how to defend from a lien against my house by my lawyer

by Tad Gleason 6 min read

This is one where a strongly worded letter from your lawyer to the lien holder's counsel threatening a slander of title lawsuit and potential punitive damages should get the lien released. The Clerk cannot doing anything. You cannot sell or refinance the house without getting the lien removed, so engage counsel.

Full Answer

What can I do about a lien on my property?

Contact a debt attorney to consult with. Mr. Brewer's answer was spot on. You need to hire an attorney, and file a motion to set aside the judgment. You can also get money damages if the judgment was recorded against the wrong party. In your post, it was unclear if this was some type of mechanic's lien, or if this was a judicial lien.

Do I need a lawyer to remove a lien?

A lawyer can review the terms of your lien and present you with any available options to remove the lien. Remember, this will vary depending on your situation and state laws. Additionally, a lawyer can represent you in court and make sure all necessary filings are completed correctly.

How can a foreclosure attorney help with a property lien?

An experienced foreclosure attorney can help you understand your state’s specific laws regarding property liens, as well as your state’s statute of limitations. They can review the lien itself, as well as its terms, and determine the best course of action considering your specific circumstances.

Is a lien on your property unnerve you?

Because of the scale of personal investment involved, any issues regarding the financial aspect of homeownership can unnerve homeowners, especially an issue as potentially restrictive as a lien. Discovering a lien on your property can come as a shock.

How do owners protect themselves from liens?

Timely payment is the most essential way for owners to avoid mechanics liens. A mechanics lien is tool for contractors and suppliers to use if they don't get paid. Paying them on time for the work they perform is the #1 way to ensure that they don't use that tool against you.

How do you bond around a lien?

The process of bonding off a mechanics lien starts after a claimant has filed a mechanics lien. After the claim is made, a general contractor or a property owner can contact a surety bond company to purchase a surety bond that replaces the value of the lien that was filed against the property.

How long does a lien stay on your property in Canada?

Each province has different rules about the time limit of a lien. In Alberta, for example, your lien is valid for 180 days from the date the lien was placed. In Ontario, liens are only valid for 90 days from the date of last on site working.

How long does a lien stay on your property in Texas?

ten yearsJudgment liens in Texas expire after ten years, as do federal tax liens, and both stay attached to the property even it if changes owners. A mortgage lien remains valid on a property until the debt is paid in full. Also, many liens may be renewed before they expire.

How much does it cost to bond around a lien?

The cost for these bonds is between 2-3% of the value of the lien inclusive of court costs. So if a mechanics lien is filed for $500,000.

What is the purpose of a lien bond?

A subcontractor has not been paid simply by the filing of a lien or by funds or security being posted with the court for the purpose of vacating the lien. A lien bond merely secures a contractor's or subcontractor's lien claim rather than satisfying it through payment.

What happens when a lien is put on your house in Canada?

Once a lien is registered by CRA it will effectively act as a mortgage. Foreclosure proceedings will not necessarily start if you continue to leave the debt unpaid, but if you want to transfer or sell the property, CRA will need to get paid first.

Can you sell a house with a lien on it in Canada?

If an individual fails to pay their debts, a creditor can obtain a judgement against them – up to and including liens against the debtor's real property. The property then cannot be sold without dealing with the liens.

Does a lien affect your credit in Canada?

Liens on your home or on your car, or any other assets you have in your name, are going to affect your credit score negatively. In fact, some experts suggest it could affect your score as negatively as a bankruptcy on your credit report.

How do I dispute a lien against my property in Texas?

Three commons ways to fight a false lien are to:immediately dispute the lien through statutorily provided preliminary means, a demand to/against the claimant, or a full-blown lawsuit.force the claimant to file a lawsuit to enforce the lien in a shorter period if available where you live.just wait it out.

How do I get rid of a lien on a property in Texas?

The first step in lien release or removal is to contact the judgment creditor or its attorneys, inform them that the lien is invalid (see Part One below) or is currently showing against the homestead (see Parts Two and Three below) and then make formal demand that the creditor execute a partial release—or legal action ...

