Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 624.23 (2026)

Liens of judgments — real estate — homesteads — support judgments

✓ current as of July 2026

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1. Judgments in the appellate or district courts of this state, or in the circuit or district court of the United States within the state, are liens upon the real estate owned by the defendant at the time of such rendition, and also upon all the defendant may subsequently acquire, for the period of ten years from the date of the judgment.

2. a. Judgment liens described in subsection 1 do not attach to real estate of the defendant, occupied as a homestead pursuant to chapter 561, except as provided in section 561.21 or if the real estate claimed as a homestead exceeds the limitations prescribed in sections 561.1 through 561.3.

b. A claim of lien against real estate claimed as a homestead is barred unless execution is levied within thirty days of the time the defendant, the defendant’s agent, or a person with an interest in the real estate has served written demand on the owner of the judgment. The demand shall state that the lien and all benefits derived from the lien as to the real estate alleged to be or to have been a homestead shall be forfeited unless the owner of the judgment levies execution against that real estate within thirty days from the date of service of the demand. The demand shall contain an affidavit setting forth facts indicating why the judgment is not believed to be a lien against the real estate. A warranty of title by a former occupying homeowner in a conveyance for value constitutes a claim of exemption against all judgments against the current homeowner or the current homeowner’s spouse not specifically exempted in the conveyance. Written demand shall be served in any manner authorized for service of original notice under the Iowa rules of civil procedure or in a manner provided in section 654.4A, subsections 1 through 3. A copy of the written demand and\n\nTue Dec 09 21:59:14 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 624 (36, 0) §624.23, TRIAL AND JUDGMENT 6\n\nproof of service of the written demand shall be filed in the court file of the case in which the judgment giving rise to the alleged lien was entered.

c. A party serving a written demand under this subsection may obtain an immediate court order releasing the claimed lien by posting with the clerk of court a cash bond in an amount of at least one hundred twenty-five percent of the outstanding balance owed on the judgment. The court may order that in lieu of posting the bond with the clerk of court, the bond may be deposited in either the trust account of an attorney licensed to practice law in this state or in a federally insured depository institution, along with the restriction that the bond not be disbursed except as the court may direct. A copy of the court order shall be served along with a written demand under this subsection. Thereafter, any execution on the judgment shall be against the bond, subject to all claims and defenses which the moving party had against the execution against the real estate, including but not limited to a lack of equity in the property to support the lien in its proper priority. The bond shall be released upon demand of its principal or surety if no execution is ordered on the judgment within thirty days of completion of service of the written demand under this subsection.

3. Judgment liens described in subsection 1 shall not attach to subsequently acquired real estate owned by the defendant if the personal liability of the defendant on the judgment has been discharged under the bankruptcy laws of the United States.

4. a. In addition to other provisions relating to the attachment of liens, full faith and credit shall be afforded to liens arising for overdue support due on support judgments entered by a court or administrative agency of another state on real estate in this state owned by the obligor, for the period of ten years from the date of the judgment. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, including but not limited to the formatting of forms or requirement of signatures, the lien attaches on the date that a notice of interstate lien promulgated by the United States secretary of health and human services is filed with the clerk of district court in the county where the real estate is located.

b. The lien shall apply only prospectively as of the date of attachment to all real estate the obligor may subsequently acquire and does not retroactively apply to the chain of title for any real estate that the obligor had disposed of prior to the date of attachment.

5. A judgment lien attaching to the real estate of a city may be discharged at any time by the city filing with the clerk of the district court in which the judgment was entered a bond in the amount for which the judgment was entered, including court costs and accruing interest, with surety or sureties to be approved by the clerk, conditioned for the payment of the judgment amount, interest, and court costs. If the real estate is located in a county other than that in which the judgment was entered, the clerk of the district court in which the judgment was entered shall certify to the clerk of the district court of the county in which the real estate is located that the bond has been filed.

6. A judgment against a city shall not give rise to a lien attaching to the streets, alleys, or utility easements of a city or attaching to the real estate of a city which is used by the city for transportation, health, safety, or utility purposes.

7. If a case file has been sealed by the court, or if by law the court records in a case are not available to the general public, any judgments entered in the case shall not become a lien on real property until either the identity of the judgment creditor becomes public record, or until the judgment creditor, in a public document in the case in which judgment is entered, designates an agent and office, consistent with the requirements of section 490.501, on which process on the judgment creditor may be served. Service may be made on the agent in the same manner as service may be made on a corporate agent pursuant to section 490.504. An agent who has resigned without designating a successor agent and office and who is otherwise unavailable for service may be served in the manner provided in section 490.504, subsection 2, at the agent’s office of record. [C51, §2485, 2489; R60, §4105, 4109; C73, §2882; C97, §3801; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §11602; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §624.23; 82 Acts, ch 1002, §1 – 3] 85 Acts, ch 100, §8; 86 Acts, ch 1014, §1; 89 Acts, ch 102, §8; 97 Acts, ch 175, §202; 2002 Acts, ch 1089, §1; 2006 Acts, ch 1132, §4, 16; 2010 Acts, ch 1021, §1; 2011 Acts, ch 6, §1 Referred to in §232.141, 631.1 Judgment lien for alcoholic beverage violations, §123.113 Special limitations on judgments, chapter 615\n\nTue Dec 09 21:59:14 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 624 (36, 0) 7 TRIAL AND JUDGMENT, §624.27 \n

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 34 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1947–2025 · leading case: Baratta v. Polk Cnty. Health Servs., Inc., 588 N.W.2d 107 (Iowa 1999).

