Collections Lien?

[Jennifer12]

If I own a house can collection agencies put a lien on my house?
Can they force a sale of my house?
If just a lien does it just stay on my house until I sell it? or can they force it? If it just stays on it can I just live there the rest of my life and never sell the house? I am elderly and have no one to leave it to. Then the state could just take it when I am gone.
The old debt is almost worth the price of the house. The house costs $65,000 and the old debt is $50,000
So what can they do?

 

[JohnMacek]

They can only put a lien on the house if they have a judgment.
You may qualify for a homestead exemption, depending on the laws of your state.
They may be able to execute on the lien to enforce the judgment (ie force the sale of your house to satisfy the debt).
Consult an attorney.