Creditors want more than a personal promise to pay. A lien is a legal claim against specific property that secures payment of a debt or performance of an obligation, allowing the lienholder to look to that property for satisfaction.

Liens may arise by agreement, such as a mortgage, by statute, such as a tax or mechanic’s lien, or by judgment after litigation. Priority among competing liens usually depends on the type of lien and the time of recording or attachment. Enforcement often involves foreclosure or forced sale.

Property owners must clear liens to transfer clean title. Title searches reveal recorded claims before purchase. Understanding lien priority is essential in lending, construction, and judgment collection practice.

• Legal claim against property securing a debt
• May be consensual, statutory, or judicial
• Priority rules determine competing rights
• Enforced through sale or foreclosure processes