Lien

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Property law --   Part of the common law series Personal propertyCommunity propertyReal propertyUnowned property GiftAdverse possessionDeedConquestDiscoveryAccessionLost, mislaid, and abandoned propertyTreasure troveBailmentLicenseAlienation Allodial titleFee simpleFee tailLife estateDefeasible estateFuture interest remainderConcurrent estateLeasehold estateCondominiumsReal estateLand tenure Bona fide purchaserTorrens titleStrata titleDeeds registrationEstoppel by deedQuitclaim deedMortgageEquitable conversionAction to quiet titleEscheat Restraint on alienationRule against perpetuitiesRule in Shelley's CaseDoctrine of worthier title LienEasementProfitUsufructCovenantEquitable servitude FixturesWastePartitionPracticing without a licenseProperty rightsMineral rightsWater rights prior appropriationriparianLateral and subjacent supportAssignmentNemo datQuicquid plantaturConflict of property lawsBlackacreSecurity deposit Contract lawTort lawWills, trusts and estatesCriminal lawEvidenceHigher category: Law and Common law vte

A lien (/ˈln/ or /ˈlən/)[Note 1] is a form of security interest granted over an item of property to secure the payment of a debt or performance of some other obligation. The owner of the property, who grants the lien, is referred to as the lienee[3] and the person who has the benefit of the lien is referred to as the lienor[4] or lien holder.

The etymological root is Anglo-French lien or loyen, meaning "bond", "restraint", from the Latin ligamen, from ligare "to bind".

In the United States, the term lien generally refers to a wide range of encumbrances and would include other forms of mortgage or charge. In the US, a lien characteristically refers to nonpossessory security interests (see generally: Security interest § Types).