What is a Lien Auction?
A lien auction is a sale of property or goods which is held to satisfy overdue debt, classically in the form of unpaid property taxes. Lien sales may also be held to cover unpaid income taxes, utility charges, and other forms of financial delinquencies. Depending on where in the world one is, lien sales may be held on a regular basis, usually near the courthouse steps, reflecting an ancient tradition of recovering debts and declaring bankruptcy on the steps of a regional courthouse to make the process official. Liens are legal instruments which are used to collect debts. When a lien is enforced on something like a property, it means that the property cannot be transferred or sold until the lien has been resolved. Liens can be levied on houses, cars, and personal property, and if the debt is not satisfied, these goods can be sold at a lien auction supervised by a government official, with the goal of the auction being a recovery of the debt. Goods such as cars and machinery are usually
