(a) Upon the request of any person, the Secretary of State shall issue a certificate showing whether there is on file in that office on the date and hour stated therein any notice of judgment lien on personal property filed against the property of a particular person named in the request. If a notice of judgment lien is on file, the certificate shall state the date and hour of filing of each such notice and any notice affecting any such notice of judgment lien and the name and address of the judgment creditor.
§ 697.580.Certificate Issued By Secretary of State
Title 9. Enforcement of Judgments · Division 2 · Chapter 2. Liens · Article 3. Judgment Lien on Personal Property · Last amended 2001 · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 697.580 requires the Secretary of State, on request, to issue a certificate showing whether a notice of judgment lien is on file against a named person, along with its filing date and the creditor's information, and to provide copies of any notice on request.
Full Text of § 697.580
(b) Upon request, the Secretary of State shall furnish a copy of any notice of judgment lien or notice affecting a notice of judgment lien. The certificate shall be issued as part of a combined certificate pursuant to Section 9528 of the Commercial Code, and the fee for the certificate and copies shall be in accordance with that section.
Plain-English Summary
This section is the public-search counterpart to the filing system § 697.570 sets up. Anyone can ask the Secretary of State for a certificate stating whether a notice of judgment lien is on file against a specific named person as of a stated date and hour. If one is on file, the certificate has to identify the filing date and hour of each notice — and of anything else affecting that notice — along with the judgment creditor's name and address.
The Secretary of State will also furnish copies of the notices themselves on request. Both the certificate and any copies are issued as part of the combined certificate process the Commercial Code sets up in § 9528, and the fee follows that same section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can anyone check whether a judgment lien is filed against a particular person?
Yes. Section 697.580 lets any person request a certificate from the Secretary of State showing whether a notice of judgment lien is on file against a named person.
What information does that certificate include?
The filing date and hour of any notice on file, plus the judgment creditor's name and address.
Can a person get an actual copy of the filed notice?
Yes, upon request, the Secretary of State will furnish a copy of the notice of judgment lien or any related filing.
Amendment History
EFFECTIVE 7/1/2001. Amended October 10, 1999 (Bill Number: SB 45) (Chapter 991).
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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