Also known as:forecloses the mortgage · foreclosed the mortgage · foreclosing the mortgage · foreclosure of the mortgage · foreclosure · mortgage foreclosure
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
The process by which a mortgagee terminates the mortgagor's equity of redemption and obtains the property or its value. Types include judicial foreclosure through court action, power-of-sale or nonjudicial foreclosure under the mortgage or deed of trust and state statute, and strict foreclosure in limited jurisdictions.
Sources & Authorities· 26 primary sources
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Cases
Statutes
Uniform Acts
Model Codes
Common Law
Restatements
Casebooks
How it applies
Common Examples
6
Title Theory Possession Dispute
Farah Fox borrowed from Franklin Foundry to buy a warehouse and granted a mortgage under title theory. When Farah defaulted, Franklin initiated foreclosure and asserted immediate possession rights. The court granted Franklin possession because the mortgage conveyed legal title, leaving Farah only an equity of redemption that foreclosure would cut off.
Servitude Survives Foreclosure
Foxfire Biotech purchased land subject to a recorded conservation servitude. A later mortgagee foreclosed its junior lien. The buyer at the foreclosure sale took title still bound by the servitude because the mortgage lacked priority over the earlier-created burden.
Partnership Charging Order Sale
Nora obtained a charging order against Annie's interest in Fair Buildings. After eighteen months of minimal distributions, Nora showed the judgment would not be paid within a reasonable time. The court foreclosed the charging order lien and ordered sale of the transferable interest to Park Properties.
Targeted Foreclosure Mailings
A law firm sent personalized letters to homeowners facing imminent foreclosure, offering representation. State regulators sought to ban the mailings as improper solicitation. The court held the targeted letters constituted protected commercial speech that could not be categorically prohibited.
Deed in Lieu Avoids Sale
Fumiko Fujimoto defaulted on a mortgage held by Foster Forge. To avoid foreclosure costs and publicity, Fumiko voluntarily conveyed the property by deed in lieu of foreclosure. The deed discharged the debt and extinguished the mortgage without a public sale.
Easement Survives Junior Lien
Ferrum Metals granted an access easement across its land to an adjoining owner. A later mortgagee foreclosed its junior lien. The foreclosure sale did not extinguish the easement because the mortgage lacked priority over the earlier servitude.
Common questions
Frequently Asked
5
What must a mortgagee show to foreclose a mortgage?+
A mortgagee must establish a valid underlying obligation secured by the mortgage and a default by the mortgagor. Foreclosure then terminates the equity of redemption and transfers the property or its value to satisfy the debt.
Supporting sources
How do title, lien, and intermediate theories affect foreclosure procedure?+
Title theory states give the mortgagee legal title and possession rights upon default. Lien theory states require the mortgagor to retain title until foreclosure cuts off the equity of redemption. Intermediate theory blends both approaches and shapes notice, sale, and redemption rights.
When may a court foreclose a charging order lien instead of a mortgage?+
A court may foreclose a charging order lien when distributions will not satisfy the judgment debt within a reasonable time. The purchaser receives only the transferable interest and does not become a partner.
Supporting sources
Does foreclosure automatically extinguish prior servitudes?+
A servitude survives foreclosure unless the foreclosed lien has priority over the servitude. Later liens given statutory priority ahead of earlier servitudes do not extinguish easements or restrictive covenants created as part of a general plan.
Supporting sources
What distinguishes a deed in lieu of foreclosure from actual foreclosure?+
A deed in lieu is a voluntary transfer of title in satisfaction of the debt that avoids the foreclosure process. It must be supported by consideration and free of duress. It discharges the mortgage but may affect junior liens differently by jurisdiction.
Supporting sources
of opportunities amounting to a deprivation of "liberty." Cf. Schware v. Board of Bar Examiners , 353 U. S. 232. [^maj-14]: See n. 5, supra. The Court of Appeals, nonetheless, argued…
proceedings and instituted the instant action in Federal District Court for declaratory relief. Appellee asserted a counterclaim challenging the constitutionality of Art. 2404, and…
by
foreclosure
and sale prior to the death of the mortgagor and thus have severed the joint tenancy. If they chose not to do so but to await the contingency of which joint tenant died first they did so at…
Business Associations Agency and PartnershipPower and liability of partners · Power and liability of partnersUBEFoundational