A. A judgment granted under the Small Claims Procedure Act, Section 1751 et seq. of Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes, shall become a lien on the real property of the judgment debtor within a county only from and after the time a Statement of Judgment has been filed in the office of the county clerk of that county. When requested, the court clerk shall prepare a Statement of Judgment for the judgment creditor on a form provided by the Administrative Office of the Courts which shall include instructions advising the judgment creditor to file the Statement of Judgment in the office of the county clerk.
§ 1770.Small Claims Judgment As Lien - Release
Chapter 36: Small Claims Procedure Act · Last amended November 1, 1995 · Last verified August 3, 2026
In one sentenceExplains that a small claims judgment becomes a lien on the debtor's real property in a county only once a Statement of Judgment is filed with that county's county clerk, and sets out how the debtor gets that lien released after paying the judgment.
Full Text of § 1770
B. The lien of any small claims judgment when satisfied by payment or otherwise discharged shall be released by the court clerk upon written application by the judgment debtor. The court clerk shall mail notice of the judgment debtor's application to the attorney for the judgment creditor or the judgment creditor, if there is no attorney, at the last-known address of the attorney or judgment creditor. If there is no response or objection from the judgment creditor within ten (10) days after the notice is mailed, the judgment shall be released. No hearing shall be required unless requested by a party to the action. When requested, the court clerk shall prepare a Certificate of Release on a form provided by the Administrative Office of the Courts. The Certificate of Release shall include instructions advising the judgment debtor to file the Certificate of Release in the office of the county clerk. The lien of the judgment shall be released once the Certificate of Release is filed in the office of the county clerk.
C. The party filing the application for release shall pay all recording fees and other costs.
Amendment History
Added by Laws 1975, HB 1165, c. 15, §1, eff. 10/1/1975; Amended by Laws 1977, SB 16, c. 216, §1; Amended by Laws 1979, HB 1078, c. 83, § 1; Amended by Laws 1982, SB 412, c. 136, §1, eff. 10/1/1982; Amended by Laws 1993, HB 1468, c. 351, §28, eff. 10/1/1993; Amended by Laws 1995, HB 1324, c. 338, §17, eff. 11/1/1995.
Plain-English Summary
Section 1770 covers how a small claims judgment turns into a real-property lien -- and how it comes off. A judgment under the Small Claims Procedure Act doesn't automatically attach to the debtor's real estate; it becomes a lien in a given county only after a Statement of Judgment is filed with that county's county clerk. On request, the court clerk prepares that Statement, on an Administrative Office of the Courts form, with instructions on where to file it.
Releasing the lien starts with the judgment debtor's written application to the court clerk once the judgment is paid or otherwise satisfied. The clerk mails notice of that application to the judgment creditor's attorney, or to the creditor directly if there's no attorney. If no response or objection comes back within 10 days, the judgment is released -- no hearing is required unless a party asks for one -- and the clerk prepares a Certificate of Release for filing with the county clerk. The lien lifts once that Certificate is filed. Whoever files the release application pays the recording fees and other costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does winning a small claims case automatically put a lien on the loser's house?
No -- the judgment becomes a lien on real property in a county only after a Statement of Judgment is filed with that county's county clerk.
How do I get a lien released after paying off a small claims judgment?
File a written application with the court clerk. The clerk notifies the judgment creditor, and if there's no objection within 10 days, the judgment is released and a Certificate of Release is prepared for filing with the county clerk.
Do I need a court hearing to release the lien?
No -- no hearing is required unless a party to the action requests one.
Who pays the fees to release the lien?
The party filing the application for release pays all recording fees and other costs.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes, enacted by the Oklahoma Legislature.
Last verified August 3, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: small claims judgment lien oklahomarelease lien small claims judgment oklahomastatement of judgment oklahoma county clerk12 O.S. § 1770