Liens
Lien FAQ
Lien FAQ
Q: What is required to file a lien?
A: The secured party (the lender) must submit the current KY title, a Title Lien Statement, and payment of $22.00. If the title has been misplaced, a duplicate title must be ordered. Ordering a title generates a form called a “goldenrod” that can be used in place of the title for 30 days. This form looks like the registration to the vehicle, but has a red stamp to indicate “for lien filing purposes only” and also an embossed county seal on the page.
Note: If you are a lender and need access to the Title Lien Statement, please contact our office at (859) 253-3344 and ask for the Lien Department. We can fax or e-mail the form with instructions to you.
Q: What does it cost to file a lien?
A: The standard filing fee for a Title Lien Statement dated within 30 days the day we receive it is $22.00. If the date on the TLS is dated more than 30 days old when we receive it, there is a $2.00 late fee making the total $24.00. If there is no date at all on the TLS there is a $2.00 late fee making the total $24.00.
Q: What does it cost to release a lien?
A: The lien release fee was collected when the lien was originally filed, so there is no payment due at the time of the release. However, if we need to fax a lien release to another county, there is a $3.00 fee for the fax.
Q: What forms of payment do you accept?
A: We accept cash, checks, or money orders to file a lien or send a fax.
Q: What forms do you accept to release a lien?
A: The Kentucky County Clerk’s Association voted to only accept one of the following forms to release vehicle liens: Original Clerk's Filing Receipt, Title Lien Statement (Form TC96-187), or a UCC-3 Financing Statement Amendment. The KCCA also voted NOT to accept terminations on company letterhead.
Note: If you are a lender and need access to the Title Lien Statement, please contact our office at (859) 253-3344 and ask for the Lien Department. We can fax or e-mail the form with instructions to you.
Q: My lienholder mailed a lien release to me. Do I need to send this to your office?
A: If your lien is filed in Fayette County, you may mail or bring the release into our office along with your title. We will release the lien in the computer, sign the lien off of the title, and return the title to you.
If your lien is filed in another county, you should mail the original lien release to the county where it is filed. You may also bring it to our office to be faxed to the correct county for a $3.00 fee.
Q: My lien has been released in your computer system. When will I receive the new title?
A: A new title is not automatically generated when a lien is released. If you still have the original title showing the lien, you may mail it to our office or bring it to us in person to be signed off and returned to you. If you do not have the original title, or would simply prefer to have a new one issued, you may order a duplicate title.
Q: I have a letter from my bank showing my loan is paid in full, and it is signed and notarized. Isn’t this the best form to accept for a lien release?
A: No. All liens filed in Kentucky have a specific file number and file date that are not referenced in a letter from your bank.
Q: Will you accept a faxed termination?
A: Yes, as long as it is faxed directly from the secured party or another county clerk's office. If the fax does not have the secured party or county clerk's name as the header, we will need to have a cover sheet also. We do not accept faxes from a third party, such as mytitlesupport.com.
Q: I live in Fayette County now, but my lien is filed in another county. Can you release this lien for me?
A: The lien can only be released in the county where it was originally filed, but we can fax the release for a $3.00 fee.
Q: My lienholder has gone out of business, but the lien hasn’t been released. What do I do now?
A: If your lienholder was a financial institution (such as a bank or credit union), they may have been bought out by or merged with another financial institution. If this is the case, we can accept a lien release from the new entity, but we require proof of the relationship between the two entities.
If your lienholder was a dealership, you can contact the Motor Vehicle Commission in Frankfort at (502)-573-1000 to get information about who may have taken over the accounts for the dealership. You may also check the Business Filings information on the Secretary of State’s website (www.sos.ky.gov) to determine who may be handling the paperwork now.
If these options do not work, you may petition the Circuit Court and file a lawsuit.
