Can someone else place a lien on a mortgaged house?

Full question:

If a house is mortgaged with the mortgage company as lien holder. Can someone else put a lien on that house?

  • Category: Real Property
  • Subcategory: Liens
  • Date:
  • State: North Carolina

Answer:

A lien is a security interest in property used to ensure payment of a debt or obligation. Some liens can be placed on a property without the owner's consent, often due to specific legal relationships between creditors and debtors.

Common types of liens include:

  • Tax liens: These secure payment of taxes owed. They 'run with the land,' meaning the current owner is responsible for the tax, even if it was incurred by a previous owner.
  • Mechanic's liens: These secure payment for labor or materials provided for property improvements. They can be referred to as construction liens, materialman's liens, or laborer's liens depending on the context.
  • Judgment liens: These arise when a court awards a plaintiff a monetary judgment against a defendant, and the judgment is recorded where the defendant's property is located.

In summary, yes, another creditor can place a lien on a house that is already mortgaged, depending on the circumstances and type of debt involved.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

No, a lien holder and a mortgage company are not the same, although a mortgage company can be a lien holder. A lien holder is anyone who has a legal right to a property due to a debt owed. A mortgage company specifically holds a lien on a property as security for the mortgage loan. This means they have the right to take possession of the property if the borrower fails to repay the loan.