Wash. Rev. Code » Title 4 · Chapter 4.56
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 4.56.200 (2026)

Commencement of lien on real estate

✓ current as of May 2026
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The lien of judgments upon the real estate of the judgment debtor shall commence as follows:
(1) Judgments of the district court of the United States rendered or filed in the county in which the real estate of the judgment debtor is situated, from the time of the entry or filing thereof;
(2) Judgments of the superior court for the county in which the real estate of the judgment debtor is situated, from the time of the filing by the county clerk upon the execution docket in accordance with RCW 4.64.030;
(3) Judgments of the district court of the United States rendered in any county in this state other than that in which the real estate of the judgment debtor to be affected is situated, judgments of the supreme court of this state, judgments of the court of appeals of this state, and judgments of the superior court for any county other than that in which the real estate of the judgment debtor to be affected is situated, from the time of the filing of a duly certified abstract of such judgment with the county clerk of the county in which the real estate of the judgment debtor to be affected is situated, as provided in this act;
(4) Judgments of a district court of this state rendered or filed as a foreign judgment in a superior court in the county in which the real estate of the judgment debtor is situated, from the time of the filing of a duly certified district court judgment or duly certified transcript of the docket of the district court with the county clerk of the county in which such judgment was rendered or filed, and upon such filing said judgment shall become to all intents and purposes a judgment of the superior court for said county; and
(5) Judgments of a district court of this state rendered or filed in a superior court in any other county in this state than that in which the real estate of the judgment debtor to be affected is situated, a transcript of the docket of which has been filed with the county clerk of the county where such judgment was rendered or filed, from the time of filing, with the county clerk of the county in which the real estate of the judgment debtor to be affected is situated, of a duly certified abstract of the record of said judgment in the office of the county clerk of the county in which the certified transcript of the docket of said judgment of said district court was originally filed.
[ 2019 c 251 s 8; 2012 c 133 s 1; 2002 c 261 s 3; 1987 c 202 s 117; 1971 c 81 s 17; 1929 c 60 s 2; RRS s 445-1.]

Notes:

