How Does a Judgement Lien Work?

Any judgment obtained in New Jersey Superior Court automatically creates a judgment lien on a debtor’s property that holds for 20 years, even if the ownership of the property changes. This means that the debtor cannot sell or refinance the property without first satisfying the judgment lien and also applies to any jointly held properties. Judgments that were obtained in Special Civil Part (small claims court) must have the judgment recorded in the Office of the Superior Court Clerk in Trenton to create a lien on the debtor’s real estate. It is essential to have an attorney do this quickly so that your judgment lien is recorded before any other competing recorded judgments and you can recover payment first.