A lien (pronounced lean) is a legal right, claim, or interest in another person’s property that remains until a debt is paid or an obligation is fulfilled. For example, a lien may be placed on real property to secure a contractor’s claim for payment for work or materials provided to improve the property (a mechanic’s lien) or by a homeowners’ association to secure payment for unpaid dues or assessments against an individual homeowner.

There are many different types of liens related to real property and the laws regarding these liens may vary from state to state.

In Rhode Island, a lien is a legal claim against property to secure payment of a debt or fulfillment of an obligation. One common type of lien is a mechanic's lien, which contractors, subcontractors, or material suppliers can file against real property when they have not been paid for labor or materials used in improving the property. To enforce a mechanic's lien in Rhode Island, the claimant must file a notice of intention to claim a lien with the recorder of deeds in the county where the property is located within 200 days after the last provision of labor or materials. Another type of lien is a homeowners' association (HOA) lien, which can be placed on a homeowner's property for unpaid association dues or assessments. The process and requirements for enforcing these liens are governed by Rhode Island state statutes, and they may involve notification to the property owner, filing with the appropriate local office, and potentially a court process to enforce the lien if the debt remains unpaid.