A judgment lien lasts for ten years. To place a judgment lien, you or your attorney file an abstract of judgment (AJ) in any county where the defendant owns nonexempt property.Partial Release of Judgment Lien. After a judgment is granted in Texas, the creditor may file an Abstract of Judgment in the property records. 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. There are several ways to collect on a judgment in Texas. 48, § 6, eff. Sept. It is very difficult to collect a money judgment in Texas. Phil Silberman, Texas real estate lawyer, goes over the process for releasing a lien against a property in Texas. The judgment creditor in the Texas case sought a turnover of the sums paid to the judgment debtor.