How do you remove a lien in Texas?

To add or remove a lien on your vehicle title, visit your local county tax office. The title fee is $28 or $33, depending on your county, and must be paid at time of application. Please contact your local county tax office for the exact cost.

Have A Construction Lawyer Check The Lien

“Contractors have to follow certain procedures for the lien to be valid,” says Tampa attorney George Meyer, past chair of the American Bar Associat...

If The Lien Is Valid, Here Are Your Options

Your lawyer will help you decide whether to fight the lien in court or negotiate a settlement. The decision depends largely on which state you live...

What Does Legal Action Cost?

You’ll be looking at legal fees that range from $5,000-$15,000. For small disputes, it may be worthwhile to negotiate a settlement rather than goin...

How to Avoid A Lien With A Lien Waver

The best way to protect yourself from a mechanic’s lien is with a lien waiver. This is a legal document furnished by the contractor or subcontracto...

If You Decide Not to Collect Lien Waivers

Ask your general contractor whether he’d allow you to pay each of his subcontractors and suppliers directly. This won’t totally protect you from li...

How Do I Remove A Lien from My Property?

Removing a lien on a property can be a complicated and stressful process, and it prevents you from selling your home until the lien is removed. Bel...

Does A Property Lien Affect Title?

A property lien can put a “cloud” or irregularity in the chain of title of a property. Clouds on title are discovered during a title search. It is...

How to Remove A Lien After A Debt Is Paid?

For purposes of selling or refinancing a home, it’s important to remove a lien after a debt has been fully satisfied. To remove the debt, you must:...

What happens if a contractor puts a lien on your house?

If a contractor puts a lien on your house, you’ll have to fight to keep your house out of foreclosure. Here’s how to defend yourself. Here’s a scary scenario: You’ve just completed a home improvement project and paid the contractor in full for the work. But the contractor skips out without paying one of his subcontractors.

How to avoid a mechanic's lien?

How to Avoid a Lien with a Lien Waver. The best way to protect yourself from a mechanic’s lien is with a lien waiver. This is a legal document furnished by the contractor or subcontractor at your request. There’s no cost to you and no need for an attorney to review it first. By signing a lien waiver, a contractor or subcontractor agrees ...

What Does Legal Action Cost?

You’ll be looking at legal fees that range from $5,000-$15,000. For small disputes, it may be worthwhile to negotiate a settlement rather than going before a judge.

Can you fend off a lien on a construction contract?

The decision depends largely on which state you live in. In some, you may be able to fend off a lien if: You prove that you've paid your construction bills fully and on time. You prove that the contractor who filed the lien has breached his contract and doesn’t deserve to be paid.

Do you need an attorney to review a lien waiver?

There’s no cost to you and no need for an attorney to review it first. By signing a lien waiver, a contractor or subcontractor agrees that they've been paid in full for work completed and that they no longer have the right to file a lien against your house.

What does the court do when a lien is not valid?

If there is a question of fact related to the determination of whether the lien is or is not valid, the court may take evidence to assist in the determination (like a deposition of interested parties or other evidence).

What are the requirements for a lien in Pennsylvania?

These requirements include: a debt of more than $500, notice requirements (for parties that did not contract directly with the property owner), timing requirements, and filing and service requirements ...

Can you file objections to lien enforcement?

The objections may be filed prior to the lien claimant initiat ing an enforcement action, and likely should be, to avoid the requirement to file a regular answer to the enforcement action. This is an action in court, and while an individual may represent him/herself, it is rarely a good idea, and it may be worth while to enlist the services ...

Can a lien be disallowed in Pennsylvania?

In such situations, liens are disallowed by law. If a lien is filed in that instance, the owner can petition the court for an immediate discharge of the lien. While these exact procedures are specific to Pennsylvania, there are many states with similar options to get a fraudulent or facially insufficient lien removed.

Can a lien be removed quickly?

Another Option, But Only on Some Residential Projects. There is potentially another option to have a lien removed quickly (that also requires a court action). But, this option is only available if the project was on a single or double residential project, and the owner has paid the GC the full contract amount.

