2003 House Bill 5381 / 2004 Public Act 136

To authorize judgment liens in lawsuits

Introduced in the House

Dec. 11, 2003

Introduced by Rep. Charles LaSata (R-79)

To authorize judgment liens. These allow the winner of damages in a lawsuit to place a lien on any real property owned or later acquired by the losing party. The lien does not have to specifically identify any particular property.

Referred to the Committee on Judiciary

Feb. 24, 2004

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

March 18, 2004

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one containing technical changes that do not affect its substance as previously described.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. William Van Regenmorter (R-74)

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Stephen Adamini (D-109)

To require judgement liens against real property to include a description of the property, and to charge the debtor for getting the description.

The amendment failed 12 to 89 (details)

Amendment offered by Rep. Charles LaSata (R-79)

To establish a new date on which the bill will go into effect if passed.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Charles LaSata (R-79)

To require a debtor to use the proceeds from the sale or mortgage of real property to repay a creditor who has been granted a judgment lien.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Shelley Goodman Taub (R-40)

To require the judgment lien to be served on the debtor by certified mail, instead of first class mail.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Charles LaSata (R-79)

To require personal service on the debtor (rather than by mail) of judgment liens of $25,000 or more.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Passed in the House 101 to 4 (details)

Received in the Senate

March 23, 2004

Referred to the Committee on Judiciary

May 20, 2004

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the bill pass.

May 26, 2004

Passed in the Senate 36 to 2 (details)

To authorize judgment liens. These allow the winner of damages in a lawsuit to place a lien on any real property owned or later acquired by the losing party. The lien does not have to specifically identify any particular property.

Received in the House

May 26, 2004

Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm

June 10, 2004