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Baratta v. Polk Cnty. Health Servs., Inc., 588 N.W.2d 107 (Iowa 1999). · cites it 54× “See Iowa Code §§ 624.23 , .24 (1995). For the child support judgment lien in the instant case to be enforceable against PCHS it must have attached when the property was owned by Frank Baratta, who is the judgment debtor.”

In Re the Marriage of Keener, 728 N.W.2d 188 (Iowa 2007). · cites it 12× “Security The court of appeals found it inequitable to deny Jody security for the money Connie owes Jody. It granted an equitable lien against Alpha and all of its corporate assets.”

In Re the Marriage of Hettinga, 574 N.W.2d 920 (Iowa Ct. App. 1997). · cites it 4× “We initially distinguish the judicial lien imposed in this case from a statutory judgment lien. A statutory lien requires a *923 final judgment in amount certain, and in the absence of these conditions, the judgment does not constitute an automatic lien on real estate.”

Kimm v. Kimm, 464 N.W.2d 468 (Iowa Ct. App. 1990). · cites it 16× “Iowa Code § 624.23 (1). The judgment lien attaches to the real estate of the judgment debtor within the county where the judgment was entered.”

Davidson v. Van Lengen, 266 N.W.2d 436 (Iowa 1978). · cites it 4× “Defendant next contends the trial court was without power to bar her from attempting to enforce a statutory judgment lien (Code section 624.23) on real estate owned by plaintiff.”

State v. Wolford Corp., 689 N.W.2d 471 (Iowa 2004). · cites it 4× “, Iowa Code § 624.23 (providing for a judgment lien to automatically attach to the real property of a defendant at the time the judgment is rendered); id.”

Brown v. Vonnahme, 343 N.W.2d 445 (Iowa 1984). · cites it 4× “Iowa law provides for judgment liens in Iowa Code section 624.23 (1977): Judgments in the appellate or district courts of this state, or in the circuit or district court of the United States within *449 the state, are liens upon the real estate owned by the defendant at the time…”

Farmers Prod. Credit Ass'n v. McFarland, 374 N.W.2d 654 (Iowa 1985). · cites it 8× “; see Iowa Code § 624.23 (1). The extinguishment of the junior mortgage lien, however, does not destroy the debt itself and the mortgagee can later obtain a judgment against the debtor.”

TSB Holdings, L.L.C. & 911 N. Governor, L.L.C. v. City of Iowa City, Iowa, 913 N.W.2d 1 (Iowa 2018). “§ 624.23(1) ("Judgments in the appellate or district courts of this state, or in the circuit or district court of the United States within the state, are liens upon the real estate owned by the defendant at the time of such rendition, and also upon all the defendant may…”

Cox v. Waudby, 433 N.W.2d 716 (Iowa 1988). · cites it 2× “Iowa Code § 624.23 (2). However, it is clear that plaintiffs’ interest in the property is greater than that of an ordinary judgment lien.”

In Re Karrer, 183 B.R. 177 (Bankr. D. Iowa 1994). · cites it 4× “Braunger states that this court’s judgment became a hen on the property by virtue of Iowa Code § 624.23 (1). He claims the hen attached upon entry of the judgment in the records of the clerk.”

Derrick v. Richard L. Grafe Commodities, Inc. (In Re Derrick), 190 B.R. 346 (Bankr. W.D. Wis. 1995). · cites it 2× “See Iowa Code § 624.23 (3). However, these issues can and should be decided in state court, if and when Grafe initiates proceedings to enforce its Ken.”

Show all 34 citing cases →

— Iowa Code § 624.23(1) — 7 cases

Baratta v. Polk Cnty. Health Servs., Inc., 588 N.W.2d 107 (Iowa 1999). “See Iowa Code §§ 624.23 , .24 (1995). For the child support judgment lien in the instant case to be enforceable against PCHS it must have attached when the property was owned by Frank Baratta, who is the judgment debtor.”

Kimm v. Kimm, 464 N.W.2d 468 (Iowa Ct. App. 1990). “Iowa Code § 624.23 (1). The judgment lien attaches to the real estate of the judgment debtor within the county where the judgment was entered.”

Whitters v. Neal, 603 N.W.2d 622 (Iowa 1999).

Third Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass'n of Cleveland Successor by Merger to Deepgreen Bank v. Randy L. Beltramea, L.L.C., & Randy L. Beltramea A/K/A Randy Lee Beltramea, Karen Spence State of Iowa-Dep't of Revenue & Fin. United States of Am.-Internal Revenue Serv. Carol S. Beltramea, N/K/A Carol S. Dick James L. Cook June E. Cook Est. of James Ray Fisher Joanne Fisher Clarence Dowell Coburn Dorothy Jarman Coburn Discover Bank Alan Fisher Laura Fisher Alan Mahrer Nancy Mahrer James Turbett Shelly A. Beltramea, & Parties in Possession (Iowa Ct. App. 2017).

— Iowa Code § 624.23(2) — 1 case

— Iowa Code § 624.23(2)(a) — 1 case

In re Est. of Rice (Iowa Ct. App. 2022).

Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.