What This Statute Says
Judgments can be undone on appeal. This section explains how a reversal or remittitur is entered and recorded so the public record reflects that the judgment, and any lien based on it, no longer stands.
When a judgment which has been docketed or recorded is reversed on appeal, and the judgment of reversal is filed, or a remittitur is filed, the clerk shall forthwith make entry thereof on the docket.
A.R.S. § 33-965When This Statute Comes Into Play
This section is used when:
- A judgment that created a lien is reversed on appeal and the property owner needs the record cleared.
- A remittitur reduces or resolves a judgment and the change must be reflected on the docket.
- A title company requires proof that a reversed judgment no longer encumbers the land.
What This Means for Arizona Families
An appeal can erase a judgment, but the property record does not update itself. This section provides the mechanism: once a reversal or remittitur is filed, the clerk notes it on the docket, and an affidavit gets recorded and indexed like a release of judgment. That paper trail is what finally clears the lien from the title.
Families sometimes discover that a long-resolved judgment still appears against family property because the clearing step was never completed. Our FAQ on clearing a false or invalid lien in Arizona covers related cleanup, and our glossary defines an encumbrance. If a reversed judgment still clouds title to property you own or inherited, an Arizona estate planning attorney can help get the record corrected.