What's the worst that can happen if I don't pay a very crooked contractor who went to court and won to put a lien on my house. The lien is for $1,500. After 6 years if I don't pay it does it just go away?
1 reply
Jul 14, 2020
First, it'd be important to determine what type of lien has been filed. Contractors can file mechanics liens when they go unpaid, and that doesn't require going to court. Or, if the contractor does go to court and win a decision, then they could put a judgment lien on your house.
The worst case in either scenario will be the foreclosure of your home. But, generally, you'll have the opportunity to pay the claim or challenge it before things come to that. If the contractor's lien is fraudulent, it might be a good idea to challenge that claim before it creates issues with your property or even your credit - plus, if a baseless lien was filed, you could be entitled to damages, costs, attorney fees, etc.
If this was a mechanics lien, then the lien will be effective for 6 years after it's filed. Meaning, if the claimant doesn't enforce the lien claim (by filing suit), that lien will be invalid and unenforceable after 6 years pass.