When there’s a lien on your home, it can feel like a big roadblock standing in your way. It can keep you from selling, refinancing or even having full control over your own property. Whether it’s from unpaid taxes, a legal dispute or a contractor who says they weren’t paid, you’ll need to deal with it before moving forward.
If you’re trying to figure out how to remove a property lien in California, we’ve got you covered. We’ll walk you through what liens are, how to find out if your home has one and the steps to get rid of it. And if handling it all sounds overwhelming, Osborne Homes can help. We buy houses in California, even with liens attached.
What is a Property Lien?
A property lien is a legal claim against your home that prevents you from selling or refinancing it until the debt is resolved. Liens are filed with county records and remain until they are paid off, settled or removed through legal action. Here are the various types of property liens in California.
Tax Liens
Issued by the IRS or California Franchise Tax Board due to unpaid state or federal taxes. These property tax liens in California give the government a claim on your property and can lead to forced sale or foreclosure if left unpaid for too long.
Mechanic’s Liens
Filed by contractors, subcontractors or suppliers who haven’t been paid for labor or materials used in renovations or construction. If unpaid, the lienholder can take legal action to force a sale or prevent refinancing of the property.
Judgment Liens
Placed by creditors after winning a lawsuit against you for unpaid debts. If a court issues a money judgment and you fail to pay, the creditor can file a lien that prevents you from selling or borrowing against your property.
Mortgage Liens
This is a voluntary lien placed by your lender when you take out a mortgage. If you stop making payments, the lender can foreclose on your home and sell it to recover the outstanding loan balance.
Homeowners Association (HOA) Liens
If you fall behind on HOA dues, your homeowners’ association can file a lien on your property. If the balance isn’t paid, the HOA can eventually force a foreclosure sale, even if your mortgage is current.
How Do I Check for Liens in California?
Many homeowners don’t realize there’s a lien on their property until they try to sell or refinance. Here’s how to check for liens in California and verify if your home is affected.
1. Search County Records
The county recorder’s office maintains official property records, including liens filed against real estate. Many counties offer a California property lien search option where you can enter your home’s address to find out if there’s a lien attached to your property.
2. Request a Property Title Report
Title companies can provide a full title report, which details all recorded liens, legal claims and ownership history. This report is often required by lenders before approving refinancing or issuing a mortgage on a property. It ensures no hidden financial obligations exist.
3. Use a Free Lien Search Service
Some third-party websites provide free lien searches in California, but results may not always be accurate or up to date. If you use an online service, always double-check with official county records or a professional title company to confirm the lien’s validity.
4. Check Your MyFTB Account (For Tax Liens)
If you suspect a state tax lien, individual taxpayers can log into MyFTB (Franchise Tax Board) to check their lien status. This portal provides real-time updates on any tax-related liens, payments or outstanding balances owed to the state of California.
How to Remove a Property Lien in California
The process of how to remove a property lien in California depends on the type of lien and why it was placed. Here are the most common ways to remove a lien and regain full control of your property.
Pay Off the Debt
The fastest and most straightforward way to remove a lien is to pay the full amount owed. Once the debt is satisfied, the lienholder is legally required to file a Release of Lien with the county recorder, officially clearing the lien from public records.
Negotiate a Settlement
If you can’t afford to pay the full balance, some lienholders will accept a reduced amount to settle the debt. This is called a lien payoff negotiation and once an agreement is reached, the creditor must issue a Lien Satisfaction or Release document to remove it.
Dispute the Lien (If It’s Invalid)
If you believe a lien was wrongfully placed on your property, you have the right to challenge it in court. Gather proof of the dispute, such as payment receipts or contract agreements and file a motion to remove the lien in a California civil court.
File for Bankruptcy (Last Resort)
Bankruptcy doesn’t always remove a lien, but in some cases, it can eliminate certain types of liens, like judgment liens. If you’re considering bankruptcy to remove a lien, consult with a bankruptcy attorney to discuss whether this option applies to your situation.
Request a Lien Expiration Check
In California, some liens expire after 10 years unless renewed. If your lien is past its expiration date, it may no longer be enforceable and you might not need to take further action. Contact your county recorder’s office to confirm its status.
Apply for a Lien Subordination (If Selling or Refinancing)
If there isn’t enough money in a home sale to cover all liens, you may qualify for a Lien Subordination or Partial Release of Lien. This allows you to sell or refinance the home while the lien remains in place, with an agreement to settle later.
Sell to a Cash Home Buyer
If clearing a lien feels overwhelming or financially out of reach, selling your home to a cash buyer like Osborne Homes is a hassle-free solution. We buy homes with liens attached, handle the negotiations, and take care of the legal paperwork—so you don’t have to. You get cash, and we handle the rest!
What If a Lien Was Filed in Error?
Sometimes, a lien is filed by mistake or a creditor forgets to remove it after payment. If this happens, take these steps to correct the error and restore your home’s title:
Contact the lienholder
If you’ve already paid the debt or the lien was mistakenly filed, request an official lien release document from the creditor and ensure it gets recorded properly.
Notify the county recorder
If the lienholder fails to record the release, you can file it yourself with the county recorder’s office to update public records and clear your title.
Contact credit bureaus
If the lien has damaged your credit score, notify Experian, Equifax and TransUnion and request a correction to your credit report to reflect that the lien was removed or never valid.
Need to Sell a Home with a Lien? Osborne Homes Can Help!
Dealing with a property lien can be overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to sell. The legal process, paperwork and creditor negotiations can drag on for months, making it hard to move forward. But Osborne Homes makes it easy—we buy houses in California with property liens attached and handle everything for you. Here’s how our process works.
Give us a call
Just reach out and we’ll talk through your situation. We’ll ask about your home, check the details and see if it’s a good fit for a sale. No pressure, just an easy conversation to explore your options.
We make a cash sale agreement
No need for repairs, open houses or drawn-out negotiations. We’ll agree on a fair, all-cash sale that works for you. Once we’ve worked out the details, you can relax knowing your home is sold.
We handle the lien process
You don’t have to deal with creditors, legal filings or county offices. We’ll take care of everything to ensure the lien is resolved as part of the sale, so you can move on without any extra stress.
Close quickly and get paid
Once everything is squared away, we close fast and get you paid. No waiting months for buyers or banks—just a simple, straightforward closing that puts cash in your hands so you can move on with life.
If you’re ready to sell your home with zero hassle, contact Osborne Homes today!
