In some states, such as Indiana, a judgment automatically becomes a lien upon real property located in the county in which the judgment was obtained. In these states, if a judgment is obtained in one county, and real property is located in another county, then the bank must docket the judgment in the county in which the real property is located in order to obtain a lien upon the land.
In Kentucky, however, obtaining a judgment is not enough. A bank must also prepare and record a notice of judgment lien in the county in which the borrower’s real property is located. The notice includes the legal description of the real property, the amount of the judgment, and the name of the borrower. By recording the notice, the bank effectively puts the world on notice that it has a judgment lien upon the described real property.
