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Discharge of Lien

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Discharge of Lien Form

Prepared by, recording requested by

and return to:

Name:

Company:

Address:

City: State: Zip:

Phone:

Fax:

------Above this Line for Official Use Only----------

Discharge of Lien – Corporation
(N.Y. Lien Law § 19)

COMES NOW, , a as a representative of

corporation which furnished labor and/or materials for the improvement of the property located at and described as

whose address is

and would state as follows:

1. On or about the day of 20, the undersigned filed a Notice of Lien regarding the above described property.

2. On or about the day of 20 said lien was satisfied

as to the whole of the above described property

as to part of the above described property, said part being described as

3. By this certificate the undersigned lien claimant would wholly discharge and release said lien.

This the day of 20

Signature

Type or Print Name

Title

Corporation

Attest:

Secretary

Acknowledgment of Corporation

STATE OF NEW YORK

COUNTY OF

On the day of in the year before me

personally came to me known, who, being

by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he/she/they reside(s) in

(if the place of residence is in a city, include the street and street number, if any, thereof);

that he/she/they is (are) the

(president or other officer or director or attorney in fact duly appointed) of the

(name of corporation), the corporation described in and which executed the above instrument; and that he/she/they signed his/her/their name(s) thereto by authority of the board of directors of said corporation.

Notary Public

Printed Name:

My Commission Expires:

Discharge of Lien

Enter text

What a Discharge of Lien Is and when it applies

A Discharge of Lien is a legal document used to record that a previously recorded lien has been satisfied or released. It clarifies that the lienholder no longer claims an interest in the specified property or asset and updates public records to remove the encumbrance. Commonly executed by mortgage lenders, contractors, subcontractors, or lien claimants after payment or settlement, the form typically references the original lien, recording details, and the date of satisfaction. Filing and notarization requirements vary by state and by lien type; proper completion ensures clear title and prevents future filing disputes.

Why a clear Discharge of Lien matters

A properly executed Discharge of Lien clears encumbrances, protects marketable title, and prevents duplicate claims. It documents satisfaction of debt or release of rights, reduces closing friction, and provides public notice that the lien no longer encumbers the property.

Why a clear Discharge of Lien matters

Who prepares and relies on a Discharge of Lien

Lien claimants, property owners, title companies, escrow agents, and attorneys commonly prepare or receive Discharge of Lien forms during closings or after payment.

  • Title companies: verify recorded release before closing and request recorded copies for files.
  • Contractors/subcontractors: execute discharge after payment receipt to clear mechanic liens.
  • Lenders/mortgagees: file mortgage satisfactions or releases upon payoff to clear encumbrance.

Step-by-step: complete and record a Discharge of Lien

Follow these sequential steps to prepare, sign, and record a Discharge of Lien correctly and with minimal processing delays.

  • 01
    Prepare Document: Identify original lien by recording number and date; attach proof of satisfaction.
  • 02
    Sign & Notarize: Lienholder signs; notarize if state requires or if recorder requests.
  • 03
    File with Recorder: Submit to county recorder or registry where original lien recorded.
  • 04
    Confirm Recording: Obtain recorded copy and update title or loan files.

Common questions about recording and correcting a Discharge of Lien

Common questions and practical answers about completing, signing, recording, and fixing errors on a Discharge of Lien document.


Need help? Contact support

Essential sections to include on a Discharge of Lien

Essential sections to include on a professional Discharge of Lien form to ensure enforceability, accurate indexing, and county recorder acceptance across jurisdictions.

Lien Reference

Reference the original lien instrument by recording number, book/page or document ID, lien claimant name, and original recording date so county staff can match the discharge to the correct record.

Property Description

Provide the exact legal property description, parcel number, and address as in the original lien; vague descriptions frequently trigger recorder rejection or mismatched indexing errors.

Statement of Satisfaction

Include a concise declaration by the lienholder stating the lien is satisfied, released, or extinguished, along with the effective satisfaction date and any conditions or partial releases.

Signatures

Provide a signature block for the lienholder or authorized representative, with printed name, title, and date; attach proof of authority for corporate signers where required.

Notary Acknowledgment

Include a notary block formatted to state requirements with venue, notary signature, commission number, and expiration date so the recorder accepts the acknowledgement.

Recording Instructions

Add clear filing instructions such as return-to address, required attachments, and fee payment method to expedite processing and receipt of the recorded copy.

Security and compliance considerations for electronic Discharge of Lien workflows

Data Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit; AES-256 at rest
Audit Trail: Detailed timestamps, IPs, and actions
Compliance Standards: ESIGN, UETA, SOC 2 Type II
HIPAA Support: BAA available for protected health information
21 CFR Part 11: Compliant options for FDA-regulated records
Access Controls: SAML SSO and role-based permissions

Key risks and consequences of incorrect Discharge of Lien filings

Recording Rejection: Form errors can cause rejection
Title Cloud: Unreleased liens hinder closings
Financial Exposure: Duplicate claims or mortgages possible
Filing Fees: Additional county fees may apply
Notary Noncompliance: Missing acknowledgement delays recording
Legal Liability: False statements risk civil liability

Common preparation mistakes to avoid

  • Omitting or miscopying the original lien recording number causes county clerks to misindex or reject the discharge, leading to delays and additional filings.
  • Using informal property descriptions or street addresses instead of the recorded legal description frequently causes mismatches and prevents the recorder from associating the discharge with the correct parcel.
  • Failing to include the lien claimant's corporate authority or agent authorization can result in challenges to validity and may require an amended discharge or affidavit.
  • Submitting an unsigned or improperly notarized discharge is a common rejection reason; confirm local notary and witness requirements, including RON acceptance, before submission.

