what are the different types of liens an attorney

by Rashad Lynch 8 min read

The different types of liens are:

  • Contractor’s lien.
  • Divorce liens.
  • Judgment liens.
  • Homeowners’ association liens.
  • Federal tax liens.
  • Equitable liens.

There are three common types of liens: statutory, consensual, and judgment.Apr 15, 2022

Full Answer

What is an example of an attorney’s lien?

For example, if an attorney is owed compensation for services performed on behalf of his client, he may have an attorney’s lien on real estate the client owns. If the client does not pay the fees that are due, the attorney may obtain his fees through the sale of the property.

What are the different types of liens?

However, there are other types of liens you may have to deal with. Property, child support, cars, and more can be subjected to a lien. At its most basic, a lien is a claim on something you own as a security against a debt you owe.

Do I need an attorney to place a lien on my property?

By consulting an attorney, you can ensure that you follow all necessary procedures under your state's laws in order to place a legally binding lien on a debtor's property, or to have a lien released from your property if you are eligible to do so.

What are statutory liens and judicial liens?

Non-consensual lien rights that are granted by a law are called statutory liens. Judicial liens. Those that result from court action are called judicial liens.

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How does a lien work in a garnishment?

This type of lien attaches to your money or property held by anyone who is served with a garnishment or attachment order. They are often used to seize bank accounts or wages. These types of orders are generally used as collection methods after a judgment has been entered against you. The lien stays in place until the court decides whether the creditor can use your money or property to pay down the judgment or if it should be released to you. In the case of a continuing wage garnishment, the lien stays in place until the creditor is paid in full or the garnishment is released.

What is the difference between a non-consensual lien and a non-consensual lien

The difference is that a non-consensual lien was obtained by the creditor involuntarily, or without your agreement. Most non-consensual liens come into play after you have failed to pay an obligation that was not generally thought of as secured.

What is a lien on a property?

Commonly, liens for unpaid real estate taxes attach, or become linked, only to the property for which the tax was owed. Other tax liens, such as liens for unpaid federal income taxes, attach to everything you own, real estate and personal property.

What is a tax lien?

Tax Liens. Federal and state governments have laws that grant taxing authorities liens on your property to secure unpaid taxes. The requirements for turning an unpaid unsecured tax obligation into a tax lien are set out in the statute that creates the lien rights and can vary substantially between states.

How long does a lien stay in place?

The lien stays in place until the court decides whether the creditor can use your money or property to pay down the judgment or if it should be released to you. In the case of a continuing wage garnishment , the lien stays in place until the creditor is paid in full or the garnishment is released.

What is a statute liens?

Statutory Liens. Statutory liens can be created by federal or state laws . The property that is affected depends on what the lien attaches to. When a lien attaches to property, it gives the creditor a secured interest in that property which the creditor may be able to pursue and have sold to satisfy the debt.

What is voluntary lien?

A voluntary lien is created when you agree to give a lender, such as a mortgage or car loan lender, an interest in your property to serve as security for a loan. Voluntary liens induce creditors to lend you money by providing extra assurance that they will get their money back.For example, when you purchase a home and take out a mortgage, ...

What are the two basic classifications of liens?

Every type of lien will be fall under a combination of these two basic classifications. These are general or specific liens and voluntary or involuntary liens (also referred to as consensual and no-consensual liens).

How do creditors collect payment?

How creditors collect payment through a lien. If the lienholder wants to enforce their right to payment, this is done through a foreclosure action. What that means is that the collateral securing the debt will be seized and sold. After the sale, the proceeds will be distributed to pay off the liens on the property.

What is a lien on a property?

According to US law — 11 USC §101 (37) — the term “lien” means a charge against or interest in the property to secure payment of a debt or performance of an obligation. Essentially, a lien is when a lender or creditor acquires an interest in some type of collateral, typically real property.

What is an involuntary lien?

a security interest) on their property. Involuntary liens, on the other hand, are those placed on the property by someone without the consent of the property owner. These include judgment liens and mechanics liens.

How to get a lien removed from a property?

As obvious as this may seem, the best way to have a lien removed from the property is to pay what you owe. Once the debt has been paid, the lienholder will typically be required to have the lien removed.

How to avoid a mechanics lien?

Most liens can be avoided by simply making timely payments on your bills, including your taxes. But, in the case of mechanics liens, it can get a little more complicated.

What is a specific lien?

In contrast, a specific lien is one that attaches to a specific asset. For example, a mortgage bank has a lien on the piece of real estate they financed the purchase of. In a specific lien, the asset was specifically offered as collateral in exchange for the loan or credit.

What is a non-purchase money security interest lien?

These liens are used for transactions that aren’t related to directly purchasing a new piece of property. Instead, the lien is placed on a property the borrower already owns. The resulting money from the transaction can be used for anything the borrower wants. Taking out a second mortgage on a home is an example of a non-purchase-money security interest lien.

What is consensual lien?

A consensual lien is exactly what it sounds like — this is an agreement between both the borrower and the lender to the stipulations contained within the lien.

What is a lien on a loan?

“A lien is a claim or legal right against assets that are typically used as collateral to satisfy a debt...A lien serves to guarantee an underlying obligation, such as the repayment of a loan. If the underlying obligation is not satisfied, the creditor may be able to seize the asset that is the subject of the lien.”

Do liens come from a lender?

As we said earlier, not all liens come from an agreement between the borrower and the lender. Statutory liens exist through actions by local or federal laws. This allows a lender to potentially sell off a piece of the property in question if the loan stipulations are not met.

What is real estate transaction?

Real estate transactions often involve large sums of money. This means that there will almost always be an associated debt after the fact. Loans and mortgages are frequently employed to provide the necessary amount of capital needed to purchase a property.

Can you have a lien on your property if you owe taxes?

