About liens A lien is like a public mark put on property that shows up in government files. Request Lien Removal.If you own property in Oakland and you don't pay a City bill, you might have a lien placed on your property tax bill. The Mechanics Lien is simply a piece of paper containing certain information that is filed with a government office. A lien is a legal claim against the property of a debtor in case they fail to fulfill the terms of a contract or some other financial obligation. A Notice of Intent to Lien in California is a document that warns a property owner about a mechanics lien that is about to be filed against their property. In California, you have the right to file a mechanics lien for the amount equal to the value of the work that is furnished to the job. A lien release (also called release of lien) is a document that is filed with government authorities as the official notice that the lien is removed. A Mechanics Lien motivates the owner to make sure the contractors get paid, and is a prerequisite to filing a foreclosure action on the property. Some liens are filed with the government to let the public know that the lien holder has an interest in the asset or property.