A Teller County tax lien certificate is not ownership

Buying a Teller County tax lien does not buy the property.

A lien holder has a claim against the property, not ownership of it. The lien does not give permission to visit, enter, camp on, inspect, or secure the land. Entering would be trespassing.

After holding the lien for three years, a lien holder may apply for a treasurer’s deed. The three-year mark opens an application process; it does not turn the certificate into a key or permission to enter the property.

Before buying a lien, ask the Treasurer about the current certificate, redemption status, deed application steps, and accepted payment methods. Before treating a future treasurer’s deed as clear title, have a qualified title or legal professional review the record.

If the lien is against property you own, contact the Treasurer for the amount and method needed to redeem it. Do not rely on a third party’s description of where the lien stands.