(a) County of entry. — Except as otherwise provided by law, a money judgment that is recorded and indexed in the county of entry constitutes a lien from the date of entry in the amount of the judgment and post-judgment interest on the defendant’s interest in land located in that county.
Rule 2-621.Lien of money judgment
Circuit Court · Last amended July 1, 1986 · Last verified July 13, 2026
In one sentenceRule 2-621 fixes when and where a money judgment becomes a lien on the defendant's real property, based on where the judgment is recorded rather than automatically applying statewide.
Full Text of Rule 2-621
(b) Other counties. — Except as otherwise provided by law, a money judgment that is recorded and indexed pursuant to Rule 2-623 (a) constitutes a lien from the date of recording in the amount of the judgment and post-judgment interest on the defendant’s interest in land located in the county of recording.
(c) District Court judgment. — Except as otherwise provided by law, a money judgment of the District Court constitutes a lien from the date of recording of a Notice of Lien, if the notice is recorded and indexed pursuant to Rule 2-623 (b), in the amount of the judgment and post-judgment interest on the defendant’s interest in land located in the county of recording.
Amendment History
Amended Apr. 7, 1986, effective July 1, 1986.
Committee Note & Source
Source. This Rule is derived as follows: Section (a) is derived from former Rule 620 a. Section (b) is new. Section (c) is derived from former Rule 620 f.
Plain-English Summary
A money judgment doesn't automatically tie up a defendant's land everywhere in Maryland the moment it's entered. In the county where the judgment is entered, recording and indexing it there creates a lien on the defendant's interest in land in that county effective from the date of entry, covering the judgment amount plus post-judgment interest. In any other county, the lien doesn't start until the judgment is recorded and indexed there under Rule 2-623(a) — and it runs from the date of that recording, not from the original date of entry.
District Court judgments work a little differently, since the District Court itself doesn't record judgments as real property liens. A District Court money judgment becomes a lien on land in a given county only once a Notice of Lien is recorded and indexed there under Rule 2-623(b), effective from the date that notice is recorded. In every case, the lien secures the judgment amount together with post-judgment interest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does winning a money judgment automatically create a lien on the defendant's property statewide?
No. A lien attaches county by county, based on recording — automatically from the date of entry in the county where the judgment was entered, but only from the date of actual recording in any other county.
What's the difference between the county of entry and other counties?
In the county of entry, the lien dates back to the entry of the judgment. In any other county, the lien doesn't exist until the judgment is recorded and indexed there under Rule 2-623(a), and it runs from that recording date.
Can a District Court judgment create a lien on real estate?
Yes. Once a Notice of Lien is recorded and indexed in a county under Rule 2-623(b), a District Court money judgment becomes a lien on the defendant's land there.
What amount does the lien secure?
The judgment amount plus post-judgment interest.
Source & verification. Rule text, Committee Note, Source note, and
amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Maryland Rules, adopted by the
Supreme Court of Maryland. Last verified July 13, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: judgment lien maryland real propertymoney judgment lien on landrecording judgment lien by countydistrict court judgment lien noticepost-judgment interest lien