Title 9. Enforcement of Judgments · Division 2 · Chapter 2. Liens · Article 3. Judgment Lien on Personal Property · Last amended 2010 · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 697.670 authorizes the Secretary of State to prescribe standard forms for the notice of judgment lien and related filings whenever doing so would save cost, and provides that a properly prescribed form satisfies this article and overrides any conflicting requirement it otherwise sets out.
(a)The Secretary of State may prescribe, provided that a cost-savings would be achieved thereby:
(1)The forms for the notice of judgment lien on personal property and the statement of continuation, release, or subordination provided for in this article.
(2)The form for the statement provided for in Section 697.640 and the situations when that form is required or is not required.
(b)A form prescribed by the Secretary of State for a notice or statement pursuant to subdivision (a) is deemed to comply with this article and supersedes any requirements specified in this article for the notice or statement.
Plain-English Summary
This section lets the Secretary of State standardize the paperwork for personal-property judgment liens when doing so would achieve a cost savings. That authority covers two things: the forms for the notice of judgment lien itself and the accompanying continuation, release, or subordination statements, and the form for the acknowledgment or statement used to record satisfaction under § 697.640, including when that form is required versus optional.
Once the Secretary of State prescribes a form under this authority, using it is treated as full compliance with this article, and the prescribed form takes precedence over any conflicting requirement this article would otherwise impose. That gives the Secretary of State practical control over the paperwork's exact layout without needing a statutory amendment every time a form needs updating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the Secretary of State create standard forms for judgment lien filings?
Yes, whenever prescribing a form would achieve a cost savings, under § 697.670(a).
Does using the Secretary of State's prescribed form satisfy the statutory requirements?
Yes. A form prescribed under this section is deemed to comply with this article and supersedes any conflicting requirement the article otherwise sets out.
What kinds of filings can be standardized this way?
The notice of judgment lien, continuation statements, statements of release or subordination, and the form used to record satisfaction under § 697.640.
Amendment History
Amended by Stats 2009 ch 410 (AB 121),s 2, eff. 1/1/2010.
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:secretary of state prescribed forms judgment lien