The Easy Way to Get a Lien Release in California

Getting a isn't always easy. You can make it easy by using DoNotPay for your California lien releases.

A lien is a legal claim placed on your assets to collect a debt. A lien basically gives your creditors the right to sell your property should you default on your contract with the creditor. Liens can be voluntary, as is the case when you have a mortgage on your house or are paying off a loan on your car. Other liens can be placed involuntarily, such as when you owe state or federal taxes or when a creditor obtains a judgment against you. The only way to get rid of these liens is to pay your debts. When those debts are paid, you will need to have a lien release to have the lien removed from your property title.

The State of California has very specific procedures for lien waivers which are more commonly known as lien releases. When these procedures are not followed, you can end up with an invalid lien release which could leave a lien in place on your property that you have already paid for in full. Before you can sell or transfer property to another person, you will need to have lien releases for any liens that have been placed on your property.

Once a lien is in place, it will stay there for ten years. At the end of that time, a creditor may extend the lien, especially if it is in place due to a judgment filed with the courts. Once you pay your debt in full, you will receive a lien release from your creditor. If you have problems obtaining a lien release, you can always get assistance from DoNotPay.

Types of Liens in California

The State of California allows for several different types of liens.

Bank Lien. This type of lien comes from having a loan on your car. The car you are paying a loan on is the collateral for your loan.
Tax Lien. A tax lien is placed on your property if you get behind paying your taxes. These liens become part of your public record. These liens can come from either the state or federal level.
Judgment Lien. A judgment lien is placed against your assets by the court. This type of lien is usually the result of a lawsuit against you.
Mechanics Lien. A mechanics lien is placed on your property if you fail to pay a contractor for the services they have provided.
Real Estate Lien. A real estate lien is the type of lien placed when you are paying a mortgage on your home. If you fail to pay your mortgage, your home can be seized and sold so that the mortgage holder can recover the amount owed to them.

A lien can have both a positive and negative effect on your credit report, depending on the type of lien. A mortgage or an auto loan can be positive as it shows your ability to pay your creditor. A tax lien, judgment lien, or mechanics lien can have a negative effect because it shows a failure to pay your bills.

What is a Lien Release?

A lien release is a legal proof that you have paid your debt. Once you have paid your debt, your creditor will need to provide you with a lien release as proof that you no longer owe that debt. In legal terms, a lien release or lien waiver is a document signed by your creditor releasing their lien rights against your property.

Whenever there is a lien against your property, you will need to provide a lien release, along with your title, to transfer that property to a new owner.

You have a few different approaches to take when trying to get it released. Here's a look:

Pay The Lien

The quickest way to get your lien released is to pay your debt. That includes the fees and penalties that it had accumulated.

File All Missing Tax Returns

If your lien has been placed due to a missing tax return, your lien will be released if you file in paying your tax debt and cover all fees.

Seek Relief Options

If you’re unable to pay what you owe, you may file for a monthly installment agreement with California Franchise Tax Board to settle your debt.

If you're unable to pay what you owe in a lump sum, the California Franchise Tax Board may allow you to settle your debt using a payment plan called a monthly installment agreement (IA). If you can prove financial hardship, you may be able to settle your tax debt at a reduced amount using something called an Offer in Compromise (OIC).

How to Obtain a Lien Release in California

When you need to obtain a , you need to take specific steps to do so.

Find out what liens you may have against your property.
Go through the list of liens and make sure they are valid.
Contact your lien-holders to find out how much you owe them.
Pay each of your lien-holders in full.
For each lender or creditor, you will need to obtain a lien release form.
If you have had a major construction project with liens attached to your home, you will need to determine the type of lien release form you will need.
For lien release forms related to agreements with contractors, you can visit the state contractors board for the forms you will need.
Complete the lien release forms and have the contractor sign them.
If your lien release is due to a car loan that is paid, you can get your lien release from your lien-holder.
If you are looking for a lien release from a judgment against you, contact your creditor for proof that your debt is paid in full.
Since California is known for its tight regulations regarding lien releases, make sure that you have the appropriate forms for each lien and that each one is filled out appropriately.
Go into a mild panic wondering if you have all the right forms.
Call your attorney and ask them to review your forms.
Pay your attorney an exorbitant fee and wait for the results.
Discover that you have the wrong forms and start over again.
Give up and go to DoNotPay for help.

How to Remove a California Lien Using DoNotPay

If you are having trouble getting your completed on your own, you can do it the easy way through DoNotPay.

If you find that you are having trouble getting the right California lien release forms to meet your needs, DoNotPay can help. Once they have performed the appropriate searches and determined the types of lien release forms you need, DoNotPay will not only complete your forms for you but will also send those forms to your creditors for signature. All it takes is a few minutes to answer questions using the DoNotPay remove my lien tool, and let DoNotPay do the rest.

Follow these simple instructions to get help from DoNotPay:

Search for remove my lien on DoNotPay.
Start our Remove My Lien product.
Answer some questions about your specific lien and let us help you craft a letter to your creditor to resolve the issue.

Simple, right? This way, you know that you have the right forms to remove your California liens.

DoNotPay Provides Solutions Across All Areas

DoNotPay does far more than just help you remove your liens. DoNotPay provides solutions across all areas.

If you need to get copies of your birth certificate, DoNotPay can help. Do you need to make an appointment at the DMV to transfer your title? DoNotPay is there for you. Do you have parking tickets in another city that you need to pay? DoNotPay can help you with that too. Do you need a copy of your divorce certificate? DoNotPay can help. No matter what area you might need help with, go to DoNotPay for solutions to your problems.