[Jul 11, 2024] Introduction of Lien Filing API

We've launched a new Lien Filing API, enabling programmatic creation and management of lien filings through Baselayer. This API supports both machine-to-machine (M2M) communication and can drive user interfaces with its document-like behavior.

What are Lien Filings?

A lien is a legal claim or right against a property, typically used as security for a debt or obligation. The Lien Filing API facilitates the process of creating, managing, and submitting these legal documents.

Key Features of the Lien Filing API

  1. Draft-Like Workflow: Create and gradually populate lien filings over time, mimicking the behavior of working with draft documents.
  2. Flexible Updates: Add or modify information in multiple steps, supporting both automated systems and user-driven interfaces.
  3. Secure Party Masking: Option to protect the identity of secured parties when required.
  4. Attachment Management: Programmatically upload, retrieve, and manage attachments associated with lien filings.
  5. Comprehensive Validation: Built-in checks to ensure all required information is present and correctly formatted before submission.

API Endpoints

The API introduces the following new endpoints:

  • POST /businesses/{business_id}/lien_submissions: Create a new lien filing submission
  • GET /lien_submissions: Retrieve a list of lien filing submissions
  • GET /lien_submissions/{filing_id}: Get details of a specific lien filing submission
  • PUT /lien_submissions/{filing_id}: Update a lien filing submission
  • POST /lien_submissions/{filing_id}/submit: Submit a completed lien filing
  • POST /lien_submissions/{filing_id}/cancel: Cancel a lien filing in "Needs Attention" status
  • DELETE /lien_submissions/{filing_id}: Delete a draft lien filing submission

Additional endpoints are available for attachment management and secured party masking operations.

Implementation Notes

  • The API supports both full payload submissions and gradual population of lien filings, accommodating various integration scenarios.
  • The draft-like behavior makes it suitable for driving user interfaces where users might save work in progress and return later.
  • For M2M integrations, the API can be used to automate the creation and submission of lien filings based on predefined triggers or data flows.
  • Proper error handling should be implemented to manage validation responses effectively.

For detailed information on using the Lien Filing API, including request/response formats and best practices, please refer to our updated Lien Filing documentation.