Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in New York

Re: satisfaction of lien

The lien you describe is on the real property. It is removed at the county office.

The best way to accomplish the removal is to make the removal a condition of payment.

If you have already paid, then a statement/receipt notarized by the lien holder should be sufficient.

Re: satisfaction of lien

You want three documents when you pay the judgment:

(1) satisfaction of judgment; this removes the judgment, which is itself a lien on the property;

(2) satisfaction of lien; this removes the lien that was filed;

(3) waiver of lien; this is conclusive evidence that you have paid in full for the work.

Item 3 can be dispensed with if the contractor has been off the site for eight months (4 months if it is a one- or two family house) but it is still good practice to get it.