Liens of Garage Owners, Livery and Stable Keepers; Replevin by Owner

Del. Code tit. 25, ch. 39

in effect

Del. Code tit. 25, § 3901 Persons entitled to liens.

(a) Any hotelkeeper, innkeeper, garage owner, auction service or other person who keeps a livery, boarding stable, garage, airport, marina or other establishment and, for price or reward at such livery, boarding stable, garage, airport, marina or other establishment, furnishes food or care for any horse or has the custody or care of any carriage, cart, wagon, sleigh, motor vehicle, trailer, moped, boat, airplane or other vehicle or any harness, robes or other equipment for the same or makes repairs, auctions, performs labor upon, furnishes services, supplies or materials for, stores, safekeeps or tows any carriage, cart, wagon, sleigh, motor vehicle, trailer, moped, boat, airplane or other vehicle or any harness, robes or other equipment for the same shall have a lien upon such horse, carriage, cart, wagon, sleigh, motor vehicle, trailer, moped, boat, airplane or other vehicle, harness, robes or equipment and the right to detain the same to secure the payment of such price or reward. (b) Unless the context of this chapter requires otherwise, a lienholder shall mean any person defined in subsection (a) of this section.

Del. Code tit. 25, § 3902 Lienholder’s loss of possession.

In case, either before or after the price or reward become due and payable, the lienholder under § 3901 of this title loses possession of the encumbered property, except by court order pursuant to this chapter, the lienholder’s lien shall continue in full force and effect, provided that within 10 days from the time of the loss of possession the lienholder pursuant to § 3903 of this title files an application for the issuance of an authorization to conduct a lien sale or files a counterclaim for the sale of the encumbered property pursuant to this chapter in a replevin action brought pursuant to Chapter 95 of Title 10 by the owners or other persons claiming an interest in the property.

Del. Code tit. 25, § 3903 Sale to satisfy liens.

(a) If a lienholder under § 3901 or § 3902 of this title is not paid the amount due, and for which the lien is given within 30 days after the same or any part thereof became due, then the lienholder may proceed to sell the property, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to satisfy the lien and costs of sale pursuant to § 3905 of this title if: (1) An authorization to conduct a lien sale has been issued pursuant to this section; (2) A judgment has been entered in favor of the lienholder on the claim which gives rise to the lien; or (3) The owners and any secured parties of record or known lienholders of the property have signed, after the lien has arisen, a release of any interest in the property in the form prescribed by § 3904 of this title. (b) A lienholder may apply to a Justice of the Peace Court in the county in which the lienholder’s business establishment is situated for the issuance of any authorization to conduct a lien sale under § 3905 of this title. In the event that the lienholder’s business establishment is located in more than 1 county, the Justice of the Peace Court in the county where the property is, or most recently was, located shall have exclusive original jurisdiction. The application shall be executed under penalty of perjury and shall include all of the following: (1) A description of the property. (2) The names and addresses of the owners of the property and the names and addresses of any other persons who the lienholder knows claim an interest in the property. (3) A statement of the amount of the lien and facts concerning the claim which gives rise to the lien. If compensation for storage is claimed, the per diem rate of storage shall be shown. (4) The date, time and place that the property will be sold if the authorization to conduct a lien sale is issued. (5) A statement that the lienholder has no information or belief that there is a valid defense to the claim which gives rise to the lien. (c) Upon receipt of an application which is made pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the justice of the peace shall send a notice and a copy of the application by certified mail or registered mail, return receipt requested, to the owners, secured parties of record and any known lienholders and any other persons whose names and addresses are listed in the application. If the identity of the last registered owner or secured party cannot be determined with reasonable certainty, § 3905 of this title shall have the same effect as notice sent by certified or registered mail. The notice shall include all of the following: (1) A statement that an application has been made with the justice of the peace for the issuance of an authorization to conduct a lien sale. (2) A statement that the person has a legal right to a hearing in court; if a hearing in court is desired, the enclosed declaration under penalty of perjury must be signed and returned and if the declaration is signed and returned, the lienholder will be allowed to sell the vehicle only if the lienholder obtains a judgment in court or obtains a release from the owners and any known lienholders. (3) A statement that if the declaration is signed and returned, a hearing will be promptly scheduled and the owners may then appear to contest the claim of the lienholder. (4) A statement of the date, time and place that the property will be sold if the authorization to conduct a lien sale is issued. (5) A statement that the justice of the peace will issue the authorization to conduct a lien sale unless the person signs and returns, within 20 days after the date on which the notice was mailed, the enclosed declaration stating that the person desires to contest the claim which gives rise to the lien. (6) A statement that the person shall be liable for costs if a judgment is entered in favor of the lienholder on the claim which gives rise to the lien. (7) A declaration which may be executed by the person under penalty of perjury stating that the person desires to contest the claim which gives rise to the lien and that the person has a valid defense to the claim and the person shall furnish names and addresses where official notice may be received of any person or persons including the declarant known to claim an interest in the property of the hearing date. (d) If the justice of the peace receives a declaration described in paragraph (3) of subsection (c) of this section which is mailed within 20 days after the date upon which the notice described in subsection (c) of this section is mailed, the justice of the peace shall notify the lienholder and owners and any other persons listed in the application or declaration of the hearing date unless the owners of the property and any known lienholder or lienholders have signed, after the lien has arisen, a release of any interest in the property in the form prescribed by § 3904 of this title. In any other case, the justice of the peace shall issue an authorization to conduct a lien sale. (e) In any hearing, the lienholder may have the amount of the indebtedness and right to sale determined and the person requesting the hearing may present and have determined any defenses, setoffs, counterclaims, cross-claims or third-party actions. (f) Any fees shall be recoverable as a cost by the lienholder if a sale is conducted. (g) The form of the applications, notices and declarations described in this section shall be prescribed by the justice of the peace. The language used in the applications, notices and declarations should be simple and nontechnical.

