How do I get a lien release on an old lien?
It would seem you either inherited this property, or paid cash. Traditional lenders will not secure a property with a cloud on the title. And part of the loan origination process is obtaining a title report and insurance to protect against the possibility such an outstanding lien would surface that was not originally discovered. If a title search and insurance was done/paid for, then the title insurance issuer would correct the issue. If you have no protection, then, unless the recording of the document was not legal and/or the lien itself is voidable, you either need to pay it off, or prove it is in fact illegal. At this point, if you are asking this question on Quora, you should seek out the services of a real estate attorney.