Helpful Resource for State of Ohio Judgment Liens

Picture this, you recently sent over a transaction to your favorite title company.  Two week close, cash transaction, and everything is going smoothly.  Then, it comes, the transaction update from the Escrow Officer: 5 Potential State of Ohio Judgement Liens in the Seller’s Name.  Nooooo!!!!

If you know, you know.  It takes a very, very long time to receive determination from the State of Ohio Department of Taxation whether a lien is or is not your party and if it is your party, be provided with a payoff.  Currently they are taking 6-8 weeks to process these requests.  The State processes them in the order they were received and will not rush requests. 

If the length of time to get a response was not enough of a hindrance, often the reason the liens are showing is simply due to a customer have a common name. When it does happen to be our customer, many times they indicate they never knew the lien existed. Frustrating to say the least.

So, what’s the good news?  We have found some luck with customers reaching out directly to the state and paying them beforehand if it is their lien.  There is both a website and a phone number they can call. 

https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Business/Collections/Pay-Online

1-888-301-8885

If they have a copy of the lien in front of them, the website will prompt them to create an account and asks for specific information regarding the lien that a representative at the phone number should be able to guide them through.  If the lien is theirs, they should be able to pay it online to the Attorney General and provide proof to the title company. 

Also, if they pay the lien, the Attorney General will send to them a Lien Release and Satisfaction that they can have recorded with the clerk of courts.  If the lien is not them, then the lien will not be connected to the account they create and thus they will not be able to pay.  

Perhaps they can ask the title company call with them and hear that directly from an Attorney General Representative that the lien is not theirs?  Depending on the size of the lien and the situation, the title company may have a different approach.  Patience and working together is key!

Hope this additional State of Ohio Department of Taxation resource helps you or your client in the future!