Florida Lien Search

Florida Lien Records

A lien in the state of  Florida, in the simplest possible terms, is an assessment that one party is owed money by another. In action, this means that earnings or property may be kept by the complaining party until the debt is paid. Typically the most common types of liens are tax liens and property liens. Performing a Florida Lien Search can be fairly simple if you know the right online resources to access.

While you’re likely to already know if a lien has been placed against you or your property, there are times when looking this information up is vital. When it comes to property, you may need to learn about liens before you consider buying or selling. Florida tax lien information may be pivotal to you if you need to prove that a lien has been cleared but not removed by the state. Performing a Florida lien search will tell you a lot of this information and detail what type of lien i

Use this guide to learn more about performing a Florida lien search. It doesn’t have to be a daunting task if you follow the right steps in the proper order.

What is a Florida Lien Record?

A Florida lien record is a type of filing that creates a public record showing that the creditor has won a judgment against the debtor. In most cases, liens are valid for five years from the date that they are filed in Florida, though this may be extended by another five years after that. Find out how to perform a Florida lien search in the section below.

How to Perform a Florida Lien Search

• Use the state of Florida public records guide to look up property liens against individuals and businesses. Fees are typically associated with this form of lien lookup, but you can obtain official documents using this method.
• Use a third-party site. Third-party sites can be an incredible resource for individuals who need to look up any type of lien against them or their property in the state. While third-party sites may not be usable in court since they don’t come directly from the issuing agency, they can be very helpful when it comes to learning more about a particular lien situation and how to resolve it.
• Mechanic’s liens, which are debts owed for the improvement of business or personal property, are often a little more difficult to track. To obtain a copy, you’ll need to contact the clerk’s office in the county where the lien was filed. They are the office of record and finding these documents online is rare.
• Corporate liens in Florida are filed with the Department of State, making them part of the public record. You may also be able to find some federal lien records this way. Tax liens against businesses are also listed by the Florida Department of Revenue.
• Judgment or personal liens. These are awards that can be related to cash owed, vehicles or personal property. You can search for those records here.

Finding a lien record in Florida is not particularly hard to do. That’s because liens are designed to be viewed by the public and part of the public record within the state for the most part. These are some easy ways to begin a Florida lien search online.

Florida Tax Liens

A Florida tax lien is typically a judgment against an individual for not paying their taxes. This may include personal income taxes, but these liens may also be related to businesses who do not pay sales tax and other forms of tax to the state.

With a Florida tax lien, it is generally the government, either the state or federal entity, that is the creditor. An individual or business will be the debtor in this case.

Florida Property Liens

A Florida property lien can be a serious issue for an individual who owns a home, commercial apartment building or commercial workspace. Typically these liens are issued by the bank that lent the owner money to purchase the property, though outside investors and even private investors may place a lien against a property if the financial obligations are not met by the owner.

In most cases, the simplest way to learn if there is a lien against a property is to visit the county clerk or recorder’s office in person. Third-party sites may also tell you if there is a lien against a property, though there is a chance that it could have been previously cleared without the records being updated.

Florida Lien Release

Once a debt has been satisfied, it is up to the Florida lien holder to file a lien release in the state of Florida. This typically happens once the debt has been paid since there is no guarantee a debtor will pay if the release is filed first.

If you are the creditor, always get your financial compensation before filing a lien release. If you’re the debtor, make sure a lien release is filled immediately after your debt has been resolved. Keep a copy of this for your records no matter which side you’re on.

Finding records for a Florida tax lien, judgment lien, corporate lien or mechanic’s lien can feel like a daunting task. In many cases though, you can find all of this online or through your county clerk’s office by visiting them in person.

Whether you’re looking to see if a Florida lien you’ve placed is still active or you’re the debtor in this situation, getting the information you need is essential. Use these tips to aid you in the process today.