Rule 74.08 Judgment Lien

When a court issues a money judgment, that judgment automatically becomes a lien. This means the person who won the case has a legal claim against the losing party's property, such as real estate. This lien starts as soon as the judgment is entered by the court, and you don't need to file any extra paperwork to create it.

This lien lasts for 10 years from the date the judgment was entered. If the person who won the case wants the lien to last longer, they can ask the court to "revive" the judgment before the 10 years runs out. Reviving the judgment resets the clock and keeps the lien active.

There are some exceptions to this rule. Cases involving child support (Chapter 454) and certain landlord-tenant matters (Chapter 517) follow different rules about how judgment liens work. If your case falls under one of those chapters, this standard 10 year rule may not apply.