Unpaid taxes can have a wide range of negative effects. One such potential consequence is that the government can place a lien on your property in response to unpaid property taxes. Local statutes will dictate exactly how this works but the lien is commonly attached to the property which owes taxes. Failure to pay federal taxes can result in liens placed on every piece of property the person owns.

What are the two types of liens that an attorney can obtain?

The two basic types of attorney's liens are called charging liens and retaining liens. In many places, lawyers have the right to attorney's liens that help to protect them from losses due to non-payment.

What is the right of an attorney to hold onto a client's assets?

The attorney retains the right to the client’s assets until he has been compensated for the legal services he performed and advice he provided. Sometimes the asset a lawyer holds onto as an attorney’s lien is money. For example, settlement money may not be released until the attorney is paid the amount that is due to him.

What is an attorney's lien?

An attorney’s lien allows an attorney to hold onto or make a claim against a client’s assets until he has received payment. One type of attorney’s lien is called a charging lien. This type of lien is made against a settlement or judgment a client receives.

What is a retaining lien?

A retaining lien is another type of attorney’s lien. With this type of lien, an attorney may have a right to any money or property the client receives during a case, regardless of whether it is related to the legal action in which the attorney is involved.

How do lawyers make money?

Attorneys typically earn money by collecting legal fees in exchange for legal document preparation, representation, and advice. In some cases, clients may pay their attorneys for their services up front.

Do you pay your attorney up front?

In some cases, clients may pay their attorneys for their services up front. This is not always the case, however, and an attorney may have to wait to receive his fees at the end of the case or once settlement is made. An attorney’s lien allows an attorney to hold onto or make a claim against a client’s assets until he has received payment.

Can an attorney hold onto a client's property?

For example, settlement money may not be released until the attorney is paid the amount that is due to him. In other cases, however, an attorney may hold onto a client’s property. For instance, he may keep the deed to a person’s home until he has been paid as agreed.

What is the process of filing a lien on a property?

Filing a Property Lien. The process that creditors must follow in order to place liens on property differs according to state law. In most jurisdictions, there are specific notice requirements that a creditor must follow in order to notify the debtor that the lien may be placed on his or her real estate.

What is a lien on a home?

A homeowner also may have an involuntary lien placed on his or her property for work that was done on the property, which is usually referred to as a construction or mechanic's lien. Any judgments for unpaid debts awarded by a court can attach as liens to a debtor's property, as can unpaid sums of child support.

How to release a lien on a property?

The most obvious way to release a lien is for the debtor to pay the debt in full. Once the judgment, debt, or other financial obligation is paid by the debtor, the creditor must release the lien on the debtor's real estate.

What is a lien on real estate?

Liens on real estate are claims against property that are made in order to secure payment of a debt. If a person who owes a debt, often called a debtor, owes money to another person or entity, commonly called a creditor, then the creditor may place a lien on the debtor's property for the value of the debt owed. As a result of the lien, the real estate is used as collateral against the debt. As collateral, the real estate becomes an asset that is a potential source of payment of the debt, if the debtor otherwise fails to satisfy the debt by paying it in full.

What is a mechanic lien?

A mechanic lien is a claim against property for the value of services provided to a property owner with respect to that property. The most common instances that give rise to mechanic liens tend to involve home improvement services provided by a contractor or subcontractor. If the property owner contracts for certain services with a contractor, the work is then performed by the contractor, and the property owner refuses or otherwise fails to pay for those services as agreed, the contractor may file a lien against the property, which may be referred to as a mechanic lien, a construction lien, or a contractor's lien. By placing a lien against the property, the contractor is attempting to secure payment of the unpaid services by using the property itself.

How long does it take for a judgment to be released?

Furthermore, the mere passage of time will release a lien in most jurisdictions; for instance, in some states, a judgment may become void after twenty-five (25) years, which results in release of the judgment lien by operation of law.

Do not sell personal information?

Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Liens on real estate are claims against property that are made in order to secure payment of a debt. If a person who owes a debt, often called a debtor, owes money to another person or entity, commonly called a creditor, then the creditor may place a lien on the debtor's property for the value of the debt owed.

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What Is A Lien?

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A lien (pronounced like lean) is a word derived from the Latin word ligāre, which means “to bind.” This makes sense, as the purpose of a lien is to bind or otherwise encumber the title of a property. But let’s take a step back and look at the actual definition of a lien. According to US law — 11 USC §101(37)— the term “lien” mea…
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Basic Categories of Liens

  • General vs. specific
    Every type of lien will be fall under a combination of these two basic classifications. These are general or specific liens and voluntary or involuntary liens (also referred to as consensual and no-consensual liens). A general lien is one that doesn’t attach to a specific piece of collateral. Inste…
  • Voluntary vs. involuntary
    Liens can also be voluntary or involuntary. This distinction is fairly simple. Did the owner of the property consent or voluntarily agree to have the lien placed on the property? A voluntary lien refers to a lien used when the owner has given their consent. It may seem odd, since no one ask…
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Types of Property Liens

  • Liens can be filed on two different types of property: real propertyand personal property. Real property includes land and any assets that are permanently attached, like a house. Personal property refers to moveable assets, which can include just about anything under the sun: cars, animals, boats, equipment, etc. A title lienis probably the most co...
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How Creditors Collect Payment Through A Lien

  • If the lienholder wants to enforce their right to payment, this is done through a foreclosure action. What that means is that the collateral securing the debt will be seized and sold. After the sale, the proceeds will be distributed to pay off the liens on the property.
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How to Remove A Lien from The Property

  • No one likes liens (they’d prefer to be paid in the first place). But once a lien has already been filed, your options are more limited — but your hands aren’t tied entirely. There are still a few steps a property owner can take to remove a lien.
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