---
kind: "section"
citation: "28 U.S.C. § 3201"
title: "28"
title_heading: "Judiciary and Judicial Procedure"
number: "3201"
heading: "Judgment liens"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/28/3201"
units:
  - "Part VI — Particular Proceedings"
  - "Chapter 176 — Federal Debt Collection Procedure"
  - "Subchapter C — Postjudgment Remedies"
---

# §3201. Judgment liens

- (a) **Creation.—** A [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) in a civil action shall create a lien on all real [property](/usc/28/3002.md?p=12) of a [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) [debtor](/usc/28/3002.md?p=4) on filing a certified copy of the abstract of the [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) in the manner in which a notice of tax lien would be filed under paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 6323(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. A lien created under this paragraph is for the amount necessary to satisfy the [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8), including costs and interest.
- (b) **Priority of Lien.—** A lien created under [subsection (a)](#a) shall have priority over any other lien or encumbrance which is perfected later in time.
- (c) **Duration of Lien; Renewal.—**
  - (1) Except as provided in [paragraph (2)](#c-2), a lien created under [subsection (a)](#a) is effective, unless satisfied, for a period of 20 years.
  - (2) Such lien may be renewed for one additional period of 20 years upon filing a notice of renewal in the same manner as the [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) is filed and shall relate back to the date the [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) is filed if—
    - (A) the notice of renewal is filed before the expiration of the 20-year period to prevent the expiration of the lien; and
    - (B) the [court](/usc/28/3002.md?p=2) approves the renewal of such lien under this paragraph.
- (d) **Release of Judgment Lien.—** A [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) lien shall be released on the filing of a satisfaction of [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) or release of lien in the same manner as the [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) is filed to obtain the lien.
- (e) **Effect of Lien on Eligibility for Federal Grants, Loans or Programs.—** A [debtor](/usc/28/3002.md?p=4) who has a [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) lien against the [debtor](/usc/28/3002.md?p=4)’s [property](/usc/28/3002.md?p=12) for a [debt](/usc/28/3002.md?p=3) to the [United States](/usc/28/3002.md?p=15) shall not be eligible to receive any grant or loan which is made, insured, guaranteed, or financed directly or indirectly by the [United States](/usc/28/3002.md?p=15) or to receive funds directly from the Federal Government in any program, except funds to which the [debtor](/usc/28/3002.md?p=4) is entitled as beneficiary, until the [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) is paid in full or otherwise satisfied. The [agency](/usc/28/2341.md?p=3) of the [United States](/usc/28/3002.md?p=15) that is responsible for such grants and loans may promulgate regulations to allow for waiver of this restriction on eligibility for such grants, loans, and funds.
- (f) **Sale of Property Subject to Judgment Lien.—**
  - (1) On proper application to a [court](/usc/28/3002.md?p=2), the [court](/usc/28/3002.md?p=2) may order the [United States](/usc/28/3002.md?p=15) to sell, in accordance with sections [2001](/usc/28/2001.md) and [2002](/usc/28/2002.md), any real [property](/usc/28/3002.md?p=12) subject to a [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) lien in effect under this section.
  - (2) This subsection shall not preclude the [United States](/usc/28/3002.md?p=15) from using an execution sale pursuant to [section 3203(g)](/usc/28/3203.md?p=g) to sell real [property](/usc/28/3002.md?p=12) subject to a [judgment](/usc/28/3002.md?p=8) lien.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 101–647, title XXXVI, § 3611, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4948.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 6323(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, referred to in subsec. (a), is classified to section 6323(f) of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective 180 days after Nov. 29, 1990, and applicable with respect to certain actions for debts owed the United States pending in court on that effective date, see section 3631 of Pub. L. 101–647, set out as a note under section 3001 of this title.