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.The entire process, from debt satisfaction to recordation of the release, ordinarily takes roughly four weeks to complete. A judgment lien is a courtsanctioned claim imposed on a debtor's property when they lose a case and owe money to the plaintiff. California laws establish the process for the judgment creditor to begin collecting the money through a judgment lien connected to your real estate. A judgment lien in California will remain attached to the debtor's property (even if the property changes hands) for ten years. Judicial Foreclosures are a rare occurrence in California. These foreclosures tend to require a more length and costly process. Part 3 will cover certain non-consensual liens including judgment liens and tax liens. A lien is a charge against property or other assets.