The Vermont Statutes Online
The Statutes below include the actions of the 2025 session of the General Assembly.
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
§ 2901. Creation of judgment lien
A final judgment issued in a civil action or a restitution order entered under 13 V.S.A. § 7043 shall constitute a lien on any real property of a judgment debtor if recorded as
provided in this chapter. (Added 1979, No. 67, § 3, eff. date, see note set out below; amended 2007, No. 40, § 1.)
§ 2902. Relation to other remedies
The lien created by this chapter shall be in addition to and separate from any other
remedy or interest created by law or contract. Any judgment lien filed on real property
which has been attached in the suit in which the judgment is rendered shall relate
back to the date of attachment if the judgment is recorded within 60 days after it
becomes final. (Added 1979, No. 67, § 3, eff. date, see note set out below.)
§ 2903. Duration and effectiveness
(a) A judgment lien shall be effective for eight years from the issuance of a final judgment
on which it is based except that an action to foreclose the judgment lien during the
eight-year period shall extend the period until the termination of the foreclosure
suit if a copy of the complaint is filed in the land records on or before eight years
from the issuance of the final judgment.
(b) A judgment that is renewed or revived pursuant to section 506 of this title shall constitute a lien on real property for eight years from the issuance of the
renewed or revived judgment if recorded in accordance with this chapter. The renewed
or revived judgment shall relate back to the date on which the original lien was first
recorded if a copy of the complaint to renew the judgment was recorded in the land
records where the property lies within eight years after the rendition of the judgment,
and the renewed or revived judgment is subsequently recorded in accordance with this
chapter.
(c) Interest on a judgment lien shall accrue at the rate of 12 percent per annum.
(d) If a judgment lien is not satisfied within 30 days of recording, it may be foreclosed
and redeemed as provided in this title and V.R.C.P. 80.1. Unless the court finds that
as of the date of foreclosure the amount of the outstanding debt exceeds the value
of the real property being foreclosed, chapter 172 of this title shall apply to foreclosure
of a judgment lien. (Added 1979, No. 67, § 3, eff. date, see note set out below; amended 1979, No. 173 (Adj. Sess.), § 26, eff. April 30, 1980; 2009, No. 132 (Adj. Sess.), § 9, eff. May 29, 2010; 2011, No. 102 (Adj. Sess.), § 4, eff. May 5, 2012; 2019, No. 167 (Adj. Sess.), § 10, eff. October 7, 2020.)
§ 2904. Recording
A judgment creditor may record a judgment lien at any time within eight years from
the date the judgment becomes final in the town clerk’s office of any town where real
property of the debtor is located. Recording shall consist of filing a copy of the
judgment with date when it became final, certified by the clerk of the court issuing
the judgment. The certification shall be recorded by the town clerk in the land records. (Added 1979, No. 67, § 3, eff. date, see note set out below.)
§ 2905. Discharge of judgment lien
A judgment lien shall be discharged in the same manner as a mortgage pursuant to 27
V.S.A. chapter 5. The obligation to discharge and liability for breach of that obligation
shall be as provided in 27 V.S.A. § 464. (Added 1979, No. 67, § 3, eff. date, see note set out below.)