# Lien

*Real Estate — Finicade finance glossary*

A lien is a legal claim against a property securing a debt, which must be cleared before clean title can transfer. Mortgages are voluntary liens; tax liens, judgment liens and contractor's liens are imposed. Priority decides who gets paid from a sale, and tax liens generally jump ahead of everything including the mortgage — which is what the title search exists to uncover.

**Also known as:** liens, mechanic's lien, tax lien, encumbrance

**Related terms:** [Title Insurance](https://finicade.com/glossary/title-insurance), [Deed](https://finicade.com/glossary/deed), [Collateral](https://finicade.com/glossary/collateral), [Foreclosure](https://finicade.com/glossary/foreclosure), [Property Tax](https://finicade.com/glossary/property-tax)

Source: https://finicade.com/glossary/lien