§ 697.330.Creation of Lien By Workers' Compensation, Judgment, Order, Decision Or Award
Title 9. Enforcement of Judgments · Division 2 · Chapter 2. Liens · Article 2. Judgment Lien on Real Property · Enacted 1982 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 697.330 routes a workers' compensation money judgment into the same lien-creation and governing rules used for ordinary judgments -- lump-sum awards recorded as an abstract under § 697.310, and installment awards recorded as a certified copy under § 697.320 -- without limiting anything the Labor Code separately provides for workers' compensation judgments.
(a)In the case of a money judgment entered on an order, decision, or award made under Division 4 (commencing with Section 3200) of the Labor Code (workers' compensation):
(1)If the judgment is for a lump sum, a judgment lien on real property is created by recording an abstract of the judgment as provided in Section 697.310 and, except as otherwise provided in Division 4 (commencing with Section 3200) of the Labor Code, the judgment lien is governed by the provisions applicable to a judgment lien created under Section 697.310.
(2)If the judgment is for the payment of money in installments, a judgment lien on real property is created by recording a certified copy of the judgment as provided in Section 697.320 and, except as otherwise provided in Division 4 (commencing with Section 3200) of the Labor Code, the lien is governed by the provisions applicable to a judgment lien created under Section 697.320.
(b)Nothing in this section limits or affects any provision of Division 4 (commencing with Section 3200) of the Labor Code.
Plain-English Summary
A money judgment entered on a workers' compensation order, decision, or award doesn't need its own separate lien scheme. Section 697.330 plugs it into the two mechanisms already built for ordinary judgment liens on real property, sorted by how the award is paid.
If the workers' compensation judgment is for a lump sum, subdivision (a)(1) creates the real property lien by recording an abstract of the judgment as § 697.310 provides, and the lien is then governed by § 697.310's own rules -- except where the Labor Code's workers' compensation provisions say otherwise. If instead the judgment calls for payment in installments, subdivision (a)(2) uses § 697.320's certified-copy recording method, with the lien governed by § 697.320's rules, again subject to any contrary Labor Code provision.
Subdivision (b) makes clear this section doesn't cut back on anything the workers' compensation law itself provides -- it borrows the recording and duration mechanics of §§ 697.310 and 697.320 for judgments arising out of that separate body of law.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a lien created on a lump-sum workers' compensation judgment?
By recording an abstract of the judgment as § 697.310 provides, with the lien then governed by that section's rules.
What about a workers' compensation award paid in installments?
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:workers compensation judgment lien california real property