At some point in time everyone is faced with the decision to buy something on credit. It may be a car, a house, an appliance, or a tract of land that requires some sort of financing to complete the transaction. If financing is the only option a lien is generated to guarantee payment. A lien is a claim against the property purchased; it prevents an individual from selling it before the debt is paid and the lien is removed.

A lien doesn't give anyone else ownership of the property it just prevents the individual from transferring or selling the property while the lien is in force. If the property is sold before the lien is paid the owner must pay off the lien from the proceeds of the sale. If the proceeds are less than what's owed on the property the owner is responsible for the difference and must pay it before the lien is removed. Lien processing lawyers' deal with incorporating, enforcing, and retiring liens.

Most liens are voluntary so a standard form is used when purchasing a car on credit or buying a home. A home mortgage is actually a lien; the lender puts a lien on the property until the mortgage is paid or the property is sold and the debt is paid in full. Contractors use liens to ensure payment when remodeling work is done. A contractor or mechanics lien can be filed in some states without the giving the individual any notice. That practice can open the door for several legal battles and that's when a lien processing attorney is called in to sort out inferior workmanship, additional charges, and non-payment for services rendered.

The government will put a lien on property if income taxes are not paid according to their terms. Another type of lien processing has evolved from the failure to pay income taxes on time. A tax attorney is trained to negotiate with the government so tax liens can be removed as quickly as possible. A lien processing tax lawyer helps taxpayers pay what is owed or they make a settlement with the government so the tax lien is removed from personal property.

Other liens like a divorce lien, a homeowners' association lien, and judgment liens filed by banks and credit card companies often require the services of a lien processing attorney who can help reduce additional interest charges and legal costs.