Opinion ID: 1345990
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Judgment Lien

Text: ORS 18.350 provides that the docketing of a judgment creates a lien upon all the real property of the judgment debtor within the county    or which the judgment debtor may afterwards acquire therein. It has long been recognized that redemption by the mortgagor or judgment debtor reinstates the lien of any unsatisfied docketed judgment the instant that the mortgagor or judgment debtor redeems. In the case at bar, however, the mortgagor did not redeem. The plaintiffs obtained the mortgagor's right of redemption after decree and after sale on execution of the decree, [7] and thereafter redeemed. Whether the plaintiffs stand in the shoes of the mortgagor is determined by ORS 23.530, and specifically by the words provided, that in the event redemption is made by anyone acquiring the legal title after attachment, or after a judgment becomes a lien on the property, such person shall acquire no greater or better right thereby to the property so redeemed than the holder of the legal title at the time of such attachment or judgment. The words acquiring the legal title after attachment, or after a judgment becomes a lien on the property refer to a point in time. (Emphasis added.) Here, the plaintiffs acquired the mortgagor's right to redeem after the judgments became a lien on the mortgagor's interest in the real property. When the plaintiffs purchased the mortgagor's right of redemption they acquired legal title. Under these circumstances, ORS 23.530(1) is express: The judgment debtor's or mortgagor's successor in interest acquires no greater or better right    to the property    than the holder of the legal title at the time of such attachment or judgment. The plaintiffs stand in the shoes of the mortgagor/assignor and own the property subject to the judgment liens.