In the United States, a lien is the action taken that allows for the physical taking of a person or entity's property in order to pay for a debt that the person or entity owes. Liens can be both voluntary and involuntary depending on the situation that the parties involved have agreed to.
Liens are entered into for a number of different reasons. The liens that the majority of people would be familiar with are mortgage liens or car liens. Mortgage liens or car liens are executed when a person does not stay current with the payments due on the mortgage of the car. In these situations, when a person does not make his or her mortgage payment or car payment then whoever then the bank, car dealership, etc. is entitled to take back the home and the car.