Can a property owner file preliminary objections?

A property owner who has been made defendant in a procedurally or substantively defective lien can file these “preliminary objections” in an attempt to have the invalid lien removed in a quick and relatively inexpensive manner. To best position themselves for the removal of the insufficient lien, the owner should set forth all bases for belief that the lien is improper in the preliminary objections. The objections may be filed prior to the lien claimant initiating an enforcement action, and likely should be, to avoid the requirement to file a regular answer to the enforcement action.

How to remove a lien from a property?

Removing a lien from your property can be a complex and drawn out process. However, you do have a few options: Satisfy Your Debt: This is the most straightforward option. Once you have paid off the balance of your debt, in full, you can file a Release of Lien form. This acts as evidence that the debt has been paid and will effectively remove ...

How to determine if a lien is placed on your property?

In order to determine whether there is a lien placed on your property, you should perform a simple title search. A clear title is required before you can sell or refinance most property, such as home. As such, it is important to remove a lien once a debt has been fully satisfied so you may later on sell the property.

What happens when you take out a lien on your car?

Once again, there are many different ways in which a creditor may place a lien on your property. For example, when a person takes out an auto loan a lien is created which gives the lender the right to possession of the vehicle until the loan is repaid in full. Additionally, since the car loan is secured by the vehicle itself, most lenders will require the borrower to also take out full insurance coverage on the vehicle. Although the information that appears on car titles varies from state to state, in general a vehicle’s title will reveal all current and past liens and lienholders.

How do liens arise?

Most liens arise from a contract between the creditor and debtor. In general, before a lien can be placed on a property, the creditor must go to court and present evidence of the unpaid debt. A judgment is then received, and if it is granted, the creditor may proceed with filing a lien on the property. This is done by registering the judgment ...

What is a lien on a property?

The legal term “ lien ” refers to the right to keep possession of a property that belongs to another person, until that person has paid off a debt that they owe. A lender may take the lien and then sell it in specific circumstances, such as those in which the borrower is unable to make their scheduled loan payment.

What is a statutory lien?

This means that the lien is authorized by some statute for delinquent payments , such as tax liens. Under a statutory lien, the debtor does not consent to the lien.

What is a judicial lien?

Judgment, or judicial liens are typically obtained in connection to the final judgment issued in a lawsuit between a debtor and a creditor. Once the judicial lien has been certified by the court, the debtor is required to forfeit their property.

Who can put a lien on your house?

Just as there are many types of liens, there are many types of people and institutions that can put a lien on your property. When talking about who can put a lien on your property, it is worth being aware of both voluntary and involuntary liens.

What happens when you put a lien on a property?

Once a lien is placed on a debtor's property, the creditor will get a portion of the funds if the property is sold. Liens can be placed on all kinds of property, but they are usually placed on the most valuable items a debtor owns, like their home, vehicles, boats, etc., because these types of properties will usually cover or significantly ...

What does a lien do?

Once it has been established, a lien limits the property owner's ability to transfer ownership of the property's title; the lien must be satisfied before the property on which the lien is placed is sold. Additionally, there are different types of liens. Some of the more common types of liens include:

What happens if you take out a mortgage?

If you have taken out a mortgage, the creditor may have put a lien on your house as collateral. This mortgage lien is a voluntary lien into which the debtor has knowingly entered.

What is a lien on a property?

What is a lien? If someone is unable to pay their debts, the creditor, i.e., the person the debtor needs to pay, may be able to collect funds from the debtor by claiming a share of something of value that the debtor owns. That claim on the debtor's property is known as a lien.

Can you sue if your house had a lien on it when you purchased it?

Generally, a title search will determine whether a property has a lien on it. It is uncommon for people to purchase property with a lien on it because property usually cannot be sold until any liens are satisfied. However, liens in the name of previous owners can sometimes go unnoticed in a deed.

How to remove a lien on my credit report?

