Skip to content
ClosingCodeClosingCode
ENES

Alaska · LiensAlaska judgment liens: recording a certified copy and the ten-year limit

Alaska judgment liens start at the recorder's office. A certified copy of a judgment or decree of an Alaska court, or of a federal court of record, on which execution may issue and whose enforcement hasn't been stayed, may be recorded with the recorder of a recording district (AS 09.30.010). From the recording, it becomes a lien on the defendant's real property in that recording district that isn't exempt from execution – both property owned then and property acquired later before the lien expires (AS 09.30.010). The lien continues while execution may issue on the judgment, but for no more than 10 years from the date the judgment was entered; after it expires, the court may grant leave to issue execution, and recording the judgment together with that order creates a lien again in the same way (AS 09.30.010).

What the statutes set

  1. Recording (09.30.010)

    A certified copy recorded with the district recorder.

  2. What it covers (09.30.010)

    Non-exempt real property in the district, including later acquisitions.

  3. Ten years (09.30.010)

    While execution may issue, but no more than 10 years from entry.

  4. After expiry (09.30.010)

    Court leave to execute; recording with the order creates a new lien.

What the TC does when an Alaska title search shows a judgment

  • List each recorded judgment against the seller with its recording district and date.
  • Check the entry date – the lien can't run more than ten years from it.
  • Get a payoff and a recorded satisfaction for each judgment before closing.

Questions about Alaska judgment liens

How does an Alaska judgment become a lien on real estate?

By recording a certified copy of it with the recorder of the recording district where the property lies (AS 09.30.010).

How long does an Alaska judgment lien last?

While execution may issue, but no more than 10 years from entry of the judgment (AS 09.30.010).

Related guides

Track each judgment payoff and satisfaction as tasks on the deal in ClosingCode.

Start free trial

Source: AS 09.30.010 (akleg.gov), read October 31, 2026.

General information, not legal advice. ClosingCode is software; it is not a law firm or brokerage. This guide is not a substitute for the advice or services of an attorney.