Property liens are a method of collecting payment of unpaid debts in many states. A creditor first obtains a judgment against a debtor for the amount of the payment owed. The recorded judgment then creates a lien on the debtor's real property in the county or city where the judgment is obtained. In some states, liens happen automatically while in others, creditors need to file special paperwork to record the lien. Once a lien is recorded, the original creditor will eventually get paid. The homeowner/debtor (or the debtor's heirs) will not be able to sell or refinance the home without payment to the creditor to satisfy the lien (that is, pay off the amount of the judgment).
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