A lien that affects both real and personal property is known as what?

A lien that affects both real and personal property is known as a general lien. General liens arise from a legal claim that an individual or entity can place on a debtor's assets, which can encompass various types of property—not limited to one specific type. This can include both real estate and personal property, making it versatile in nature.

For instance, if a creditor obtains a general lien against a debtor, it indicates that the creditor has the right to claim all of the debtor’s property for the satisfaction of a debt. This broad scope is what distinguishes general liens from specific liens, which only apply to a single property type or asset. A judgment lien, while a type of general lien, is more specifically tied to court judgments and may only impact the debtor’s property upon the court’s ruling. Similarly, a tax lien is generally focused on real property to secure unpaid taxes. Therefore, general liens provide the widest coverage over multiple types of assets, which is why it is the right answer in this context.