Start My Answer

What is a Lien on a House?

Dena Standley | April 04, 2023

Dena Standley
Legal Expert, Paralegal
Dena Standley, BA

Dena Standley is a seasoned paralegal with more than 20 years of experience in legal research and writing, having received a certification as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal from Southern Technical College.

Edited by Hannah Locklear

Hannah Locklear
Editor at SoloSuit
Hannah Locklear, BA

Hannah Locklear is SoloSuit’s Marketing and Impact Manager. With an educational background in Linguistics, Spanish, and International Development from Brigham Young University, Hannah has also worked as a legal support specialist for several years.

It's best to avoid a judgmnet lien on your house.

Summary: A lien on a house means that someone else, in addition to the title holder, has a legal claim to the property. Liens can be voluntary or involuntary, good or bad, as this article by SoloSuit explains.

Mortgages are the most common liens on homes. The property title is in your name when you take out a mortgage. However, the lender has some legal claim to the house until you fully repay the loan. That legal claim is called a lien—an attachment to the home that gives the holder some property rights.

Creditors use liens to ensure borrowers pay their debts. It's like using the house as collateral for a loan. And the lender can foreclose the mortgage to recover their money if you fail to repay as agreed.

But mortgages are just one type of lien. Some liens are less voluntary and may come as a surprise to consumers. This article explores lien types, how they affect the title to a property, and how to prevent a judgment lien on your house.

Settle with SoloSettle

Make an Offer

What types of liens can be placed on a house?

Liens generally fall into two groups—voluntary and involuntary. As the names suggest, the former is placed on the house with the owner's permission, while the latter applies against the owner's wishes.

Voluntary liens on a house include the following:

  • Mortgages
  • Second mortgage/ junior-lien

Voluntary liens are “good” because they allow the borrower to use the home while repaying the loan. These liens are removed from the house once the lender gets their money in full and are typically no cause for worry if you keep up with your repayments.

What are the different types of involuntary liens on a house?

Financial troubles, disagreements between homeowners and contractors, and missed tax payments can all result in you “co-owning” your house with someone else.

The following are examples of involuntary liens you can have on your house.

  • Mechanic's lien: You should pay for services if you hire someone to do major renovations or improvements on your house. Failure to pay them can result in the contractor placing a lien on your home. If the county approves the lien, you must either pay them or negotiate a settlement; otherwise, you cannot transfer ownership with a clean title. Without a clean title, you will be unable to sell your house.

  • Property tax lien: If you owe the government property taxes, they can place a lien on your house until you catch up on your responsibilities. Local, county, state, or federal government can claim part of your property for the amount you owe.

  • Homeowners Association (HOA) liens: You must pay your HOA dues and avoid breaking any housing codes; otherwise, the association can get a lien on your house.

  • Judgment lien: Judgment liens come into effect because of court orders. For example, suppose you fail to pay your unsecured loan, and the creditor or a debt collector takes you to court. The judge can issue a default judgment if you don't Answer the Summons. Or the litigation process can prove that you are indeed guilty. If that happens, the creditor has several options for recovering their money. They may obtain permission to garnish your wages, freeze your bank accounts, or place a lien on your property.

So, is it bad to have a lien on your house? Let's explore some of the consequences of having liens on your home below.

How does a lien on my house affect it?

Liens are legal, so you cannot just wish them away. Having a lien on your house has several disadvantages, including the following:

  • Many buyers want to avoid a home with liens, as it is difficult, if not impossible, to secure a mortgage on a house with a lien against it. As a result, your listing may stay on the market too long.
  • Liens reduce your house's market value.
  • Even if you sell, you must pay part of the amount to the lien holder.
  • Your credit score will drop if liens against your property reach the credit monitoring bureaus.
  • It becomes harder to refinance your mortgage if need be.

For most consumers struggling with debt, judgment liens are a possible reality.

How to prevent the court from issuing a judgment lien

Many debt settlement companies wrongly advise consumers to refrain from paying their unsecured debts. Some even say to ignore debt collectors' lawsuits. However, ignoring a court Summons is the quickest way to get a judgment lien on your house.

Instead, if a creditor sues you, file your Answer within the deadline at the court. Be sure to send the plaintiff a copy of the document.

Use SoloSuit to generate your Answer in minutes.

After filing your response, you can offer to settle the debt out of court. Or you can invoke the arbitration clause in your contract to force the lawsuit out of court. SoloSuit provides these products cheaply for consumers who cannot afford to hire an attorney.

Remember that involuntary liens taint your property and may put off potential buyers. It's in your best interest to do your all to prevent or remove them when possible.

Related: How to Get Rid of a Judgment Lien on a Property.

To learn more about how to respond to a lawsuit and avoid a judgment lien, check out this video:

What is SoloSuit?

SoloSuit makes it easy to fight debt collectors.

You can use SoloSuit to respond to a debt lawsuit, to send letters to collectors, and even to settle a debt.

SoloSuit's Answer service is a step-by-step web-app that asks you all the necessary questions to complete your Answer. Upon completion, we'll have an attorney review your document and we'll file it for you.

>>Read the FastCompany article: Debt Lawsuits Are Complicated: This Website Makes Them Simpler To Navigate

>>Read the NPR story on SoloSuit. (We can help you in all 50 states.)

How to answer a summons for debt collection in your state

Here's a list of guides for other states.

All 50 states.



Guides on how to beat every debt collector

Being sued by a different debt collector? Were making guides on how to beat each one.


We have answers

Join our community of over 40,000 people.


You can ask your questions on the SoloSuit forum and the community will help you out. Whether you need help now are are just look for support, we're here for you.


