lien
noun | \ ˈlēn \
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: a charge or encumbrance upon property for the satisfaction of a debt or other duty that is created by agreement of the parties or especially by operation of law; specifically : a security interest created especially by a mortgage : a security interest created especially by a mortgage
— assessment lien
: a lien that is on property benefiting from an improvement made by a municipality and that secures payment of the taxes assessed to pay for the improvement— attachment lien
: a lien acquired on property by a creditor upon levy of an attachment— carrier's lien
: a lien against freight conferring on the carrier the right to retain the property until the amount due is paid— charging lien
: a lien attaching to a judgment or recovery awarded to a plaintiff and securing payment of the plaintiff's attorney's fees and expenses — called also special lien— choate lien
: a lien that requires no further action to be made enforceable and that identifies the lienor, the property subject to the lien, and the amount of the lien— common-law lien
: a lien under common law giving a creditor (as a bailee) in possession of property the right to retain possession until payment of the amount due— equitable lien
: a lien against property that does not require possession of the property and that is available in equity to prevent unjust enrichment— factor's lien
: a lien against property held on consignment by a factor conferring the right to retain possession of the property until payment of the amount due Note: A factor's lien is simply a security interest and, unlike a common-law lien, is enforceable even after the factor is no longer in possession of the property.— first lien
: a lien taking precedence over all other claims, charges, or encumbrances of the same general category but not necessarily over those (as taxes) imposed by government sanction— floating lien
: a lien created in a security agreement against property owned by the debtor at the time of the agreement's creation as well as property acquired after the agreement's creation— general lien
: a lien that is for the satisfaction of a balance due from an owner of property and that is not confined to the amount due in respect to the property itself : retaining lien in this entry— inchoate lien
: a lien for which some procedure remains unfinished or some term remains undetermined— involuntary lien
: a lien that arises other than by the debtor's consent (as by operation of law)— judgment lien
: a lien acquired against the property of a debtor by a creditor upon obtaining a favorable judgment— judicial lien
: a lien obtained by a legal or equitable process (as judgment, levy, attachment, or execution)— junior lien
: a lien that is lower in priority relative to other liens— landlord's lien
: a lien against the goods and valuables of a tenant to secure payment of rent or sometimes repayment of money otherwise owed to a landlord— maritime lien
: a lien arising under maritime law against a ship or its cargo (as for services or supplies tendered or for damages caused by a collision) which may be enforced by a court-ordered seizure of the property in order to satisfy the obligation— materialman's lien
: a lien on property for materials supplied— mechanic's lien
: a lien against a building and its site to assure priority of payment for labor or services (as construction and sometimes design) or material— retaining lien
: a lien that attaches to the papers or property of a client which have come into his or her attorney's possession in the course of employment and that secures payment of the attorney's fees — called also general lien— senior lien
: a lien that is higher in priority relative to other liens— special lien
: an equitable lien enforceable to compel performance of an obligation (as under a divorce settlement) : charging lien in this entry— specific lien
: a lien upon specific property as security for the payment of a debt or the satisfaction of some other obligation arising out of a transaction or agreement involving that property — compare general lien in this entry— statutory lien
: a lien imposed by statute— tax lien
: a statutory lien on property for taxes due giving the taxing authority a security interest in the property — compare tax sale at sale— vendor's lien
: a lien on especially real property securing payment in full of the purchase price by the buyer— voluntary lien
: a lien created (as by contract) with the consent of the debtor