The purpose of a lien letter is to certify that there are no municipal claims such as water, sewage, sewer assessment, etc. against the property being sold, transferred, or refinanced. If there is a claim on the property in question, the letter will provide the amount necessary to cover the claim(s).
A payoff request allows a third party to receive the current balance due to release a lien or facilitate a business transfer (bulk sale transfer or liquor license). To release a lien or facilitate a bulk sale transfer, businesses must be in good standing to receive a payoff request.
If you don't have a title in hand you'll have to process the lien release before you can sell it.
First, you'll need to contact your lender and let them know you want the information. Depending on your lender, you may have to sign in to an online account, call a helpline, or send a formal letter to start the request process.
How do I request a payoff letter? To get a payoff letter, ask your lender for an official payoff statement. Call or write to customer service or make the request online. While logged into your account, look for options to request or calculate a payoff amount, and provide details such as your desired payoff date.