Expert: Ontrack Financial Group llc - 6/27/2008

Question
My husband recently died after a 3 year battle with cancer. We have nothing except for a car and a joint mortgage on a house and 3 small children. Before he got sick he had a life insurance policy for $75,000. that gave him great comfort that I would be able to pay off the mortgage ($72,000 with the remainder paying for the funeral). I paid the mortgage yesterday and this morning I looked up our property online thru the county land search and was shocked to discover a judicial lien put on the house 1 year ago but only under my husbands name. The lien grantor is LVNV FUNDING LLC with my husband as grantee. The amount is for $3,999.06 and the attorneys are WOLPOFF & ABRAMSON.
When I do a search under my name for the same address there is no lien.
WOLPOFF & ABRAMSON hounded my husband after he got sick and he did make payments but they told us he wasn't paying enough each month, so my husband quit paying. The credit card was in his name only.
We live in Michigan. Now that he has died do I have to pay them? I don't want to pay them because of how the hounded him and wouldn't work with our situation, but I will scrape up the money or make payment arrangements or do whatever I need to do to get the deed in my name only.
Can they sell the house to get the money owed? I am sure they don't know he has died or that the mortgage is paid.
Thanks, Angie


Answer
Angela,

From all of us at Ontrack Financial Group we're sorry for your loss.

The lien on the house could have been mistyped by your counties recorders office.  

The lien is not only against your late husband but it's against the home too.  If you ever decide to sell the residence a title search will show the lien.

They can't force you to sell the house but it's better to clear up the matter.

Since they gave you such a hard time we suggest using a service to speak on your behalf.

Good Luck

Ontrack Financial Group