Reviser's note: The words at the end of subsection (3) reading "as provided in this act" appeared in chapter 60, Laws of 1929 which is codified as RCW 4.56.090, 4.56.100, 4.56.190 through 4.56.210, 4.64.070, 4.64.090, 4.64.110, and 4.64.120.
Intent—1987 c 202: See note following RCW 2.04.190.
Entry of verdict in execution docket—Effect—Cessation of lien: RCW 4.64.020, 4.64.100.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 42 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1953–2024 · leading case: Mehl v. Roberts, 933 P.2d 1084 (Wash. Ct. App. 1997).
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Mehl v. Roberts, 933 P.2d 1084 (Wash. Ct. App. 1997). · cites it 13× “090, before the appellants’ deed of trust was recorded, rather than when she later filed a certified abstract of the judgment with the King County Superior Court Clerk in accord with RCW 4.56.200(2). Because the court found that the respondent had lien priority, it ordered the…”
In Re Marriage of Bobbitt, 144 P.3d 306 (Wash. Ct. App. 2006). · cites it 2× “¶ 17 Here, the record discloses that when Esser obtained permission to sell Bobbitt's property in November 2004, she had Pierce County judgments against Bobbitt for unpaid child support and for attorney fees awarded in the modification action in June 2004.”
In re the Marriage of Bobbitt, 135 Wash. App. 8 (Wash. Ct. App. 2006). · cites it 2× “RCW 4.56.200(4). Esser did not file her Pierce County judgments in Yakima County and thus did not encumber the Yakima property.”
Fed. Intermediate Credit Bank of Spokane v. O/S SABLEFISH, 758 P.2d 494 (Wash. 1989). · cites it 4× “A judgment lien on real estate is created by RCW 4.56.200 and when entered by a federal district court, commences upon real property in the county where the judgment is entered from the date of entry.”
Cascade Sec. Bank v. Butler, 567 P.2d 631 (Wash. 1977). · cites it 2× “) RCW 4.56.200: The lien of judgments upon the real estate of the judgment debtor shall commence as follows: (1) Judgments of the district court of the United States rendered in the county in which the real estate of the judgment debtor is situated, and judgments of the superior…”
Hartley v. Liberty Park Assocs., 774 P.2d 40 (Wash. Ct. App. 1989). · cites it 4× “190 and RCW 4.56.200. See Webster v. Rodrick, supra.”
N. Com. Co. v. E. J. Hermann Co., 593 P.2d 1332 (Wash. Ct. App. 1979). · cites it 2× “RCW 4.56.200(2). [2] Equity will create a lien where there is no valid lien at law and it is needed to prevent an injustice.”
Bank of Am., NA v. Owens, 153 Wash. App. 115 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 3× “of the supreme court, court of appeals, superior court, or district court of this state, and every such judgment shall be a lien thereupon to commence as provided in RCW 4.56.200 and to run for a period of not to exceed ten years from the day on which such judgment was entered.”
Hazel v. Van Beek, 135 Wash. 2d 45 (Wash. 1998). · cites it 2× “190 (“[Ejvery such judgment shall be a hen thereupon to commence as provided in RCW 4.56.200 and to run for a period of not to exceed ten years from the day on which such judgment was entered .”
Hazel v. Van Beek, 954 P.2d 1301 (Wash. 1998). · cites it 2× “190 ("[E]very such judgment shall be a lien thereupon to commence as provided in RCW 4.56.200 and to run for a period of not to exceed ten years from the day on which such judgment was entered .”
Summers v. Dep't of Revenue for State, 14 P.3d 902 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 2× “190 [1] , RCW 4.56.200, 4.56.210 [2] , and *904 RCW 6.”
BNC Mortg., Inc. v. Tax Pros, Inc., 111 Wash. App. 238 (Wash. Ct. App. 2002). “2d 1013 (1989); see also RCW 4.56.200, .190. RCW 61.24.020 (“Except as provided in this chapter, a deed of trust is subject to all laws relating to mortgages on real property.”
Show all 42 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 4.56.200(1) — 7 cases
Hartley v. Liberty Park Assocs., 774 P.2d 40 (Wash. Ct. App. 1989). “190 and RCW 4.56.200. See Webster v. Rodrick, supra.”
Marsh v. Commonwealth Land Title Ins., 789 P.2d 792 (Wash. Ct. App. 1990).
Fed. Intermediate Credit Bank of Spokane v. O/S SABLEFISH, 758 P.2d 494 (Wash. 1989). “A judgment lien on real estate is created by RCW 4.56.200 and when entered by a federal district court, commences upon real property in the county where the judgment is entered from the date of entry.”
Bank of Am., NA v. Owens, 153 Wash. App. 115 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009). “of the supreme court, court of appeals, superior court, or district court of this state, and every such judgment shall be a lien thereupon to commence as provided in RCW 4.56.200 and to run for a period of not to exceed ten years from the day on which such judgment was entered.”
Bank of Am., NA v. Owens, 221 P.3d 917 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 4.56.200(2) — 13 cases
Mehl v. Roberts, 933 P.2d 1084 (Wash. Ct. App. 1997). “090, before the appellants’ deed of trust was recorded, rather than when she later filed a certified abstract of the judgment with the King County Superior Court Clerk in accord with RCW 4.56.200(2). Because the court found that the respondent had lien priority, it ordered the…”
N. Com. Co. v. E. J. Hermann Co., 593 P.2d 1332 (Wash. Ct. App. 1979). “RCW 4.56.200(2). [2] Equity will create a lien where there is no valid lien at law and it is needed to prevent an injustice.”
Hazel v. Van Beek, 135 Wash. 2d 45 (Wash. 1998). “190 (“[Ejvery such judgment shall be a hen thereupon to commence as provided in RCW 4.56.200 and to run for a period of not to exceed ten years from the day on which such judgment was entered .”
Hazel v. Van Beek, 954 P.2d 1301 (Wash. 1998). “190 ("[E]very such judgment shall be a lien thereupon to commence as provided in RCW 4.56.200 and to run for a period of not to exceed ten years from the day on which such judgment was entered .”
Fed. Intermediate Credit Bank of Spokane v. O/S SABLEFISH, 758 P.2d 494 (Wash. 1989). “A judgment lien on real estate is created by RCW 4.56.200 and when entered by a federal district court, commences upon real property in the county where the judgment is entered from the date of entry.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 4.56.200(4) — 3 cases
In Re Marriage of Bobbitt, 144 P.3d 306 (Wash. Ct. App. 2006). “¶ 17 Here, the record discloses that when Esser obtained permission to sell Bobbitt's property in November 2004, she had Pierce County judgments against Bobbitt for unpaid child support and for attorney fees awarded in the modification action in June 2004.”
In re the Marriage of Bobbitt, 135 Wash. App. 8 (Wash. Ct. App. 2006). “RCW 4.56.200(4). Esser did not file her Pierce County judgments in Yakima County and thus did not encumber the Yakima property.”
Mease v. DCS Fin. Inc (W.D. Wash. 2024).
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