Judgment and Liens/Probate

Judgments and Liens

A Judgments and Liens search is an important part of the due diligence process when considering doing business with a person or entity or when purchasing a business. This search will identify if your search subject is a debtor or a creditor in a judgment or lien.


A judgment is a court ruling in a civil or small claims case, describing the rights and obligations of both parties in a lawsuit. The judgment will also detail the monetary damages and include how much money the defendant must pay to the plaintiff.

Civil Cases vs. Small Claims Cases

In both instances, the petitioner is seeking a monetary award against a defendant. Civil cases usually arise when a contract has been broken, there is a probate matter or a copyright infringement. A small claims case is a less serious civil case that has been filed at the local, city level. A civil case is a more serious offense which can be filed at any court level, city, county, state or federal.


A lien is a legal claim against an asset to retain possession or secure payment of a pending debt.  A lien refers to an asset which is not physically possessed by the lienor, instead it is only a legal ownership right. Generally, Crimcheck.com will only search for judgment liens. A judgment lien is imposed on the debtor to secure the payment of a judgment from a civil case.

Consensual vs. Non-Consensual Liens

A lien can either be consensual or non-consensual. Consensual liens use a contract between the creditor and the debtor to ensure payment. Mortgages are considered consensual liens. A non-consensual lien is created under law and gives the creditor the right to impose the lien due to the existing relationship between the creditor and debtor.  Non-consensual liens include tax liens, demolition liens, attorney’s liens, mechanic’s liens, judgment liens and maritime liens.


Probate is the legal process that confirms the validity of a will of a deceased person. The probate court is a specialized court found at the county level that handles all matters of probate and the administration of estates. Crimcheck.com will search probate courts in the county jurisdictions for any records. Please note, every jurisdiction has different regulations of how they handle intestacy. In the case that a jurisdiction does not have a probate court, all probate roles are filled by a chancery court or other court of equity.

The probate court is responsible for:

  • Proper administration of the assets of a deceased person
  • Regulates the proceedings of wills, including adjudicating the validity, enforcing the will’s provisions, ensuring proper distribution of all assets and resolving all claims and disputes which may arise
  • Issuing marriage licenses
  • Adoptions
  • Guardianship actions
  • Land appropriation cases

Steps of Probate

  1. The probate case is opened with the court
  2. The executor records and assembles the decedent’s property
  3. The executor pays all taxes and debts
  4. The executor distributes the remaining property or assets to the beneficiaries

How does one become a beneficiary?

A beneficiary is directly named in the will. In the case of intestacy, or where the deceased does not leave a will, the intestacy laws of the jurisdiction must be followed. The court first determines who will receive the property of the deceased then the property will be appropriately disseminated to the proper beneficiaries.

court houseChallenging probate

Any aspect of the probate administration may be challenged including:

  • The validity of a will
  • The status of an executor
  • The identity of the beneficiaries (especially the paternity of heirs)
  • The management of the executor

Reasons why property of a deceased person doesn’t go to Probate

There are a few reasons why property would not go to probate. The first reason is that the property was contractually passed on to another. This happens when an insurance policy is owned as “payable on death” by a beneficiary or the property is legally held as “jointly owned with right of survivorship.” Another reason is that the property is held in either a revocable or irrevocable trust which ensures that no court action is involved and the property is privately distributed to the beneficiaries.

Terms to Know


Beneficiary: The person which receives the benefits from something, specifically the person who receives assets from a trust, will or life insurance policy

Decedent: The person who has deceased

Encumbrance: Any charge on a property or asset

Executor: Personal representative to a deceased person’s property

Fiduciary Duties: The legal duties of an executor to work in the best interests of the beneficiaries.


Grant of Probate: Document issued by Probate Court which authorizes the executor to administer the property and estate of the deceased.

Intestate: A person who is deceased without a valid will

Judgment: The final determination of the court regarding the rights and obligations of the parties in a case.

Lien: The legal right that a creditor has in another’s property. This lien lasts until the debt is satisfied.

Lienee: The person who benefits from the lien

Lienor: The owner of the property which grants a lien

Malfeasance: Wrongdoing

Tort: Type of civil case including negligence cases and intentional wrongs which result in harm

Will Contest: A challenge to the status and validity of a will

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