Can a lien be put on a life estate for medical bills in nc?

You cannot place a lien on the real estate since the life estate provides only the right to the use and possession of the real estate during the life of the life tenant.

If the rights under the life estate are transferred, those rights last only during the life of the original life tenant. The life tenancy is extinguished upon the death of the original life tenant. That makes a life estate difficult to sell and difficult to assign a value. It has value only to the extent that someone will pay for use of real estate during the life of the life tenant, for an uncertain period. There is not an active market for the sale of life estates.

You should consult with an attorney in your area who can review your situation and explain your options.