While real property liens are the most common enforcement tool, child support judgments can also be liened against vehicles and other personal property. For paying parents who don’t own real estate but drive expensive vehicles, this is an important option.
How Vehicle Liens Work
A California child support judgment can be recorded with the DMV as a lien against a vehicle registered to the paying parent. The lien appears on the vehicle title and must be satisfied before the vehicle can be sold or refinanced. For vehicles with significant value — luxury cars, trucks, motorcycles, recreational vehicles — this creates real leverage.
Personal property levies are also available. Beyond vehicle liens, the sheriff can levy on other personal property — equipment, inventory, collectibles — under a writ of execution. Personal property levies are more complex than bank levies but are appropriate when the paying parent has valuable physical assets. The levying officer will seize, store, and auction the property to satisfy the judgment.
The California Child Support Recovery System gives custodial parents the exact tools and templates to enforce support orders, calculate arrears, and use every enforcement mechanism available. Request your free evaluation here.
California Child Support Recovery System 
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