First, you have to weigh the amount of your judgment against the costs you will incur to place a judgment lien on the property. Filing a lien entails establishing a legal claim against an asset, often a property or a vehicle, which is commonly used as collateral for payment of a debt.To place a judgment lien, you or your attorney file an abstract of judgment (AJ) in any county where the defendant owns nonexempt property. Creditors can sue you for unpaid debt to get a judgment. You can record a judgment lien. In an action in a court of record to enforce a lien against real property or a public improvement, the following are necessary parties defendant.