Judgement Lien On House In Pennsylvania
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Pennsylvania judgments are valid for 5 years. Judgments can be revived every 5 years and should be revived if a creditor is attempting to actively collect on the debt. Judgments also act as a lien against real property for up to 20 years or longer if properly revived.
Using Trusts to Shield Assets A really good way to put assets out of the reach of a civil judgment is to put them inside a legally constructed asset protection trust, notably an offshore trust. Moving assets out of direct ownership and into a trust works wonderfully to protect those assets from creditor claims.
Pennsylvania judgments are valid for 5 years. Judgments can be revived every 5 years and should be revived if a creditor is attempting to actively collect on the debt. Judgments also act as a lien against real property for up to 20 years or longer if properly revived.
In order to perfect your lien claim, it must be filed in the prothonotary's office of the county court where the property is physically located. A “prothonotary” is just an old-school term for the chief clerk of the court. If the property is located in more than one county, then the claim should be filed in both.
How can I check for liens against my property? Except mortgages, most liens are filed in the Prothonotary's office, not in the Recorder of Deeds Office. You can check with them for liens filed against you there.
Judgments have expiration dates. If they are not timely renewed, they expire. In CA that is 10 years. However, when a judgment lien has been recorded against your property, it has no expiration date.
To obtain a judgment lien, you must first record the judgment with the court of common pleas in the county where the debtor owns property. The lien will stay in effect for five years, but can be renewed, if the debtor does not sell the property within that time period.
File a praecipe for judgment, a dated copy of the 10 day notice, and a Pennsylvania Rule 236 form. If the debtor is an individual, you must file a notarized affidavit of nonmilitary service. File an original and a copy for each debtor with a Rule 236 form. Include a stamped envelope addressed to each debtor.
