A claim of lien freezes everything it touches — closings, refinances, draws. A discharge bond swaps the surety's guarantee for the property, so the lien comes off the title. Flat 3%, 48-hour underwriter response.
















Every day the lien sits on the title costs you leverage, interest, or a closing date. Here's the entire process:
The application plus a copy of the claim of lien and any court documents — that's the file. Send documents to underwriting right after you submit; everything is reviewed together.
A licensed underwriter reviews the lien, the dispute, and your file. Larger or heavily contested liens can require financials — you'll get one checklist, once.
The executed bond is deposited with the clerk of superior court, the lien is cancelled of record, and your closing, refinance, or draw schedule starts moving again.
Bond amount × 3% = your premium, one-time, $275 minimum. A $100,000 lien means a $125,000 bond — $3,750.
When a contractor, sub, or supplier files a claim of lien, the property itself becomes their security. Until it's resolved, title companies won't close, lenders won't fund, and draws stop. North Carolina's Chapter 44A lets you swap the property out and a surety bond in — at 125% of the lien amount.
The lien is then cancelled from the real estate. The dispute itself continues — bonding off a lien is not paying it and not admitting it's valid. If the lienor ultimately proves the claim, the bond pays; if they don't, it expires with the dispute.
That makes this the rare bond bought for leverage: you stop negotiating with your closing date held hostage and start negotiating on the merits of the claim.
Submit the application, then send the claim of lien and any court documents to underwriting — a licensed underwriter reviews the full file and responds within 48 hours.
Start the application →If yours isn't here, the bond team can usually answer within the hour.
Five-minute application, flat 3%, underwriter response within 48 hours. Your attorney files; the project moves.