Judgment Liens on Property in Oregon

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

• the kinds of property subject to Oregon judgment liens
• how you put judgment liens on Oregon 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 a judgment is properly recorded, 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 Oregon Judgment Liens

In Oregon, you can attach judgment liens only to real estate, meaning land, buildings, and other improvements. When a judgment is recorded as required by Oregon law (see below), a judgment lien attaches to real estate the judgment debtor:

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

No Liens on Personal Property

You can't put judgment liens on Oregon 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 Oregon 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.

Oregon Property Exemptions

Like all states, Oregon 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 occupied as the judgment debtor's actual residence and worth up to $150,000 (in some cases, $300,000), except that for debts arising out of support obligations, the exempt amount is $40,000 or $50,000
• wearing apparel and jewelry valued at up to $1,800
• as much as $5,000 worth of books, equipment, tools, and similar property the judgment debtor uses in their trade, profession, or occupation
• one motor vehicle worth not more than $10,000, except that for debts related to support obligations, the exempt amount is $3,000
• tax-exempt retirement plans, and
• household goods with an aggregate value of up to $3,000, including furniture, radios, one television, and utensils, along with a 60-day supply of fuel and provisions.

For more information, see Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 18.345, 18.395 (2025) (as amended by 2024 Or. Laws, ch. 1, §§ 1, 4).

How to Attach Judgment Liens to Real Estate

Before we discuss attaching judgment liens to real estate, a word of caution. Getting a judgment lien starts with preparing a "judgment document." A judgment document, as the name suggests, describes the key terms of your judgment.

Oregon's judgment document requirements are very detailed and can be difficult to follow. If your judgment document doesn't meet these requirements, you might not get a judgment lien. Long story short: It will be worth the expense to have an experienced collection lawyer prepare and file your judgment document, to make sure it satisfies Oregon law.

You can find the specific requirements at Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 18.035, 18.038, 18.042 (2025).

Attaching Judgment Liens

When you get a judgment in the Oregon Circuit Court, the process for attaching a judgment lien depends on whether you want a lien in the same county where your judgment was entered, or in a different county.

• Lien in same county. Once the court administrator records your judgment in the judgment register and the judgment lien record for the county where your judgment was entered, you've got a lien on all the judgment debtor's real estate in that county. (Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 18.075, 18.150 (2025).)
• Lien in different county. To attach a judgment lien in a different county, you must record a certified copy of the judgment document or a certified lien record abstract in the county's lien record. If you record a lien record abstract, you must use the form found in Or. Rev. Stat. § 18.170 (2025). Once the document is properly recorded, you have a judgment lien against all the judgment debtor's property in that county. (Or. Rev. Stat. § 18.152 (2025).)

Special rules apply to judgments from the small claims department of the circuit court. For more information, see Or. Rev. Stat. § 46.488 (2025).

Getting a Certified Copy or Abstract

The Oregon Judicial Branch has an online records request page where you can request certified copies of documents. Before requesting copies, check with the court administrator where you plan to attach a judgment lien to see if they accept electronic certification, paper certification, or both.

You'll need an original certified copy for each county where you want a judgment lien. You can't simply request one certified original and make copies.

How Long Does an Oregon Judgment Last?

Oregon Circuit Court judgments are good for 10 years from the date of entry. Once your judgment expires, it's legally dead. Barring exceptional circumstances, you can't take any steps to enforce it—meaning you've lost the right to collect the money you're due.

You can keep an Oregon judgment alive by extending it before it runs out.

Extending an Oregon Judgment

You're allowed one extension of an Oregon judgment. Before the original 10-year judgment term is up, you must file a "certificate of extension" in the court where your judgment was originally entered. A timely filed certificate extends your judgment for another 10 years. If you wait until after the judgment expires, it's too late to extend. (Or. Rev. Stat. § 18.182 (2025).)

Check the court's website to see if it has a certificate of extension form you can use.

Extending Your Judgment Liens

When the court administrator records your certificate of extension in the county judgment register and lien record, your judgment lien is extended in that county for 10 years. To extend your liens in other counties, record a certified copy of the certificate of extension or a certified copy of a lien record abstract (see above under "Attaching Judgment Liens") in each of those counties.

How Do You Turn an Oregon Judgment Lien Into Money?

In general, there are three ways you can try to collect on an Oregon 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 Oregon law, you might decide that your best option is to get help collecting your judgment. An experienced Oregon 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.