Consider a strongly worded letter to the creditor explaining the situation and citing the Fair Credit Report Act. The creditor needs to remove the lien to prevent further damage to your financial situation. Contact a debt attorney to consult with.

Can you get money damages if a judgment was recorded against the wrong party?

You can also get money damages if the judgment was recorded against the wrong party. In your post, it was unclear if this was some type of mechanic's lien, or if this was a judicial lien.

Do judgment liens get placed on specific properties in Ohio?

In Ohio, judgment liens do not get placed on specific properties. Typically judgment creditors do not record their liens at the county recorder's office.

Can a judgment be set aside in Ohio?

The Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure provide for a judgment to be set aside. You need to contact a consumer attorney in your area to review the circumstances. If you never received notice of the lawsuit, and therefore could not answer or defend the lawsuit, then the judgment must be vacated.

Can you refinance a house without a lien?

The Clerk cannot doing anything. You cannot sell or refinance the house without getting the lien removed, so engage counsel.

How to protect your home from lawsuits

General liability coverage: All homeowners should have this standard coverage.

How to protect your home from creditors

Homestead exemption: So what if, instead of a lawsuit, you’re facing a creditor or bankruptcy? A homestead exemption is available in certain states and protects some of the value of your home if a creditor forces the sale of your property. Some states allow an unlimited exemption, but other states set a cap on that amount.

How to remove a judgment lien from a house?

There are several ways of doing it: You can choose to ignore judgment lien if you don’t possess any real property or property that is under $3,000. Your creditors want their money and will be all too eager to release the judgment lien, once you decide to pay off your debt.

What is a judgment lien?

What is judgment lien? Lien is the right to keep somebody’s property until the debt is paid. And a judgment lien is one that attaches your property without your consent if you lose a monetary lawsuit against someone. The winner of the lawsuit then goes ahead and records the judgment against your property.

Why do creditors use judgments?

A judgment lien is favourite with creditors since it is a sure-shot way of ensuring you actually pay off your debts. For this, the creditor first obtains a judgment against you and then attaches the judgment as proof of his or her entitlement to the lien.

Can you sell a judgment lien?

Your creditors want their money and will be all too eager to release the judgment lien, once you decide to pay off your debt. For this, they will need to file the release with the recording authority. Once released from the lien, you are at liberty to do whatever you want with your property. For instance, you can sell it or lease it or transfer it to another name.

Can you avoid a non-consensual judgment?

You can avoid non-consensual judgment lien on the property, if…. …the lien was a result of monetary judgment issued by a court. …you can claim an exemption in some of your equity in the property. …the lien would impair exempt equity, if the property were sold. These conditions are applicable to any exempt property, including real estate and cars.

What Is A Lien?

  • If someone is unable to pay their debts, the creditor, i.e., the person the debtor needs to pay, may be able to collect funds from the debtor by claiming a share of something of value that the debtor owns. That claim on the debtor's property is known as a lien. Once a lien is placed on a debtor's property, the creditor will get a portion of the fun...
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What Does A Lien do?

  • Once it has been established, a lien limits the property owner's ability to transfer ownership of the property's title; the lien must be satisfied before the property on which the lien is placed is sold. Additionally, there are different types of liens. Some of the more common types of liens include: 1. Judgment lien 2. Mechanic's lien 3. Involuntary lien 4. General lien
See more on findlaw.com

Who Can Put A Lien on Your House?

  • Just as there are many types of liens, there are many types of people and institutions that can put a lien on your property. When talking about who can put a lien on your property, it is worth being aware of both voluntary and involuntary liens. If you have taken out a mortgage, the creditor may have put a lien on your house as collateral. This mortgage lien is a voluntary lien into which the d…
See more on findlaw.com

Can You Sue If Your House Had A Lien on It When You Purchased It?

  • Generally, a title search will determine whether a property has a lien on it. It is uncommon for people to purchase property with a lien on it because property usually cannot be sold until any liens are satisfied. However, liens in the name of previous owners can sometimes go unnoticed in a deed. These types of situations become complicated quickly and trying to navigate this type o…
See more on findlaw.com