The judgment lien has been on the property for 13 years and was put on after my sister got a divorce from her ex-husband and a debt for a vehicle was never paid. The ex brother-in-law is no longer in the state of Tennessee and this debt, unless negotiated off the property will most likely never be paid by my sister or the ex-husband.
If the Lien is void by operation of law, then it is still at the Register of Deeds. There are various ways to remove the Lien, including sending a letter to the Judgment Creditor demanding same. However very often a Declaratory Judgment and/or Quiet Title Action in the Court rendering the original Judgment is necessary. And here a problem may be standing as you are not the Judgment Debtor. Hire a competent Tennessee Attorney to clear that Title.
Further it is possible the Lien is extinguished by operation of law if an unsuccessful Levy of Execution occurred with no subsequent legal suit. Remember the Judgment is a Lien from Ten Years from date of Judgment unless extended for another Lien Period.
Actually the Lien of a recorded Judgment is perfected against the debtor's real property in that County for ten years from date of Judgment.
You need to have a local real property lawyer examine the title and you may be out from under. I am in Florida, and we have a mess: old judgments ran for 20 years, then they changed it to 7 years, and who knows what next. You need a GPS to figure it out.
Good Luck
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A short and simple answer is that a judgment lien in Tennessee is only valid for 8 years. However it seems that there are some moving parts in your questions. If you would like to email me, I can refer you to a real estate lawyer in your area to give you better advice.
This really depends if you're trying to sell the inherited land. A good title attorney could be of help.
