When Sam records a certified copy of a judgment rendered against John in the jurisdiction in which John owns real property, the judgment becomes a:

When Sam records a certified copy of a judgment against John in the jurisdiction where John owns real property, the judgment becomes a lien on John's property. This occurs because the act of recording the judgment provides public notice of the claim against John's property, giving the creditor the legal right to enforce the judgment through the property if John fails to pay his debts.

In this context, a lien does not mean that the creditor owns the property, but rather that they have a legal right to claim the property to satisfy the debt. This lien will remain in effect until the debt is paid off or the lien is otherwise resolved, and it can affect John's ability to sell or refinance his property, as the lien must typically be cleared before any transfer of ownership can occur.

Other terms, such as debt and conveyance, do not accurately describe the legal status that arises from the recording of the judgment. A debt refers to the obligation owed, while conveyance pertains to the transfer of property ownership. Judgment itself is the ruling from the court but does not encapsulate the implication of a recorded interest in real property. Thus, recognizing the nature of the recorded judgment as a lien is crucial in understanding how property rights and obligations are managed in Alabama real estate law.