Montana Title 53. Social Services and Institutions § 53-6-174. Filing of lien--effect of filing--priority--renewal--dissolution of lien

(1) The lien must be filed in the office of the clerk and recorder in the county in which the real property is located.

(2) Filing of the lien constitutes legal notice of the lien to all persons, including subsequent purchasers, encumbrancers, mortgagees, and other lienholders. Upon filing, the lien is prior to any earlier unrecorded interest or claim and is prior to any subsequent interest or claim, whether or not recorded. The lien is subject to any unpaid property taxes, any prior recorded mortgage, or any other prior recorded encumbrance, interest, or claim. For purposes of recovery under 53-6-171 through 53-6-188, a sale, transfer, or exchange of the property by the recipient is considered a relinquishment of any homestead exemption under 70-32-201 and 70-32-202 of the recipient in the property subject to the lien.

(3) Except as provided in 53-6-171 through 53-6-188, the lien has the effect of a judgment lien when the lien is filed. For purposes of provisions of state laws relating to judgment liens, the department is considered the judgment creditor and the recipient or the recipient's spouse or successor in interest is considered the judgment debtor.

(4) After filing, the lien remains effective for a period of 6 years unless earlier satisfied, released, or dissolved. The department may renew a lien for one or more additional 6-year periods.

(5) If the recipient is discharged from the facility and returns home, the lien dissolves and is no longer effective unless a new lien is later imposed in accordance with 53-6-171 through 53-6-188. Following the recipient's discharge and return home, the department shall upon written request file a release of lien in the clerk and recorder's office. Dissolution of the lien under this subsection does not preclude the department from recovering under 53-6-167, 53-6-168, or 53-6-169.

(6) If the lien is imposed pursuant to 53-6-171 on the recipient's interest in jointly owned property that is subject to a right of survivorship, upon the recipient's death, the recipient's interest passes to the survivor, subject to the lien imposed pursuant to 53-6-171.