What This Statute Says
Winning a lawsuit for money is one thing. Turning that win into a claim against someone's house or land is another. This section sets the recording steps a judgment creditor must follow before a money judgment becomes a lien on the debtor's Arizona real property.
A certified copy of the judgment of any court in this state may be filed and recorded in the office of the county recorder in each county where the judgment creditor desires the judgment to become a lien on the real property of the judgment debtor.
A.R.S. § 33-961When This Statute Comes Into Play
This recording step matters when:
- A creditor with a money judgment wants to secure it against the debtor's home or land.
- A family is administering an estate and finds recorded judgment liens against the decedent's property.
- Someone is buying property and a title search turns up a recorded judgment against the seller.
What This Means for Arizona Families
A judgment sitting in a court file does not touch your real estate. It becomes a lien only when the creditor records a certified copy, along with the required information statement, in the county where the property sits. That recording is what shows up in a title search and what can hold up a sale or refinance later.
For families, this comes up most often during probate or when selling inherited property. A recorded judgment lien against the person who died can attach to real estate that passes through the estate. Our FAQ on whether creditors can pursue inherited property walks through the concern, and our glossary defines an encumbrance on title. If a judgment lien clouds property you own or inherited, an Arizona estate planning attorney can help you sort out priority and release.