How the Discharge of Lien filing process flows

Overview of the filing flow from document preparation through signature, notarization, recording, and distribution to interested parties.

  • Prepare: Gather lien information and proof of satisfaction
  • Sign: Lienholder signs; include agent authorization if needed
  • Notarize: Complete acknowledgement or RON session where allowed
  • Record: File with county recorder and obtain stamped copy

Configure an eWorkflow for a Discharge of Lien

Settings to configure when preparing a Discharge of Lien for electronic execution and e-recording using an eSignature platform.

Field to configure in eWorkflow Configuration
Signature field settings and options Required signer, date, and printed name
Notary field and RON configuration Acknowledgement or jurat; RON options
Conditional fields for attachments Attach proof of payment if partial release
Recorder return-to address settings Recorder return-to and contact info
Attachment inclusion and PDF formatting Include original lien instrument PDF

Technical requirements and integrations for e-filing

Technical requirements and integrations to send, sign, notarize, and e-file a Discharge of Lien electronically.

  • File Formats: PDF, DOCX, or scanned image
  • Integrations: Salesforce, Microsoft 365, NetSuite integrations
  • Authentication: Email, SMS code, or advanced KBA

Timing and processing considerations

Key timing considerations for preparing, signing, and filing a Discharge of Lien to avoid delays.

Payoff or satisfaction effective date:

Record the actual date the lien was satisfied to preserve priority.

Post-payment filing window and urgency:

File promptly; extended delays can allow competing claims or complicate closings.

Notary scheduling and availability planning:

Schedule notarization before submission when required to avoid processing delays.

Recorder processing time and variability:

County processing varies; expect days to weeks depending on workload.

Title clearance timeline before closing:

Allow time for recording and title updates before scheduled closing dates.

Milestones from lien satisfaction to final title update

Sequential milestones from lien satisfaction through final title update to track progress and responsibilities during closing.

01

Confirm lien satisfaction

Obtain written proof of payment or release from claimant.

02

Prepare discharge document

Include original recording references and satisfaction date.

03

Execute and notarize instrument

Sign by authorized person and complete notarial block if required.

04

Record with county recorder

File with recorder, retrieve stamped copy, and circulate to stakeholders.

Practical tips for accurate and efficient Discharge of Lien filings

Practical, compliance-focused tips to reduce rejections and speed recording when completing a Discharge of Lien.

Confirm original recording data before completing
Compare the recorded instrument number, book/page or document ID, claimant name, and recording date against county records. Attaching a copy of the recorded lien reduces clerk follow-up and indexing errors.
Use exact legal description from recorded instrument
Avoid street-address-only descriptions. Copy the legal description verbatim from the recorded lien to ensure the recorder matches the discharge to the correct parcel and avoids title exceptions.
Verify notary and witness requirements locally
Check county recorder and state notary rules in advance. If RON is used, confirm the recorder accepts remotely notarized acknowledgements and that identity-proofing standards are met.
Retain and distribute recorded certificates promptly
Obtain the recorded stamped copy and distribute to title companies, lenders, and parties. Retain electronic and physical copies in the file for retention and audit.

Real-world scenarios for Discharge of Lien use

Two practical examples show how a correctly completed Discharge of Lien removes encumbrances and speeds transactional work.

Real estate closing

A title company needed a recorded discharge to close a residential sale after the seller paid off a second lien.

  • Recorded discharge linked by recording number.
  • Using a properly completed recorded discharge prevented title exceptions, allowed escrow to disburse funds, and produced a certified recorded copy for the buyer and lender to retain in closing files.

Construction lien release

A subcontractor received final payment and prepared a discharge to release a mechanic's lien on a commercial parcel.

  • Partial release tied to payment schedule.
  • The recorded discharge, with attached payment affidavit, removed the encumbrance and enabled the owner to obtain clear title for refinancing.

eSignature pricing and feature comparison for Discharge workflows

Compare common vendor starting prices and core features relevant to Discharge of Lien execution and e-recording workflows. No datestamps are included in this comparison.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No
Envelope Cap No cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan

Discharge of Lien versus a Lien Waiver: quick differences

A concise comparison to clarify purpose, recording, and typical legal effect between a Discharge of Lien and a Lien Waiver.

Criteria Discharge of Lien Lien Waiver
Purpose public release private waiver
Timing after satisfaction often prior to payment
Recording recorded publicly typically not recorded
Signer lienholder or authorized agent claimant or payee
Legal effect removes encumbrance evidence of payment intent

Representative user profiles involved in Discharge workflows

Title Agent

A title agent or closer reviews recorded discharges to confirm the lien was released. They verify recording references, obtain certified recorded copies, and ensure the discharge satisfies title search exceptions before closing escrow and clearing funds.

Contractor

A contractor or subcontractor prepares or signs discharge instruments after payment or settlement. They must provide accurate lien references, proof of payment, and, when applicable, evidence of authorization to sign on behalf of a corporate claimant.

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