At the time of filing the notice of judgment lien on personal property or promptly thereafter, the judgment creditor shall serve a copy of the notice of judgment lien on the judgment debtor. Service shall be made personally or by mail. The failure to comply with this requirement does not affect the validity of the judgment lien.
§ 697.560.Service of Copy of Notice On Judgment Debtor
Title 9. Enforcement of Judgments · Division 2 · Chapter 2. Liens · Article 3. Judgment Lien on Personal Property · Enacted 1982 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 697.560 requires the judgment creditor to serve a copy of the notice of judgment lien on the judgment debtor, personally or by mail, at filing or promptly afterward, though failing to do so doesn't affect the validity of the lien itself.
Full Text of § 697.560
Plain-English Summary
Filing the notice with the Secretary of State creates the lien, but the debtor still needs to know it exists. This section requires the creditor to serve a copy of the notice on the debtor, either at the time of filing or promptly after, using personal service or mail.
Skipping that service doesn't undo the lien. The statute is explicit that failing to comply with the service requirement has no effect on the lien's validity — service here is about giving the debtor practical notice, not about satisfying a condition of the lien's existence. A debtor who never received a copy still needs to watch the public filing to learn whether a lien has attached.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the judgment creditor have to notify the debtor about a filed judgment lien?
Yes. Section 697.560 requires service of a copy of the notice on the debtor, either personally or by mail, at filing or soon after.
What happens if the creditor forgets to serve the notice on the debtor?
The lien remains valid. Section 697.560 expressly states that failing to comply with the service requirement doesn't affect the lien's validity.
How can service be made under this section?
Either personally or by mail.
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: service of notice of judgment lien california