You can put a lien on that property so that if they ever sell or refinance the property you might get paid. To do this, you first need an Abstract of Judgment.In California, if you're the person owed money (the creditor), you can place a judgment lien on the debtor's real estate or personal property. Prepare an Abstract of Judgment to place a lien on real estate and enforce debt payment with our step-by-step guides. If your judgment is against a business, you can record a lien with the Secretary of State's office. To do this, fill out a JL-1. A simple rule of thumb is to record a lien in the county where the judgment debtor resides or does business. To record a real property lien, the creditor must complete an Abstract of Judgment, and submit it to the court. Struggling with a judgment lien on your property? This acts as an automatic lien on the property and the property normally cannot be transferred without paying off the lien.