A lien attaches to real estate that you own. A judgment lien enables a creditor to compel the selling of a debtor's property.The proceeds from the property sale are then used to satisfy the judgment. In Illinois, a property lien can be used to collect a court judgment. Here's how it works. As in the case of the original judgment, the revived judgment becomes a lien on the real property only upon recording of the judgment in the appropriate county. A judgment lien allows a creditor to collect a judgment through the sale of the debtor's real estate. Request a Release-of-Lien Form: If you have already cleared the debt, you can request a release-of-lien form from the lienholder. You will need to domesticate your judgment in Illinois before you can enforce it. A judgment is a lien on the real estate of the person against whom it is entered in any county in this State, including the county in which it is entered.