Najam, J.
Statement of the Case
Flatrock River Lodge (“Flatrock”) appeals the trial court’s order denying Flatrock’s motion to execute on its judgment lien upon Morris Stout’s interest in real estate previously owned by Morris and Tonia Stout as joint tenants with right of survivorship. Flatrock presents a single issue for our review, namely, whether Morris’ interest in the real estate as a joint tenant was exempt from execution on Flatrock’s judgment lien during his lifetime. Tonia counters that Flatrock’s appeal was moot upon Morris’ death when she became the sole owner of the real estate. We hold that Flatrock’s appeal is not moot and that the real estate is not exempt from execution on the judgment lien.
We reverse.
….
We first address Tonia’s contention that, because Morris died in October 2018, this appeal is moot. Tonia maintains that because she was a joint tenant with right of survivorship in the real estate, Morris’ interest in the real estate became hers at his death free and clear of any judgment lien. Tonia would disregard the fact, however, that Flatrock’s money judgment against Morris became a lien on Morris’ interest in the real estate when the Rush County Clerk entered the agreed judgment in the RJO on September 27, 2016, two years before Morris’ death. See Arend v. Etsler, 737 N.E.2d 1173, 1175 (Ind. Ct. App. 2000) (stating that a money judgment becomes a lien on the debtor’s real property when the judgment is recorded in the judgment docket in the county where the realty held by the debtor is located). Thus, Tonia takes Morris’ interest in the real estate subject to Flatrock’s judgment lien. Jones v. Chandler, 40 Ind. 588, 590 (1872). The lien was not extinguished at Morris’ death, and this appeal is not moot.
The dispositive issue presented on appeal is whether Indiana Code Section 34- 55-10-2(c)(5) (2018), which provides that “[a]ny interest that the debtor has in real estate held as a tenant by the entireties” is exempt from execution of a judgment lien, also exempts from execution an interest in real estate held as a joint tenant with right of survivorship. Flatrock contends that the trial court erred when it denied its motion to execute its judgment lien on the real estate. In particular, Flatrock maintains that, contrary to Tonia’s assertion to the trial court, subsection 2(c)(5) of the exemption statute does not apply to Morris’ and Tonia’s interests in the real estate, which they owned as joint tenants with right of survivorship. We must agree.
….
Subsection 2(c)(5) of the exemption statute clearly and unambiguously applies only to a tenancy by the entireties. I.C. § 34-55-10-2(c)(5). We decline Tonia’s invitation to read words into the statute that are not there, and we hold that subsection 2(c)(5) does not exempt from execution interests held in a joint tenancy with right of survivorship. Indeed, the differences between a tenancy by the entireties and a joint tenancy with right of survivorship are clear and well-established. In a tenancy by the entireties, one spouse may not unilaterally convey or mortgage his interest to a third party. See Estate of Grund v. Grund, 648 N.E.2d 1182, 1185 (Ind. Ct. App. 1995), trans. denied. And an estate by the entireties is immune to seizure for the satisfaction of the individual debt of either spouse. Eilts v. Moore, 117 Ind. App. 27, 68 N.E.2d 795, 796 (1946).
In contrast, a joint tenant may alienate his interest in real estate or his interest may be alienated by another. As we have noted, a joint tenant may sell or mortgage his interest to a third party, and his interest is subject to execution by a judgment lien creditor. Grathwohl, 871 N.E.2d at 301; Thornburg, 34 N.E. at 1002. Had the legislature intended to exempt from execution real estate owned as joint tenants with right of survivorship it would have done so. We hold that the trial court erred when it denied Flatrock’s motion to execute on its judgment lien.
In sum, Flatrock’s judgment lien against Morris was a valid and subsisting lien upon his interest in the real estate, which he owned with Tonia as joint tenants with right of survivorship. The judgment lien was not extinguished when Morris died. As the surviving joint tenant, Tonia acquired Morris’ interest in the real estate by operation of law, subject to the lien. The lien is subject to execution and judicial foreclosure in the manner provided under Trial Rule 69. And, if another party is the purchaser of Morris’ interest at an execution sale, Tonia and the purchaser will each own an undivided interest as tenants in common. [Footnote omitted.] See Chandler, 37 Ind. at 397.
Reversed.
Pyle, J., and Altice, J., concur