For a special assessment project that is complete and the seller pays, what type of lien is recorded?

• A. Pending Special Assessment Lien
• B. Certified Special Assessment Lien
• C. General Lien
• D. Judicial Lien

Answer: (B)

Special assessments create a lien on a property to fund local improvements. If the project is approved but the final amount hasn’t been certified yet, the lien appears as a pending special assessment lien. Once the project is completed and the local authority certifies the amount, it becomes a certified special assessment lien. In a closing where the seller pays, the lien recorded is the certified one because the amount is fixed and officially established, making it enforceable against the property. A general lien or a judicial lien would not apply in this situation, since this charge is specifically tied to a special assessment and its official certification.