2A:158A-17 - Lien on property of defendant

2A:158A-17.  Lien on property of defendant
    The reasonable value of the services rendered to a defendant pursuant to this act may in all cases be a lien on any and all property to which the defendant shall have or acquire an interest.  The Public Defender shall effectuate such lien whenever the reasonable value of the services rendered to a defendant appears to exceed $150.00 and may effectuate such lien where the reasonable value of those services appears to be less than $150.00.

    To effectuate such a lien, the Public Defender shall file a notice setting forth the services rendered to the defendant and the reasonable value thereof with the Clerk of the Superior Court.  The filing of said notice with the Clerk  of the Superior Court shall from the date thereof constitute a lien on said  property for a period of 10 years, unless sooner discharged and except for such  time limitations shall have the force and effect of a Judgment at Law.  Within  10 days of the filing of the Notice of Lien, the Public Defender shall send by  certified mail, or serve personally, a copy of such notice with a statement of  the date of the filing thereof to or upon the defendant at his last known  address.  If the Public Defender shall fail to give notice, the lien shall be  void.

     L.1967, c. 43, s. 17, eff. July 1, 1967.  Amended by L.1968, c. 371, s. 1, approved Dec. 27, 1968;  L.1969, c. 29, s. 1, eff. May 8, 1969.