A lien is a legal claim or hold on a property as collateral for a debt, which can be voluntary (like a mortgage) or involuntary (like a tax lien or mechanic's lien). A judgment, on the other hand, is a court order that says one party owes money to another. If you win a property at auction, whether you have to pay off a judgment or a lien before receiving the title depends on the type of auction and the status of these claims.