(a) Except as otherwise provided by statute, a judgment lien on personal property is a lien for the amount required to satisfy the money judgment.
§ 697.540.Amount of Lien
Title 9. Enforcement of Judgments · Division 2 · Chapter 2. Liens · Article 3. Judgment Lien on Personal Property · Last amended 1998 · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 697.540 sets the amount secured by a personal-property judgment lien at the full sum needed to satisfy the money judgment, and allows a lien on an installment judgment to cover the whole judgment even though it can't be enforced against unmatured installments unless the court orders otherwise.
Full Text of § 697.540
(b) A judgment lien on personal property created under a money judgment payable in installments pursuant to Section 117 or 582.5 of this code or pursuant to Section 16380 of the Vehicle Code 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.
Plain-English Summary
The default rule is simple: the lien secures whatever amount is needed to satisfy the judgment at the time it's measured. That figure moves as the balance owed changes, since the lien exists to secure payment of the judgment, not a fixed dollar amount frozen at filing.
Installment judgments get a specific exception. Even though § 697.510(a) generally bars creating a lien on an installment judgment until every installment is due, subdivision (b) here lets a lien created under certain installment judgments — support judgments under § 117 or § 582.5, or vehicle-related judgments under Vehicle Code § 16380 — secure the full judgment amount. The catch is enforcement: the creditor can't enforce the lien against installments that haven't matured yet unless the court specifically orders otherwise.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a judgment lien on personal property secure?
The amount required to satisfy the money judgment, unless another statute provides otherwise.
Can a lien exist for the full amount of a judgment payable in installments?
Yes, for judgments falling under § 117, § 582.5, or Vehicle Code § 16380, the lien can cover the full judgment amount.
Can the creditor enforce the lien against installments that haven't come due yet?
Not without a court order. Section 697.540(b) bars enforcement against unmatured installments absent one.
Amendment History
Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 931, Sec. 92. Effective September 28, 1998.
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: amount secured by judgment lien californiainstallment judgment lien california