(a) The judgment creditor, judgment debtor, or owner of real property subject to a judgment lien on real property created under Section 697.310, may record in the office of the county recorder an acknowledgment of satisfaction of judgment executed as provided in Section 724.060 or a court clerk's certificate of satisfaction of judgment issued pursuant to Section 724.100. Upon such recording, the judgment lien created under the judgment that has been satisfied is extinguished as a matter of record.
§ 697.400.Recordation of Acknowledgment of Satisfaction
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 697.400 lets a judgment creditor, debtor, or affected property owner record an acknowledgment or clerk's certificate of satisfaction to extinguish a § 697.310 judgment lien of record, record a partial acknowledgment to extinguish a § 697.320 lien to the extent of satisfied installments, and record a release or subordination executed under § 697.370.
Full Text of § 697.400
(b) The judgment creditor, judgment debtor, or owner of real property subject to a judgment lien on real property created under Section 697.320, may record in the office of the county recorder an acknowledgment of satisfaction of matured installments under an installment judgment if the acknowledgment is executed as provided in Section 724.250. Upon such recording, the judgment lien is extinguished as a matter of record to the extent of the satisfied installments described in the acknowledgment of satisfaction.
(c) The judgment creditor, the judgment debtor, or the owner of real property subject to a judgment lien, including a property owner described in Section 697.410, may record in the office of the county recorder a release or subordination of a judgment lien on real property if the release or subordination is executed as provided in Section 697.370.
Plain-English Summary
This section supplies the recording mechanics that clear a judgment lien off the county records once it's no longer warranted. Subdivision (a) covers a § 697.310 lump-sum judgment lien: the judgment creditor, judgment debtor, or an affected property owner can record an acknowledgment of satisfaction of judgment executed under § 724.060, or a clerk's certificate of satisfaction issued under § 724.100, and recording it extinguishes the lien as a matter of record.
Subdivision (b) covers a § 697.320 support or periodic-payment lien differently, because that lien can be partially satisfied installment by installment: recording an acknowledgment of satisfaction of matured installments, executed under § 724.250, extinguishes the lien as a matter of record only to the extent of the installments the acknowledgment describes as satisfied.
Subdivision (c) covers voluntary releases and subordinations rather than satisfactions -- the same parties, including a property owner described in § 697.410, can record a release or subordination executed as § 697.370 requires.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a judgment creditor clear a § 697.310 lien from the county records once it's satisfied?
Can a support-style lien under § 697.320 be partially cleared as installments are paid?
Yes, § 697.400(b) lets an acknowledgment of satisfaction of matured installments be recorded, extinguishing the lien to the extent of those installments.
Where does a voluntary release or subordination get recorded?
Subdivision (c) lets it be recorded in the office of the county recorder if executed as § 697.370 requires.
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: how to clear a judgment lien californiaacknowledgment of satisfaction of judgment lien california