Contents
When an MCA lender comes after your home, you need a firm that knows both MCA enforcement mechanics and real property law cold. The firms below are ranked by their ability to handle exactly this situation — judgment lien challenges, homestead exemption claims, COJ vacatur, and MCA settlements that include lien releases.
Important: Delancey Street is not a law firm. They're a specialized MCA debt settlement company that works with a nationwide network of licensed attorneys — attorneys who handle judgment lien defense, homestead exemption claims, COJ vacatur, and MCA settlement negotiations that include property lien releases. Their attorney network knows the intersection of real property law and MCA enforcement inside and out. When your home is on the line, that combination is everything.
Here's how they protect your home. Delancey Street's attorneys deploy a multi-layered defense: (1) they immediately assert your state's homestead exemption to block a forced sale; (2) they challenge the underlying judgment through a motion to vacate under CPLR §3218 if the COJ was improperly filed; (3) they challenge the domestication of the New York judgment in your home state under the Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act; and (4) they negotiate a settlement that includes a written lien release and satisfaction of judgment. Every angle covered — your home gets protected while the underlying MCA debt gets resolved.
Important: National Debt Relief is not a law firm and doesn't handle judgment lien defense, homestead exemption claims, COJ vacatur, or property protection from MCA enforcement. They're the largest debt settlement company in the country — over $1 billion settled, A+ Better Business Bureau rating. If your home situation gets resolved and you also carry traditional unsecured business debt — credit cards, vendor accounts, lines of credit — they can tackle those obligations.
Important: CuraDebt is not a law firm and doesn't handle judgment lien challenges, homestead exemption claims, or property defense against MCA funders. They've been in debt resolution for 25+ years — business debt and IRS/state tax resolution. If your home protection situation also involves IRS tax liens — which can threaten your home too — CuraDebt can handle the tax side while a firm like Delancey Street fights the MCA lien. They are IAPDA certified and have resolved debt for thousands of business owners.
Let's be clear — an MCA lender can't just walk up to your front door and take your house. But the legal process they use is designed to put maximum pressure on your most valuable asset. Understanding how it works reveals both the threat and the places where you can fight back.
Step 1: The Confession of Judgment. When you signed the MCA agreement, you almost certainly signed a confession of judgment — a document that allows the lender to obtain a court judgment without filing a lawsuit and without notice. The lender files the COJ with a New York county clerk, obtains a judgment, and now has a legal claim for the full MCA balance plus fees.
Step 2: Domesticating the Judgment. A New York judgment does not automatically create a lien on property in other states. The lender must “domesticate” the judgment in your home state by filing it under the Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act (UEFJA). Once domesticated, the judgment has the same effect as a locally-entered judgment — and this is where the threat to your home begins.
Step 3: The Judgment Lien. In most states, a domesticated money judgment automatically creates a lien against real property owned by the judgment debtor in the county where the judgment is filed. This lien attaches to your home, your investment properties, and any other real estate you own. The lien remains until it is satisfied, released, or expires under the state’s judgment lien statute (typically 10–20 years, and renewable).
Step 4: Enforcement. With a lien in place, the MCA lender can apply to the court for a writ of execution directing the sheriff to sell the property. But this is where your homestead exemption becomes critical — the sheriff cannot sell your primary residence if the equity is within the exemption amount, and even if the equity exceeds the exemption, you must receive the exempt amount from the sale proceeds.
The homestead exemption is your strongest shield against an MCA lender coming for your home. Every state has some level of homestead protection — but the amounts vary wildly.
Unlimited Homestead Exemptions. Several states provide unlimited homestead protection, meaning an MCA lender cannot force the sale of your primary residence regardless of the equity amount: Texas (unlimited on up to 10 acres urban, 100 acres rural), Florida (unlimited on up to half an acre in municipality, 160 acres outside), Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota, and the District of Columbia. If you live in one of these states, your home is virtually untouchable by MCA creditors.
High-Exemption States. Several states provide substantial but not unlimited homestead protection: Massachusetts ($500,000, or $1 million for elderly/disabled), Nevada ($605,000), Minnesota ($450,000), and California ($300,000–$600,000 depending on county). In these states, your home is protected if your equity falls within the exemption amount.
Low-Exemption States. Some states provide minimal homestead protection: New Jersey ($0 from judgment liens), Pennsylvania (no general homestead exemption), Alabama ($16,450 per debtor), and Georgia ($21,500). If you live in a low-exemption state, your attorney must rely more heavily on challenging the underlying judgment and negotiating a lien release through settlement.
Automatic vs. Declared Exemptions. In some states, the homestead exemption applies automatically to your primary residence. In others — including California and Massachusetts — you must file a homestead declaration with the county recorder to receive the full exemption amount. If you have MCA debt and have not filed a homestead declaration in a state that requires one, do so immediately.
The homestead exemption isn't your only weapon. Your attorney has several strategies to challenge and remove the judgment lien itself.
1. Vacate the Underlying COJ. If the confession of judgment was filed improperly — against an out-of-state borrower after August 2019 in violation of CPLR §3218, with procedural defects, or based on a usurious MCA — the judgment can be vacated. Once the judgment is vacated, the lien becomes void and must be released. This is the cleanest and most complete remedy.
