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 697.650 lets a judgment creditor release a personal-property judgment lien in whole or in part, as to some debtors but not others, or subordinate it to a different security interest or encumbrance, so long as the written statement identifies the debtor, the lien's file number, and the property affected.
(a)The judgment creditor may by a writing do any of the following:
(1)Release the judgment lien on all the personal property subject to the lien of a sole judgment debtor or of all the judgment debtors.
(2)If the notice of judgment lien names more than one judgment debtor, release the judgment lien on all the personal property subject to the lien of one or more but of less than all the judgment debtors.
(3)Release the judgment lien on all or a part of the personal property subject to the lien.
(4)Subordinate to a security interest or other lien or encumbrance the judgment lien on all or a part of the personal property subject to the judgment lien.
(b)A statement of release or subordination is sufficient if it is signed by the judgment creditor and contains the name and address of the judgment debtor, the file number of the notice of judgment lien, and wording appropriate to bring the statement within one of the paragraphs of subdivision (a). In the case of a release under paragraph (3) of subdivision (a), the statement of release shall also describe the property being released. In the case of a subordination under paragraph (4) of subdivision (a), the statement of subordination shall also describe the property on which the judgment lien is being subordinated and describe the security interest or other lien or encumbrance to which the judgment lien is being subordinated.
(c)The filing officer shall treat the filing of a statement of release pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of this section in the same manner as a termination statement filed pursuant to Sections 9513 and 9519 of the Commercial Code. The filing officer shall treat the filing of a statement of release pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of this section in the same manner as a comparable amendment filed pursuant to Sections 9512 and 9519 of the Commercial Code. The filing officer shall treat the filing of a statement of release pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of this section and the filing of a statement of subordination filed pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of this section in the same manner as a statement of release filed pursuant to Sections 9512 and 9519 of the Commercial Code.
(d)The fee for filing the statement is the same as that provided in Section 9525 of the Commercial Code.
Plain-English Summary
A judgment creditor doesn't need a court order to give up some or all of a personal-property judgment lien voluntarily. Subdivision (a) lists four things a creditor can do by a signed writing: release the lien entirely as to a sole debtor or all debtors, release it as to some but not all debtors when the notice names more than one, release it as to only part of the property, or subordinate the lien on some or all of the property to a different security interest, lien, or encumbrance.
Whichever option the creditor chooses, the statement has to name the debtor and address, cite the file number of the notice of judgment lien, and use wording that fits the option being exercised. A partial release also has to describe the property being released, and a subordination has to describe both the property involved and the interest the lien is being subordinated to.
The filing officer treats each of these differently depending on which option was used — a full release the way it would treat a UCC termination statement, a release as to fewer than all debtors the way it would treat a comparable amendment, and a partial release or subordination the way it would treat a statement of release under the Commercial Code — with the same filing fee applying across the board.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a judgment creditor voluntarily give up a judgment lien on personal property?
Yes, by a signed writing releasing the lien entirely, releasing it as to fewer than all debtors, releasing it as to part of the property, or subordinating it to another interest.
What must a statement of release or subordination contain?
The debtor's name and address, the file number of the notice of judgment lien, and wording matching the specific action being taken, plus a property description for a partial release or subordination.
How does the filing officer process these different statements?
Differently depending on the type — as a termination statement, a comparable amendment, or a statement of release, mirroring the equivalent UCC filings under the Commercial Code.
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:release or subordination of judgment lien californiapartial release judgment lien personal property