A judgment lien can be attached to the debtor's real estate -- meaning a house, condo, land, or similar kind of property interest. Step 1 to collect a judgment in Pennsylvania is to file and record the judgment in each and every county where the debtor resides or owns real property.You can use our E-filing and Retrieval System to file documents and obtain records. Your first step as a judgment creditor is to convert your verdict or other court determination declaring both parties' rights and obligations into a judgment. A judgment of the Pittsburgh Magistrates Court shall not operate as a lien on real property until a transcript of the record showing a final judgment. Mandatory Electronic Filing​​ Effective November 13, 2023, e-Filing will be mandatory for all attorneys filing civil in the Department of Court Records. Judgment liens on real property stay in place until they are paid or otherwise released. This situation can cause problems when you try to sell the property. In order to perfect your lien claim, it must be filed in the prothonotary's office of the county court where the property is physically located. The lien upon the real property is the same lien as if the judgment was originally obtained in the court of common pleas.