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. When recorded, it creates a general lien on real property of the judgment debtor in the county in which the abstract is recorded. Grantor: Debtor or Defendant To attach the lien to real estate, the creditor either takes or mails an Abstract of Judgment to a county recorder's office where the property is owned. A judgment lien affects real estate you own in the county where the creditor records the lien, or where the court enters the judgment. Filing a lien entails establishing a legal claim against an asset, often a property or a vehicle, which is commonly used as collateral for payment of a debt. A summary of the essential provisions of a money judgment. To do this fill out an EJ-15 Notice of Judgment Lien form.