Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in California
lien placed, now what??
Our contractor has placed a lien on our property and states all work is completed. We refuse to pay him his final payment and he states he will take us to arbitration. What does the lien mean and what do we do for arbitration.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: lien placed, now what??
From the description, it sounds like the contractor placed a mechanic's lien on the property. A mechanic's lien is just like a mortgage or secured car loan, the debt goes with the property even if you sell it. A lien causes title problems, and if you have a mortgage, the lien may breach your mortgage with your bank. Arbitration is like a private trial, with a winner and loser. If you cannot reach a settlement on your own, you should hire an attorney to represent you. If you are in Northern California, please let me know if I can help. If you are elsewhere, let me know and I will see if I can find you a referral.