What are the requirements to remove a lien against my property?
Full Question:
Answer:
When a lien if filed, a person may contest the lien in a foreclosure suit or post a bond to contest the lien. The lien is removed from the records when a release or satisfaction of the lien is filed. Florida statutes allow the proeprty owner to post a bond and contest the lien. The law provides that "The claim of any lienor upon whom the notice is served and who fails to institute a suit to enforce his or her claim against the payment bond within 60 days after service of the notice shall be extinguished automatically. The clerk shall mail a copy of the notice of contest to the lienor at the address shown in the notice of nonpayment or most recent amendment thereto and shall certify to such service on the face of the notice and record the notice. Service is complete upon mailing. "
The following are from Florida statutes:
713.20 Waiver or release of liens. —
(1) The acceptance by the lienor of an unsecured note for
all or any part of the amount of his or her demand shall not
constitute a waiver of his or her lien therefor unless
expressly so agreed in writing, nor shall it in any way
affect the period for filing the notice under s. 713.06(2),
or the claim of lien under s. 713.08.
(2) A right to claim a lien may not be waived in advance. A
lien right may be waived only to the extent of labor,
services, or materials furnished. Any waiver of a right to
claim a lien that is made in advance is unenforceable.
(3) Any person may at any time waive, release, or satisfy
any part of his or her lien under this part, either as to
the amount due for labor, services, or materials furnished
or for labor, services, or materials furnished through a
certain date subject to exceptions specified at the time of
release, or as to any part or parcel of the real property.
713.21 Discharge of lien. —
A lien properly perfected under this chapter may be
discharged by any of the following methods:
(1) By entering satisfaction of the lien upon the margin of
the record thereof in the clerk's office when not otherwise
prohibited by law. This satisfaction shall be signed by the
lienor, the lienor's agent or attorney and attested by said
clerk. Any person who executes a claim of lien shall have
authority to execute a satisfaction in the absence of actual
notice of lack of authority to any person relying on the
same.
(2) By the satisfaction of the lienor, duly acknowledged and
recorded in the clerk's office. Any person who executes a
claim of lien shall have authority to execute a satisfaction
in the absence of actual notice of lack of authority to any
person relying on the same.
(3) By failure to begin an action to enforce the lien within
the time prescribed in this part.
(4) By an order of the circuit court of the county where the
property is located, as provided in this subsection. Upon
filing a complaint therefor by any interested party the
clerk shall issue a summons to the lienor to show cause
within 20 days why his or her lien should not be enforced by
action or vacated and canceled of record. Upon failure of
the lienor to show cause why his or her lien should not be
enforced or the lienor's failure to commence such action
before the return date of the summons the court shall
forthwith order cancellation of the lien.
(5) By recording in the clerk's office the original or a
certified copy of a judgment or decree of a court of
competent jurisdiction showing a final determination of the
action.
