Abstract of Judgement

An abstract of judgment is a summary of a judgment that is prepared by the clerk of the court and then recorded in the property records of the county in which the judgment debtor is believed to own or have an interest in real property. An abstract of judgment only applies to real property. The recording of an abstract of judgment creates a lien on any property owned by the judgment debtor in the county in which the abstract of judgment is recorded. While it may create a lien, however, it is only effective as against non-exempt interests in real property and falls behind other liens already in place at the time.