Judgments may be enforced against any property interest of a judgment debtor, real or personal, tangible, or intangible, unless specifically exempted by law. Thus, co-op apartments, common in New York City, can be reached by a judgment creditor, but there are several issues counsel should consider.

Co-op apartments are personal property for judgment enforcement purposes. The owner’s interest is documented by a share certificate and by the shareholder register of the co-op corporation, which holds title to the building and the real property on which it sits. The shares are linked to a proprietary lease that gives the owner of the shares the right to possess and live in a designated apartment unit in perpetuity.