(a) If a lien is created pursuant to this article, the court clerk shall endorse upon the judgment recovered in the action or special proceeding a statement of the existence of the lien and the time it was created.
§ 708.460.Statement Or Existence of Lien Endorsed Upon Judgment
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 708.460 requires the court clerk to endorse a statement of the lien and the date it was created onto any judgment recovered in the pending action, and requires any abstract later issued on that judgment to include the same statement of the lien.
Full Text of § 708.460
(b) Any abstract issued upon the judgment shall include a statement of the lien in favor of the judgment creditor.
Plain-English Summary
This is a bookkeeping safeguard. Once a lien is created under this article, § 708.460 requires the clerk of the court to note the lien, and when it arose, directly on the judgment that the debtor eventually recovers in the pending case.
That notation follows the judgment wherever it goes. Any abstract later issued on the judgment has to carry the same statement of the lien in the creditor's favor, so anyone relying on the abstract, such as a title company, another creditor, or a levying officer, can see that the judgment is already encumbered.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the clerk required to do once a lien attaches to a judgment recovered in the pending action?
Endorse a statement on the judgment showing that the lien exists and when it was created.
Does the lien show up on an abstract of that judgment?
Yes, § 708.460(b) requires any abstract issued on the judgment to include a statement of the lien in the creditor's favor.
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: lien endorsed on judgment californiaabstract of judgment lien notation