Notices in the mail
American Bureau of Liens notices: what to understand while handling an accident claim
If a notice arrived in the mail referencing a lien, here is how to read it, how to confirm the underlying record yourself, and where a notice service sits relative to your attorney and the insurer.
Last reviewed: September 2026
The short answer
A notice about a lien is correspondence about a recorded filing. It does not create the lien, it does not resolve it, and it says nothing about whether a settlement exists or when any money might be disbursed. American Bureau of Liens describes itself as a private notice and verification service — not a court, government office, collection agency, or law firm — and states that verifying a notice is free and that its notices are not bills.
Disclosure: This site is part of a marketing project for American Bureau of Liens.
What the company says it does
The following describes American Bureau of Liens’ own stated service, as published on ablien.org. We have not independently audited these statements; they are the company’s description of its own offering.
- It mails notices about recorded lien filings and provides a way to look up the filing behind a notice, using a web address and secure code printed on the letter beside a QR code.
- It states the lookup shows the recorded amount, who filed it, and which county it came from, in plain language.
- It states that verification is free, that recipients are never charged, that no account is required, and that a notice is not a bill or a demand for payment from the company.
- It offers an optional, no-cost introduction to a lien relief specialist or personal-injury attorney, and states attorneys — not recipients — pay for that introduction.
- It states recipients can opt out of future notices, or do nothing at all.
- It publishes a mailing address in Phoenix, Arizona, a phone number, and an email contact for questions.
What a notice service is not
Not legal representation
A notice service does not represent you, does not owe you a lawyer’s duties of loyalty and confidentiality, and cannot give legal advice about whether a lien is valid, whether it can be reduced, or how it should be handled in your case. American Bureau of Liens states this on its own site. Only a licensed attorney in the state where the lien was recorded can advise you on the merits.
Not settlement administration
Settlement administration means handling the money and the payout mechanics — the insurer issuing funds, the attorney’s trust account receiving them, and disbursement against an itemized settlement statement. A notice service is not part of that chain and cannot release funds, approve a disbursement, or change what a payout looks like. See how settlement payments work.
Not the government office of record
The authoritative copy of a recorded lien lives with the county recorder, clerk, or state office where it was filed. A private notice is a copy of, or a pointer to, that record — never a substitute for it.
Checking the filing independently
- Read the notice for identifiers. Note who filed the lien, the recording or filing date, the county and state, and any instrument or document number.
- Find the office of record. Locate the county recorder, county clerk, or equivalent office for that county through your state or county government site. USA.gov maintains directories of state and local government offices.
- Search the official records index. Many counties offer a free online index search by name or document number; others take requests in person, by phone, or by mail. Fees for certified copies are set by the office.
- Compare it to your own records. Check the provider name, dates of service, and amount against your medical bills and insurance explanations of benefits.
- Hand it to your attorney. If you are represented, the recorded copy belongs in your case file so it can be addressed before disbursement.
If a letter you received does not look like it came from the company it names, treat that as a reason to slow down. The FTC publishes general guidance on checking whether a communication is legitimate, and contacting the organization through a number or address you looked up yourself — not one supplied in a suspicious letter — is the standard precaution.
Common misreadings to avoid
- “A notice means my settlement is ready.” It does not. A lien can be recorded long before, or entirely without, any settlement.
- “A notice means I owe this today.” A recorded lien is a claim against a future recovery, not a bill due on receipt.
- “Using a service will speed up my payment.” Nothing about a notice or verification service controls how quickly an insurer, a court, a health plan, or a law firm completes its steps.
- “If I ignore it, it goes away.” The recorded filing exists independently of whether you read the letter. Your attorney should know about it.
If you already have an attorney
Forward the notice to your attorney and ask whether the lien is already reflected in the file, whether it appears accurate, and whether it will be addressed on the settlement statement. Be aware that if you are represented, accepting an introduction to another attorney through any referral service is a decision worth discussing with your current counsel first.
Disclosure: This site is part of a marketing project for American Bureau of Liens.