on Property in Kentucky

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

• the kinds of property subject to Kentucky judgment liens
• how you put judgment liens on Kentucky 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 a notice of your judgment lien, 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 Kentucky Judgment Liens

In Kentucky, you can attach judgment liens only to real estate, meaning land, buildings, and other improvements. When you properly record a notice of judgment lien (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 Kentucky 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 a Kentucky 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.

Kentucky Exemptions

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

Here are a few examples:

• a homestead consisting of up to $5,000 worth of real estate or personal property used as a permanent residence, but this exemption doesn't apply if the judgment arose before the homestead was acquired
• books, equipment, and instruments valued at up to $1,000 and used by an attorney, physician, surgeon, dentist, veterinarian, chiropractor, or minister, plus one vehicle worth not more than $2,500
• tax exempt pension or retirement plans or individual retirement accounts (IRAs), but not including amounts contributed within 120 days before entry of a judgment or execution on a judgment, and
• personal property with an aggregate value of up to $3,000, including most household furnishings, clothing, appliances, cookware and utensils, and personal effects, but not artwork, jewelry other than wedding rings, most electronics, and antiques.

How to Attach Judgment Liens to Real Estate

A Kentucky state or federal court judgment becomes a judgment lien on the judgment debtor's real estate in the county when the judgment creditor (or their attorney) files a notice of judgment lien with the county clerk. To be effective, the notice must meet the requirements of Ky. Rev. Stat. § 426.720(1) (2025).

You should file a notice in each county where the judgment debtor owns, or might in the future own, real estate.

Contents and Service of Notice

First, the notice must state the:

• name of the court that entered the judgment
• case number of the lawsuit
• date judgment was entered, and
• total amount of the judgment, including principal, interest, and any attorney's fees and court costs.

Second, you or your attorney must serve the judgment debtor with a copy of the notice, personally or by first class mail. The service copy has to include the language specified in Ky. Rev. Stat. § 426.720(1)(b)2 (2025), together with the full text of Kentucky's homestead exemption statute, Ky. Rev. Stat. § 427.060 (2025).

Finally, the notice must include a certification—by you or your lawyer—that it was served on the judgment debtor as required by the statute.

How Long Does a Kentucky Judgment Lien Last?

The answer depends on when the lien was created. For judgment liens created before June 29, 2023, the lien expires on the earlier of:

• the expiration of Kentucky's 15-year statute of limitations for enforcing judgments (see below), or
• ten years after June 29.2023.

A judgment lien created on or after June 29, 2023 expires 10 years after the date judgment was entered.

Extending the Life of Your Judgment Lien

You're allowed to extend a Kentucky judgment lien once, for a period of five years. The lien-extension window opens 120 days before your judgment lien is due to expire. During that period, you must file a notice of judgment lien renewal with the county clerk where you filed the original notice of judgment lien.

The notice and service requirements, detailed in Ky. Rev. Stat. § 426.720(3)(b)1 (2025), are mostly (but not entirely) the same as those for the original notice of judgment lien.

How Long Does a Kentucky Judgment Last?

A statute of limitations is a law that limits your time to take legal action—like filing a lawsuit—to protect your legal rights. Kentucky's statute of limitations on enforcing judgments is 15 years, beginning on the date the judgment creditor last tried to execute on (collect) the judgment. This means you can keep a Kentucky judgment (but not judgment liens) alive indefinitely by periodically taking collection action.

Why is this important? Because there are ways to collect your Kentucky judgment other than through judgment liens. Even if your judgment lien expires, you can still try to recover what you're due as long as your judgment is good. For more information specific to your situation, seek advice from a Kentucky lawyer.

How Do You Turn a Kentucky Judgment Lien Into Money?

In general, there are three ways you can try to collect on a Kentucky 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 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 the judgment lien basics, but of course, the devil's in the details. Now that you're familiar with Kentucky law, you might decide that your best option is to get help collecting your judgment. An experienced Kentucky 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.