§38-16-101. Definitions; application of definitions. For the purposes of this article, the words and phrases defined in the following sections of this part I, and any variation of those words and phrases required by the context, have the meanings ascribed to them in this part I. These definitions are applicable unless a different meaning clearly […]
"Court of competent jurisdiction" means a circuit court, magistrate court or administrative agency within this state or a court or administrative agency of another state, or a court or administrative agency of the federal government having jurisdiction and due legal authority to establish a charge against or an interest in real or personal property by […]
"Federal government" means the government of the United States of America and includes the executive, legislative and judicial branches; and the term also includes quasi-public corporations and independent commissions or authorities primarily acting as instrumentalities or agencies of the United States, but does not include any contractor with the United States.
"Federal official or employee" means an officer or employee of the federal government temporarily or permanently in the service of the United States, members of the military or naval forces of the United States, members of the National Guard, and persons acting on behalf of the United States in an official capacity, whether with or […]
"Lien" means a charge against or an interest in property to secure payment of a debt or performance of an obligation, and 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.
"Nonconsensual common law lien" means a fraudulent lien that is misrepresented as a valid lien because it: (1) Is not provided for by a specific statute;
"Purported court" means a so-called common law court or other purported court or purported judicial entity that is not expressly created or established under the Constitution or the laws of this state or of the United States.
"State or local official or employee" means a person, whether appointed or elected, providing services to a branch of state government or to a political subdivision of this state, whether with or without compensation.
§38-16-201. Bonafide liens are not affected by this article. Regardless of whether such liens may also be considered to be common law liens, nothing in this article is intended to affect: (1) Statutory liens arising under an enactment of the Legislature;
(a) A common law lien against real property is invalid and is not recognized or enforceable in this state. (b) A common law lien claimed against personal property is invalid and is not recognized or enforceable if, at the time the lien is claimed, the claimant does not have: (1) Actual possession, lawfully acquired, of […]
§38-16-301. Filing or recording a claim of nonconsensual commonlaw lien is of no force or effect. A nonconsensual common law lien is invalid and does not constitute a charge against property or create an interest in property. The filing or recording of a document that purports to evidence a nonconsensual common law lien is a […]
A clerk of a county commission or other person has no duty to accept for filing or recording any purported claim of a common law lien, because a common law lien is neither authorized by statute nor imposed by a court of competent jurisdiction. A clerk of a county commission or other person has no […]
(a) Any claim of lien against a federal official or employee or a state or local official or employee that is based on the performance or nonperformance of that official's or employee's duties is invalid unless it arises from a specific order of a court of competent jurisdiction authorizing the filing of the lien or […]
No person has a duty to disclose an instrument of record or file that attempts to give notice of a common law lien. This section does not relieve any person of any duty which otherwise may exist to disclose a claim of lien authorized by statute or imposed by order of a court of competent […]
A clerk of the county commission or other person is not liable for the acceptance for filing of an invalid claim of a nonconsensual common law lien, nor for the acceptance for filing of a notice of invalid lien. A clerk of the county commission or other person is not liable for damages arising from […]
(a) An attorney, title insurance company or other title examiner does not have a duty to disclose a fraudulent court record, document, or instrument purporting to create a nonconsensual common law lien asserting a claim on real property or an interest in real property in connection with a sale, conveyance, mortgage, or other transfer of […]
§38-16-401. Notice by clerk of fraudulent lien. (a) If a clerk of the county commission has a reasonable basis to believe in good faith that a document or instrument purporting to evidence an invalid nonconsensual common law lien has been filed or recorded or offered for filing or recording, the clerk shall provide a written […]
(a) A person against whom a purported judgment was rendered who has reason to believe that a document previously filed or recorded or submitted for filing or for filing and recording is fraudulent may complete and file with the clerk of the circuit court a motion, verified by affidavit, that contains, at a minimum, the […]
(a) A person who is the purported debtor or obligor or who owns real or personal property or an interest in real or personal property, and who has reason to believe that the document purporting to create a lien or a claim against the real or personal property or an interest in the real or […]
If, following a hearing on the matter, the court determines that the claim of lien is invalid, the court shall issue an order awarding costs and reasonable attorneys' fees to the petitioner to be paid by the lien claimant. If the court determines that the claim of lien is valid, the court shall issue an […]