I am executor of my mother 's estate. She passed three years ago. I am in the process of selling her home. Issue : Bank/mortgage lien on home. 
Three years ago I closed XXXX IRA accounts and a home equity line of credit. The bank told me not only to be sure the heloc was {$0.00}. but that it also is closed. I made sure this was done. I now find out that a mortgage lien is still on the home during closing. Wells Fargo did NOT inform me that a lien still existed when the account was officially closed. My mother never even used this line of credit. I was very surprised that I had to provide a mortgage paper to request a payoff and a release of lien The home was paid off at least fifteen years ago. It has been seven days and the lien has still not been released by the bank. The business manager at the bank told me that working for Wells Fargo he is also surprised to see many closed home equity line of credit accounts that are closed in the computer but have liens open on homes. Apparently there is no law or incentive whatsoever for the bank to notify customers or remove the lien. A special written demand must be provided to the bank. Again no one is told they need to do this once the account is closedI contacted my lawyer and he informed the bank can take up to 60 days to release the lien. This is absolutely wrong! A law needs to be invoked to stop this bank practice. Many people have liens on their home that do n't even know it. 
I understand XXXX XXXX XXXX and others do the same thing. 
