Opinion ID: 1855339
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Heading: We turn first to section 626.88. The statute states:

Text: Real estate of deceased judgment debtor. When a judgment has been obtained against a decedent in the decedent's lifetime, the plaintiff may file a petition in the office of the clerk of the court where the judgment is rendered, against the executor, the heirs, and devisees of real estate, if such there be, setting forth the facts, and that there is real estate of the deceased, describing its location and extent, and praying the court to award execution against the same. Iowa Code § 626.88. Lois relies on this statute because, in her words, its application is essential to properly divest the decedent's successors of their title. Her argument rests on cases standing for the common-law rule that no execution may issue against the property of a deceased judgment debtor, and any deed obtained thereby is void. See, e.g., Boyle v. Maroney, 73 Iowa 70, 76, 35 N.W. 145, 147 (1887); Welch v. Battern, 47 Iowa 147, 148 (1877). The argument has no force here, however, because Lois did not acquire the property by devise. She acquired her interest by quit claim deed from Don long before his death. The property at issue formed no part of Don's estate. Thus section 626.88 simply has no application. It is beyond dispute that Shirley's judgment against Don constituted a lien against all real estate owned by him, enforceable for a period of ten years following rendition of the judgment. Iowa Code § 624.23. His conveyance of the property to Lois by quit claim deed before his death did not defeat the lien. The general statute providing for judgment liens has for its primary object the payment of judgment debts. It is a statutory security and the lien created thereby is a vested legal right. It can be lost only by the act or consent of its beneficiary. This security is evidenced by a lien running with the land, giving to the creditor the right to have the debtor's lands applied to the satisfaction of the judgment by execution and sale. Beatty v. Cook, 192 Iowa 542, 544, 185 N.W. 360, 361 (1921); see Boyle, 73 Iowa at 75, 35 N.W. at 147. Because Lois took the property subject to Shirley's lien, Lois was entitled to redeem her interest following the sheriff's sale. See Iowa Code § 628.13 (redemption by titleholder made by payment to the clerk of amount shown on certificate of sale plus costs). The record reveals that Lois made no redemption. Thus the interest obtained by Shirley as grantee of the sheriff's deed is superior to Lois's, entitling Shirley to possession of the premises. Iowa Code § 648.1(4) (authorizing summary remedy for detention of real property after execution unless defendant proves paramount title). The district court was correct in so ruling.