How much does it cost to place a lien on someone's property when they owe you money?

The cost of obtaining a lien depends largely on the type of propery, the type of debt, whether you obtained a security agreement and whether the law grants you any special status to file a lien without going to court like a mechanic's lien. If you are a secured lender, you already have a lien. If you have special status like a contractor, you may be able to record a lien for a small fee or assert a lien by keeping property already in your possession. If you are unsecured, you may need to file a lawsuit and get a judgment lien after you win the case. The actual cost could range from a few dollars to hundreds or thousands of dollars if you have to sue in court first.