Which type of lien is considered involuntary?

A tax lien is considered an involuntary lien because it is imposed by law without the consent of the property owner. When property taxes are unpaid, the government places a lien on the property to secure the payment of those taxes. This process does not require any action or agreement from the property owner, making it involuntary in nature.

In contrast, other types of liens, such as mortgage liens, are voluntary. They arise when a borrower agrees to a loan and secures it with their property. Similarly, a mechanics lien is also generally classified as involuntary, but it often involves the property owner's consent implicitly through the work done on the property, even if the owner does not agree to the lien being placed. Special assessments, on the other hand, are charges placed on property owners for improvements that benefit a particular area, and while they may feel involuntary, they often stem from specific actions taken by the property owner or community that involve agreement to the assessment.

Thus, a tax lien correctly represents an involuntary lien as it is automatically applied due to non-payment of taxes, reflecting the government's right to collect tax revenue.