Undiscovered liens can result in high fines and even foreclosure on the home you worked so hard to obtain. Creditors should make all possible attempts to notify property owners of liens placed on their property but some liens can still go unnoticed so homeowners must take steps to protect themselves.
Judgments have expiration dates. If they are not timely renewed, they expire. In CA that is 10 years. However, when a judgment lien has been recorded against your property, it has no expiration date.
As further bad news, default judgments do not simply vanish. The lien of a default judgment lasts five years and may be easily and repeatedly revived and transferred to other counties or states.
In North Carolina, a lien claimant has 120 days from the date of last furnishing to complete these 3 steps: Fill out a mechanics lien form that meets NC requirements. File the lien with the county recorder's office. Serve a copy of the lien on the property owner.
A judgment lien expires after 5 years from the date it is recorded but may be rerecorded once for another period of 5 years not less than 120 days before the expiration of the initial judgment.
A judgment lien, sometimes referred to as an “abstract of judgment,” is an involuntary lien that is filed to give constructive notice and is to attach to the Judgment Debtor's property and/or assets.
Judgments have expiration dates. If they are not timely renewed, they expire. In CA that is 10 years. However, when a judgment lien has been recorded against your property, it has no expiration date.
Verify the Lien: Ensure the lien is valid and check for any errors that could invalidate it. Satisfy the Judgment: Paying the debt in full is the most straightforward way to remove the lien. Obtain a satisfaction of judgment from the creditor and file it with the court.
The judgment lien is not going to impact a homesteaded property so the mortgage lender would be able to obtain a first lien on your property. So, as long as you otherwise qualify for a mortgage, the judgment lien should not be a problem.