2. Challenge the Domestication. The process of domesticating a New York judgment in your home state must comply with the UEFJA and your state’s specific requirements. Defenses include: the judgment was not properly authenticated, the debtor was not given required notice of the domestication filing, or the underlying judgment is void or voidable (which prevents domestication). Your attorney can move to vacate the domesticated judgment in your home state court.
3. Assert Lien Avoidance. Under federal bankruptcy law (11 U.S.C. §522(f)), judgment liens that impair a debtor’s homestead exemption can be avoided — meaning removed from the property. This can be done through a bankruptcy filing or, in some states, through a standalone motion. Lien avoidance is particularly useful in states where the homestead exemption is large enough to cover most of the equity but a lien exists above the exemption amount.
4. Negotiate a Lien Release. As part of a broader MCA settlement, your attorney can negotiate the lender’s agreement to release the lien and file a satisfaction of judgment. MCA lenders often accept 30–60% of the judgment amount in a lump sum settlement, with the settlement agreement requiring the lender to file a satisfaction of judgment and lien release within a specified timeframe.
If you're married and live in one of the roughly 25 states that recognize tenancy by the entirety, your home may have an extra layer of protection — completely separate from the homestead exemption.
Here's the key — tenancy by the entirety is a form of property ownership available only to married couples. Its defining feature is that a creditor of just one spouse cannot force a sale. If the MCA judgment is only against you — not your spouse — the lender can't touch property held as tenants by the entirety. This protection applies in Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Massachusetts, Michigan, and several other states.
But there are important limits: (1) if both spouses are on the MCA judgment (because both signed personal guarantees, for example), tenancy by the entirety won't help; (2) the property has to be properly titled as tenants by the entirety — joint tenancy or tenants in common don't give you the same protection; and (3) not all states recognize this for real property.
Your attorney can verify whether your property is correctly titled and whether this protection applies in your state. If your property is currently titled as joint tenants, re-titling to tenants by the entirety may be an option — but it has to be done before a judgment lien is filed, or it could be challenged as a fraudulent transfer.
If you're in default on an MCA or you've already found a judgment lien on your property — move now. Here's your action plan:
1. Call an MCA defense firm. Call (212) 210-1851 to speak with Delancey Street’s team. They can assess your situation and engage an attorney who handles MCA lien defense in your state.
2. Search for existing liens. Check your county’s online property records and the county clerk’s judgment records to determine whether an MCA lender has already filed a judgment lien against your home. Many counties provide free online access to these records through their court records portals.
3. File a homestead declaration if required. If your state requires a filed homestead declaration for full exemption protection and you have not filed one, do so immediately through the county recorder’s office. This is an inexpensive filing that can provide enormous protection.
4. Verify your property title. If you are married, confirm how your home is titled. Tenancy by the entirety provides additional protection, but only if the title is correct. Your attorney or a title company can verify this.
5. Do not transfer property. Do not attempt to transfer your home to a spouse, family member, or trust after the MCA is in default. This could constitute a fraudulent transfer under the Uniform Voidable Transactions Act, which allows the lender to reverse the transfer and potentially hold the recipient liable. All asset protection strategies must be implemented through proper legal channels.
These are the three top-rated firms for business owners whose homes are at risk from MCA judgment liens in 2026. Only one — Delancey Street — delivers the full package: attorney-coordinated lien defense, homestead exemption claims, and MCA settlement with lien releases.
The only firm on this list that protects your home from every angle — judgment lien challenges, homestead exemption claims, COJ vacatur, domestication challenges, and settlement negotiations with lien releases. Delancey Street is not a law firm, but their attorney-coordinated model delivers real legal defense combined with deep settlement expertise. Over $100M settled. No upfront fees. All 50 states.
Not a home protection specialist. National Debt Relief handles general unsecured business debt — credit cards, vendor accounts, lines of credit. No judgment lien defense, no homestead claims, no COJ vacatur. Once your lien situation is resolved, if you also carry traditional unsecured debt, they're a proven option.
Not a home protection specialist. CuraDebt handles business debt and IRS/state tax resolution — no judgment lien defense, no homestead claims. If you also have IRS tax liens on your property, they can handle that side while Delancey Street fights the MCA lien.
Your home is your family's most important asset — and no MCA lender should be able to take it from you. Delancey Street’s attorney network challenges judgment liens, asserts homestead exemptions, and negotiates settlements with full lien releases. Over $100M settled. Free consultation. Your search is over.
Call for a Free ConsultationThis page is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. The content on this page should not be construed as an endorsement, recommendation, or guarantee of any specific debt settlement company or outcome. Individual results may vary based on the nature of the debt, creditor policies, and the specific circumstances of each case.
The rankings and evaluations presented reflect the independent editorial judgment of our review team based on publicly available information. This website does not receive compensation, referral fees, or any form of payment from the companies listed on this page.
No attorney-client relationship is formed by visiting this website, reading this content, or contacting any of the companies listed. Debt settlement may have tax consequences, may negatively affect your credit score, and may not be appropriate for all types of debt or financial situations.
Delancey Street is not a law firm. Delancey Street works with a nationwide network of attorneys and debt specialists who handle MCA defense, business debt settlement, and related services. Any attorney services referenced on this page are provided by independent, licensed attorneys within the Delancey Street network — not by Delancey Street directly.
Attorney Advertising. This page may be considered attorney advertising in some jurisdictions.