What is an estate/inheritance lien?

An estate/inheritance lien is an involuntary lien on all property received by a deceased person's heirs. This means that when someone passes away, any debts or financial obligations that were not settled by the deceased can result in a lien being placed on the assets inherited by the heirs. This lien prevents the distribution of the property until the debts are resolved, effectively protecting the interests of creditors.

In this context, the lien is considered involuntary because it is not something that the heirs voluntarily agreed to; rather, it arises from the deceased's financial obligations. This type of lien ensures that creditors can recover what is owed to them from the inheritance before the heirs can take full ownership of the properties they receive.

Other options presented do not accurately define the nature of an estate/inheritance lien. While a claim for unpaid debts reflects the nature of what might underlie a lien, the estate/inheritance lien specifically pertains to the property inherited, rather than merely being a general commentary on debts. A voluntary agreement by heirs is not relevant to the concept of an involuntary lien, and a tax lien is a specific type of claim related to unpaid taxes, which is distinct from the broader spectrum of debts that such a lien would address.