To place a judgment lien, you or your attorney file an abstract of judgment (AJ) in any county where the defendant owns nonexempt property. After a judgment is granted in Texas, the creditor may file an Abstract of Judgment in the property records.This research guide includes information and resources on judgment liens, including information on the release of a judgment lien. A judgment lien is a. Filing a lien in Texas involves several costs. Before you pursue this remedy, you should determine whether the debtor has non-exempt property. An abstract should be filed in each county in which the creditor seeks to enforce the judgment lien. According to this law, a debtor must file an affidavit with the county to secure the release of a judgment lien against a primary residence. The first thing the homeowner needs to confirm is whether he is indeed the same person as the judgment debtor named in the lien document.