A method and system that creates and maintains lock properties for a resource or object in a distributed environment. The lock properties provide other client computer systems limited availability to the locked resource. Limited availability relates to being able to only read, write or delete the resource, or any combination thereof. Additionally, these lock properties allow other client computer systems to simultaneously hold or share equivalent locks. Other lock properties relate to advisory or mandatory status for the lock. Advisory locks may be honored or ignored by other client computer systems.