§ 697.060.Judgment of United States Court

Title 9. Enforcement of Judgments · Division 2 · Chapter 2. Liens · Article 1. General Provisions · Enacted 1982 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026

In one sentenceSection 697.060 lets an enforceable federal court money judgment support a California judgment lien -- on real property by recording an abstract or certified copy under § 697.310, and on personal property by filing a notice of judgment lien under § 697.510 -- the same way a state court judgment would.

Full Text of § 697.060

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b)

(a) An abstract or certified copy of a money judgment of a court of the United States that is enforceable in this state may be recorded to create a judgment lien on real property pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 697.310).

(b) A notice of judgment lien based on a money judgment of a court of the United States that is enforceable in this state may be filed to create a judgment lien on personal property pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 697.510).

Plain-English Summary

A money judgment from a federal court doesn't need a separate body of California lien law. Section 697.060 lets such a judgment, once enforceable in California, plug directly into the same lien-creation mechanics used for state court judgments.

Subdivision (a) covers real property: an abstract or certified copy of the federal judgment can be recorded to create a judgment lien under Article 2 (commencing with § 697.310), the same recording mechanism state court judgment creditors use. Subdivision (b) covers personal property: a notice of judgment lien based on the federal judgment can be filed to create a lien under Article 3 (commencing with § 697.510), again mirroring the state court procedure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a federal court judgment create a California judgment lien on real property?

Yes. Section 697.060(a) lets an abstract or certified copy of an enforceable federal money judgment be recorded to create a lien under § 697.310.

What about personal property?

Subdivision (b) lets a notice of judgment lien based on the federal judgment be filed to create a lien under § 697.510.

Does the federal judgment need to already be enforceable in California?

Yes, § 697.060 applies to a federal court money judgment that is enforceable in this state.

Amendment History

Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 1364, Sec. 2. Operative July 1, 1983, by Sec. 3 of Ch. 1364.

Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature. Last verified July 28, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: federal judgment lien california real propertyrecording federal court judgment california