Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Pennsylvania

property w/more than 1 deed

Our property has 3 deeds. One is the primary residence, the second is a barn, and the third is a rental property. All 3 properties are connected (right next to each other) with a shared well. Can a collection agency or credit card company force us to sell one or two of those parcels if the account is delinquent? The delinquent account is only in wifes name. If a lein or judgement is levied, is the lien or judgement against the person or against what that person owns or both?


Asked on 5/01/07, 6:39 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

John Gibson John W. Gibson, Esquire

Re: property w/more than 1 deed

A lien attaches to all the assets of the debtor. However, if the property is all held as tenants by the entireties it is not subject to process for the debt of one of the tenants. This is the statute:

12 Pa.C.S. � 5101. Short title of chapter and definitions

(a) SHORT TITLE OF CHAPTER.-- This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Pennsylvania Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act.

(b) DEFINITIONS.-- The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"ASSET." Property of a debtor. The term does not include:

(1) property to the extent it is encumbered by a valid lien;

(2) property to the extent it is generally exempt under nonbankruptcy

law; or

(3) an interest in property held in tenancy by the entireties to the

extent it is not subject to process by a creditor holding a claim

against only one tenant.

"CLAIM." A right to payment, whether or not the right is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured or unsecured.

"CREDITOR." A person who has a claim.

"DEBT." Liability on a claim.

"DEBTOR." A person who is liable on a claim.

"LIEN." A charge against or an interest in property to secure payment of a debt or performance of an obligation. The term includes a security interest created by agreement, a judicial lien obtained by legal or equitable process or proceedings, a common law lien or a statutory lien.

"PERSON." An individual, partnership, corporation, association, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust or any other legal or commercial entity.

"PROPERTY." Anything that may be the subject of ownership.

"TRANSFER." Every mode, direct or indirect, absolute or conditional, voluntary or involuntary, of disposing of or parting with an asset or an interest in an asset. The term includes payment of money, release, lease and creation of a lien or other encumbrance.

"VALID LIEN." A lien that is effective against the holder of a judicial lien subsequently obtained by legal or equitable process or proceedings.

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Answered on 5/02/07, 10:25 am


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