§ 697.350.Amount of Lien

Title 9. Enforcement of Judgments · Division 2 · Chapter 2. Liens · Article 2. Judgment Lien on Real Property · Last amended 2010 · Last verified July 28, 2026

In one sentenceSection 697.350 sets a judgment lien on real property at the full amount needed to satisfy the judgment, bars enforcement against unmatured installments of a lump-sum-style installment judgment absent a court order, and, for a support-style installment lien under § 697.320, limits the lien to matured installments plus accrued interest and added costs, less partial satisfactions, until each installment becomes due.

Full Text of § 697.350

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c)

(a) Except as otherwise provided by statute, a judgment lien on real property is a lien for the amount required to satisfy the money judgment.

(b) A judgment lien on real property created under a money judgment payable in installments pursuant to Section 116.620 or 582.5 of this code or Section 16380 of the Vehicle Code or under a similar judgment is in the full amount required to satisfy the judgment, but the judgment lien may not be enforced for the amount of unmatured installments unless the court so orders.

(c) A judgment lien created pursuant to Section 697.320 is a lien for the amount of the installments as they mature under the terms of the judgment, plus accrued interest and the costs as they are added to the judgment pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 685.010) of Division 1, and less the amount of any partial satisfactions, but does not become a lien for any installment until it becomes due and payable under the terms of the judgment.

Plain-English Summary

How much is a judgment lien on real property worth? Section 697.350 answers that differently depending on which type of lien is involved. Subdivision (a) states the general rule: the lien secures the full amount required to satisfy the money judgment.

Subdivision (b) addresses judgments under § 116.620 or § 582.5 of this code, Vehicle Code § 16380, or similar judgments payable in installments but created as a § 697.310-style lien -- the lien is for the full amount required to satisfy the judgment, but it can't be enforced against unmatured installments unless the court orders otherwise.

Subdivision (c) covers liens created under § 697.320 -- the support and periodic-payment liens. There, the lien is only for the amount of installments as they mature, plus accrued interest and costs added under Chapter 5 (commencing with § 685.010) of Division 1, minus any partial satisfactions, and it doesn't become a lien for a given installment at all until that installment comes due.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an ordinary judgment lien on real property secure?

Under § 697.350(a), the full amount required to satisfy the money judgment.

Can a creditor enforce a lien against installments that haven't come due yet?

Generally not for judgments described in subdivision (b) -- the lien can't be enforced against unmatured installments unless the court orders otherwise.

How is the amount of a § 697.320 support-style judgment lien calculated?

Only the matured installments, plus accrued interest and added costs, minus partial satisfactions -- and the lien doesn't attach to a given installment until it becomes due and payable.

Amendment History

Amended by Stats 2009 ch 140 (AB 1164),s 39, eff. 1/1/2010.

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

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