§ 708.420.Requirements of Notice of Lien

Title 9. Enforcement of Judgments · Division 2 · Chapter 6. Miscellaneous Creditors' Remedies · Article 5. Lien in Pending Action or Proceeding · Enacted 1982 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026

In one sentenceSection 708.420 spells out the details a notice of lien filed under § 708.410 must contain, including identifying information for both parties and the underlying judgment, the amount owed, what the lien attaches to, restrictions on settling the other case, and the debtor's right to claim an exemption.

Full Text of § 708.420

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h)

The notice of lien under Section 708.410 shall contain all of the following:

(a) A statement that a lien has been created under this article and the title of the court and the cause and number of the pending action or proceeding in which the notice of lien is filed.

(b) The name and last known address of the judgment debtor.

(d) The title of the court where the judgment creditor's money judgment is entered and the cause and number of the action, the date of entry of the judgment, and the date of any subsequent renewals, and where entered in the records of the court.

(e) The amount required to satisfy the judgment creditor's money judgment at the time the notice of lien is filed in the action or proceeding.

(f) A statement that the lien attaches to any cause of action of the judgment debtor that is the subject of the action or proceeding and to the judgment debtor's rights to money or property under any judgment subsequently procured in the action or proceeding.

(g) A statement that no compromise, dismissal, settlement, or satisfaction of the pending action or proceeding or any of the judgment debtor's rights to money or property under any judgment procured therein may be entered into by or on behalf of the judgment debtor, and that the judgment debtor may not enforce the judgment debtor's rights to money or property under any judgment procured in the action or proceeding by a writ or otherwise, unless one of the following requirements is satisfied:

(1) The prior approval by order of the court in which the action or proceeding is pending has been obtained.

(2) The written consent of the judgment creditor has been obtained or the judgment creditor has released the lien.

(3) The money judgment of the judgment creditor has been satisfied.

(h) A statement that the judgment debtor may claim an exemption for all or any portion of the money or property within 30 days after the judgment debtor has notice of the creation of the lien and a statement that, if the exemption is not claimed within the time allowed, the exemption is waived.

Plain-English Summary

This section is the checklist for the notice of lien that § 708.410 requires. It has to identify the case, meaning the court, cause, and number, where the lien is filed, name and give last known addresses for both the debtor and the creditor, and identify the creditor's own judgment: the court, cause and number, entry date, any renewal dates, and where it is recorded.

The notice also has to state the amount currently needed to satisfy the creditor's judgment, and explain in plain terms what the lien does: it reaches the debtor's cause of action in the pending case and the debtor's rights under any judgment later entered there. Subdivision (g) requires a warning that nobody may settle, dismiss, or otherwise resolve the debtor's claim, and the debtor may not enforce a resulting judgment, unless the court approves it, the creditor consents or releases the lien, or the creditor's judgment is paid in full.

Finally, the notice must tell the debtor about the 30-day window to claim an exemption under § 708.450, and warn that missing that window waives the exemption. Together these requirements make sure everyone who reads the notice, including the debtor, the court, and other parties, understands exactly what is frozen and why.

Frequently Asked Questions

What identifying information must a notice of lien include?

The debtor's name and last known address, the creditor's name and address, and details of the creditor's judgment, including the court, cause number, entry date, any renewals, and where it is recorded.

Does the notice have to state a dollar amount?

Yes, the amount currently required to satisfy the creditor's money judgment as of the filing date.

What warning must the notice give about settling the other case?

That no compromise, dismissal, settlement, or satisfaction of the case, and no enforcement of any judgment obtained in it, may happen without court approval, the creditor's written consent or release, or full satisfaction of the creditor's judgment.

Does the notice have to mention the debtor's right to claim an exemption?

Yes. It must state that the debtor has 30 days after learning of the lien to claim an exemption, and that missing that deadline waives it.

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: notice of lien requirements californiacontents of lien notice pending action