Senior Lien Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Senior Lien.

Senior Lien (noun)

A senior lien describes a legal claim or right that takes priority over other rights to the same property. When different liens exist on a property, the senior lien is the one that must be paid off first before any others. It is the highest-ranking or first in line. Any liens that can be claimed only after the senior lien is paid off are called junior liens.