A property lien is a notice to the world that someone (usually a creditor) claims that you owe it money. The lien is "recorded" against a particular piece of property, such as your home or car. Usually, you cannot sell or transfer the property while the lien is in existence.
Liens are often divided into those that can be recorded against your property without a judgment (often simply called property liens) and those that can only be recorded against your property after the creditor has sued you and won (often called judgment liens).
Learn what a property lien is and how it affects your property.
Learn the differences between property liens and judgment liens.
Judgment creditors can force the sale of your home to get paid, but they rarely do this.
Find out if a creditor with a judgment against your spouse can place a lien on property you both own jointly.
Sidestep the lawyers with do-it-yourself books, documents, and software.
Online Form
Nolo offers hundreds of consumer-friendly, do-it-yourself legal products for all types of legal situations. Browse our full product list.
Click below to view more legal issues. Our extensive collection of legal topics ranges across different areas of practice.
Our editors have over 100 years of combined experience practicing law. These professionals have worked in a wide range of legal areas, from estate planning to criminal law to business formation and beyond. They’re experts at explaining complicated legal issues in easy-to-understand terms.
Learn more about the team that manages Nolo’s articles, books, and DIY tools.
Find an experienced, local attorney in three easy steps. Our process is designed for ease and simplicity.
Briefly tell us about your case, and provide your contact information.
We find and instantly list attorneys that can best handle your case.
Choose the attorneys you would like to work with.
At Nolo, we prioritize quality and transparency because we know how important reliable legal information is to our readers. Our information is meticulously researched, regularly updated, and written in plain English by our experienced writers and editors. Learn more about our editorial standards.
Grow your firm with Martindale-Nolo, the largest legal network, and learn more about our attorney lead-generation and marketing services.
At Nolo, we prioritize quality and transparency because we know how important reliable legal information is to our readers. Our information is meticulously researched, regularly updated, and written in plain English by our experienced writers and editors. Learn more about our editorial standards.