• A lien is a "claim" or hold on a property to secure repayment of a debt or satisfaction of a debt. Liens can be consensual or not. Some liens are consensual because of a contract between the debtor and the creditor. Examples of consensual liens are: Mortgages, Car Loans, and Secured Credit Cards. An example of a Non Consensual lien is a tax lien. If you do not pay your Federal taxes, the IRS will put a lien on your property. This ensures the government that when you sell your home they will get paid first.