How to eFile and eRecord an Abstract of Judgment in Tulare County

 If you've won a court case and the debtor hasn't paid, it's time to take the next step to enforce your judgment. In California, one of the most effective ways to do this is by filing a Request for Abstract of Judgment and recording it with the county where the debtor owns property. In Tulare County, the process is more efficient than ever thanks to electronic filing (eFiling) and electronic recording (eRecording). In this blog post, we'll walk you through how to properly eFile and eRecord an Abstract of Judgment in Tulare County.



What Is an Abstract of Judgment?

An Abstract of Judgment is a legal document that creates a public record of a monetary judgment. When you request for abstract of judgment, the court issues this document, which includes the judgment amount, debtor’s information, and interest. Once recorded with the County Recorder’s office, it places a lien on any real property owned by the debtor in that county. This means if the debtor tries to refinance, sell, or transfer the property, your judgment must be satisfied first.

Step 1: Prepare Your Request for Abstract of Judgment

Before anything else, you need to request for abstract of judgment from the court that issued your original judgment. In California, this is done using Judicial Council Form EJ-001. This form includes important information such as:

  • The debtor’s full name and last known address

  • The case number and court name

  • The total judgment amount including interest and court costs

  • The creditor’s contact information

If you're including a Memorandum of Costs to update interest and collection expenses, that should be submitted with your request as well.

Step 2: eFile with Tulare County Superior Court

Tulare County requires civil documents to be eFiled through an approved Electronic Filing Service Provider (EFSP). You’ll need to create an account with an EFSP like One Legal, TurboCourt, or Rapid Legal. Once your Request for Abstract of Judgment (EJ-001) is complete, you’ll upload and submit it through the EFSP platform.

What to Know When eFiling:

  • File format must be PDF, black and white, OCR-readable

  • File size limits usually apply (typically 25MB/document)

  • Ensure margins meet court and recorder specifications (usually ½ inch)

  • Attach a self-addressed stamped envelope if a hard copy is required

Once the court accepts the filing, you’ll receive a court-stamped copy of your Abstract of Judgment — also known as a conformed copy. This version is what you'll use to record the lien.

Step 3: eRecord with Tulare County Recorder

With the court-stamped Abstract of Judgment in hand, the next step is to eRecord it with the Tulare County Recorder's Office. This step is essential because it makes the judgment a matter of public record, and establishes your lien on any property the debtor owns in Tulare County.

You can submit your document electronically using a document recording service such as Simplifile or CSC. Many legal support companies also offer full-service packages that include both eFiling and eRecording.

Recording Requirements:

  • Submit a clean, court-stamped copy

  • Use 300 DPI black-and-white scans

  • Leave space in the top right for the recorder’s stamp

  • Pay recording fees, which may vary depending on page count and document type

Once recorded, the Recorder's Office will issue a recording confirmation, which includes the instrument number and recording date. This is your proof that the lien is now in place.

Why eFiling and eRecording Matters

The traditional method of mailing or hand-delivering your Request for Abstract of Judgment and court documents can be time-consuming and risky. eFiling and eRecording streamline the process, offering several benefits:

  • Faster turnaround — Most documents are filed and recorded the same day

  • Confirmation tracking — You’ll receive status updates at every stage

  • Cost-effective — No need to print, ship, or travel

  • Fewer rejections — Automated systems check for common errors

In a county like Tulare, where digital infrastructure supports both court and recorder e-submissions, using these tools can save you hours — even days — of waiting.

When to File a Request for Abstract of Judgment

You can file a request for abstract of judgment as soon as your judgment becomes final, meaning there is no active appeal and the time to appeal has passed. Typically, this is 30 days after the judgment is entered. If the debtor has not paid voluntarily, filing an abstract is one of the first steps you should take to enforce your rights.

Each time you renew a judgment (every 10 years), you may also file a new request for abstract of judgment to update the lien and extend its enforceability.

Final Thoughts

If you're serious about collecting what you're owed, don’t wait for the debtor to act. Filing and recording an Abstract of Judgment in Tulare County can give you legal leverage by tying the debt to the debtor’s real estate. Whether you're doing this for the first time or managing multiple cases, using eFiling and eRecording makes the process faster, cheaper, and more reliable.

Be sure your request for abstract of judgment is correctly filled out, filed through the right channels, and recorded without error. If you’re unsure or want professional help, legal support services can handle the process for you from start to finish — often in a single day.

Visit https://county.countrywideprocess.com/how-to-efile-and-erecord-an-abstract-of-judgement-in-tulare-county/

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