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.A judgment lien is a courtsanctioned claim imposed on a debtor's property when they lose a case and owe money to the plaintiff. Complete the Abstract of Judgment Form. To put a judgment lien against real property, you must complete: Abstract of Judgment, Civil and Small Claims (EJ-001). 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. California laws establish the process for the judgment creditor to begin collecting the money through a judgment lien connected to your real estate. You can't pay bills with a judgment: How to turn a court victory into a judgment lien, and use it to collect from your customer's property. Before beginning foreclosure, the lender must conduct a title search to identify liens and other encumbrances that affect title to the real property.