Real Property Liens: Attaching Support Arrears to His House

Record an abstract of the support judgment and every property he owns in that county secures your arrears — silently, with interest running, until he sells, refinances, or dies.

What California Law Says

Support judgments support abstracts of judgment recordable in any county, creating liens against the payor’s real property that must be satisfied in escrow on sale or refinance. The lien follows the statutory priority of its recording date and rides alongside the no-expiration rule for support debt.

How to Collect, Step by Step

1. Obtain the abstract of judgment from the family court clerk covering current arrears.
2. Record it in every county where he owns or might inherit property.
3. Update recorded amounts periodically as arrears and interest grow.
4. Wait strategically — escrow companies find liens, and payoff demands arrive with checks attached.
5. Coordinate with DCSS liens so amounts reconcile at payoff.

Common Questions

He is not selling anytime soon. What does the lien do meanwhile?

It accrues 10 percent alongside the arrears and blocks clean refinancing — most payoffs arrive when he needs the equity, on your recorded terms.

He owns property with his new wife. Does the lien still attach?

It attaches to his interest — community and joint ownership complicate the shares, but escrow will not close around a recorded support lien.