Get Started

Win against credit card companies

Is your credit card company suing you? Learn how you can beat each one.

Going to Court for Credit Card Debt — Key Tips

How to Negotiate Credit Card Debts

How to Settle a Credit Card Debt Lawsuit — Ultimate Guide

Get answers to these FAQs

Need more info on statutes of limitations? Read our 50-state guide.

Why do debt collectors block their phone numbers?

How long do debt collectors take to respond to debt validation letters?

What are the biggest debt collector companies in the US?

Is Zombie Debt Still a Problem in 2019?

SoloSuit FAQ

If a car is repossessed, do I still owe the debt?

Is Portfolio Recovery Associates Legit?

Is There a Judgment Against Me Without my Knowledge?

Should I File Bankruptcy Before or After a Judgment?

What is a default judgment?— What do I do?

Summoned to Court for Medical Bills — What Do I Do?

What Happens If Someone Sues You and You Have No Money?

What Happens If You Never Answer Debt Collectors?

What Happens When a Debt Is Sold to a Collection Agency

What is a Stipulated Judgment?

What is the Deadline for a Defendants Answer to Avoid a Default Judgment?

Can a Judgement Creditor Take my Car?

Can I Settle a Debt After Being Served?

Can I Stop Wage Garnishment?

Can You Appeal a Default Judgement?

Do I Need a Debt Collection Defense Attorney?

Do I Need a Payday Loans Lawyer?

Do student loans go away after 7 years? — Student Loan Debt Guide

Am I Responsible for My Spouses Medical Debt?

Should I Marry Someone With Debt?

Can a Debt Collector Leave a Voicemail?

How Does Debt Assignment Work?

What Happens If a Defendant Does Not Pay a Judgment?

How Does Debt Assignment Work?

Can You Serve Someone with a Collections Lawsuit at Their Work?

What Is a Warrant in Debt?

How Many Times Can a Judgment be Renewed in Oklahoma?

Can an Eviction Be Reversed?

Does Debt Consolidation Have Risks?

What Happens If You Avoid Getting Served Court Papers?

Does Student Debt Die With You?

Can Debt Collectors Call You at Work in Texas?

How Much Do You Have to Be in Debt to File for Chapter 7?

What Is the Statute of Limitations on Debt in Washington?

How Long Does a Judgment Last?

Can Private Disability Payments Be Garnished?

Can Debt Collectors Call From Local Numbers?

Does the Fair Credit Reporting Act Work in Florida?

The Truth: Should You Never Pay a Debt Collection Agency?

Should You Communicate with a Debt Collector in Writing or by Telephone?

Do I Need a Debt Negotiator?

What Happens After a Motion for Default Is Filed?

Can a Process Server Leave a Summons Taped to My Door?

Learn More With These Additional Resources:

Need help managing your finances? Check out these resources.

How to Make a Debt Validation Letter - The Ultimate Guide

How to Make a Motion to Compel Arbitration Without an Attorney

How to Stop Wage Garnishment — Everything You Need to Know

How to File an FDCPA Complaint Against Your Debt Collector (Ultimate Guide)

Defending Yourself in Court Against a Debt Collector

Tips on you can to file an FDCPA lawsuit against a debt collection agency

Advice on how to answer a summons for debt collection.

Effective strategies for how to get back on track after a debt lawsuit

New Hampshire Statute of Limitations on Debt

Sample Cease and Desist Letter Against Debt Collectors

The Ultimate Guide to Responding to a Debt Collection Lawsuit in Utah

West Virginia Statute of Limitations on Debt

What debt collectors cannot do — FDCPA explained

Defending Yourself in Court Against Debt Collector

How to Liquidate Debt

Arkansas Statute of Limitations on Debt

Youre Drowning in Debt — Heres How to Swim

Help! Im Being Sued by My Debt Collector

How to Make a Motion to Vacate Judgment

How to Answer Summons for Debt Collection in Vermont

North Dakota Statute of Limitations on Debt

ClearPoint Debt Management Review

Indiana Statute of Limitations on Debt

Oregon Eviction Laws - What They Say

CuraDebt Debt Settlement Review

How to Write a Re-Aging Debt Letter

How to Appear in Court by Phone

How to Use the Doctrine of Unclean Hands

Debt Consolidation in Eugene, Oregon

Summoned to Court for Medical Bills? What to Do Next

How to Make a Debt Settlement Agreement

Received a 3-Day Eviction Notice? Heres What to Do

How to Answer a Lawsuit for Debt Collection

Tips for Leaving the Country With Unpaid Credit Card Debt

Kansas Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection

How to File in Small Claims Court in Iowa

How to File a Civil Answer in Kings County Supreme Court

Roseland Associates Debt Consolidation Review

How to Stop a Garnishment

Debt Eraser Review

Do Debt Collectors Ever Give Up?

Can They Garnish Your Wages for Credit Card Debt?

How Often Do Credit Card Companies Sue for Non-Payment?

How Long Does a Judgement Last?

​​How Long Before a Creditor Can Garnish Wages?

How to Beat a Bill Collector in Court

Not sued yet?

Use our Debt Validation Letter.


Out Debt Validation Letter is the best way to respond to a collection letter. Many debt collectors will simply give up after receiving it.


Let's Do It

It only takes 15 minutes.

And 50% of our customers' cases have been dismissed in the past.


"Finding yourself on the wrong side of the law unexpectedly is kinda scary. I started researching on YouTube and found SoloSuit's channel. The videos were so helpful, easy to understand and encouraging. When I reached out to SoloSuit they were on it. Very professional, impeccably prompt. Thanks for the service!" - Heather



Get Started