Del. Code tit. 25, § 3904 Release of owner’s interest in vehicle or property.

(a) An owner of property subject to a lien under § 3901 or § 3902 of this title may release any interest in the property after the lien has risen. The release shall be dated when signed and a copy shall be given at the time the release is signed to the person releasing the interest. (b) The release shall contain all of the following information in simple, nontechnical language: (1) A description of the property sufficient to identify it. (2) The names and addresses of the owners. (3) A statement of the amount of the lien and the facts concerning the claim which gives rise to the lien. (4) A statement that the person releasing the interest understands that the person has a legal right to a hearing in court prior to any sale of the property to satisfy the lien and the person is giving up the right to appear to contest the claim of the lienholder. (5) A statement that the person releasing the interest gives up any interest that person may have in the property and the person is giving the lienholder permission to sell the property. (6) A statement that there is no other person, persons or lienholders who have an outstanding interest in the property.

Del. Code tit. 25, § 3905 Notice of sale; disposition of proceeds.

(a) Prior to any such sale the lienholder shall give at least 15 days’ notice of the sale by handbills posted in 5 or more public places and by advertising in a newspaper published and/or circulated in the county in which the sale is to be held. (b) The proceeds of the sale shall be applied to the discharge of the lien and the cost of keeping and selling the property. The balance, if any, of the proceeds of the sale shall be deposited not later than 10 days from the date of the sale with the court to be applied by the court to the payment of any lien or security interest to which the property may be subject in the order of their priority, with any remaining proceeds to be paid to the owner or owners of the property sold but, in case such owner or owners cannot be found, such balance shall be turned over to the State Treasurer not later than 60 days from the date of the sale who shall create a special fund thereof and who shall pay to the owner the moneys left if a claim is made within 1 year of the sale, or deposit the moneys in the General Fund if no claim is made within 1 year of the sale. (c) In every lien sale authorized under this chapter, it shall be the duty of the lienholder to complete and file with the Court a disposition of proceeds form, as designated by the Court, within 10 days from the date of the sale. No transfer of or new certificate of title to the vehicle sold or salvage certificate shall be issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles without proof of the filing of said disposition of proceeds form with the Court within the required time period. A copy of the disposition of proceeds form sealed with the Court’s seal shall constitute sufficient proof of filing.

Del. Code tit. 25, § 3906 Motor vehicles.

(a) In the case of motor vehicles required to be registered under the motor vehicle laws of this or any other state, notice containing the information required in § 3903(b) of this title shall be given to the registered owners and known lienholders at their addresses of record with the Division of Motor Vehicles or similar agency and the return receipt, signed or unsigned, shall be held and considered as prima facie evidence of service of such notice. The lienholder shall notify the appropriate Delaware auto theft unit. (b) Any lien created under this chapter shall not extend to any personal property that is not attached to or considered necessary for the proper operation of any motor vehicle and such property shall be returned to the owner of the motor vehicle if the owner of the motor vehicle claims the items prior to the sale of such motor vehicle.

Del. Code tit. 25, § 3907 Priority of lien.

(a) All liens created pursuant to § 3901 or § 3902 of this title shall be superior to any lien, title or interest of any person who has a security interest by virtue of a conditional sales contract or a prior perfected security interest in accordance with Article 9 of Title 6. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, any person who stores or safekeeps any motor vehicle towed at the request of a party other than the owner of the vehicle may attain priority of lien as follows: (1) By providing notice by certified mail to a title holder of record within 7 business days of the date upon which possession is taken; (2) By providing notice by certified mail to lienholders of record within 7 business days of the date upon which possession is taken; and (3) By providing notice by telephone or in person to the appropriate police agency.

Del. Code tit. 25, § 3908 Remedy of owner.

The owners or other persons claiming an interest in the property, in addition to the right to a hearing as provided herein, shall have the right to file an action in replevin or detinue at any time in accordance with Chapter 95 of Title 10, and no bond shall be required to be posted as a prerequisite to the filing of such an action or the issuance of the writ.

Del. Code tit. 25, § 3909 Jurisdiction.

The Justice of the Peace Court in the county in which the lienholder’s business establishment is located shall have exclusive original jurisdiction of all petitions for sale under this chapter, notwithstanding the monetary amount claimed by the lienholder. In the event that the lienholder’s business establishment is located in more than 1 county, the Justice of the Peace Court in the county where the property is, or most recently was, located shall have exclusive jurisdiction. The Justice of the Peace Court shall also hear actions in replevin or detinue filed under this chapter, unless a party requests a jury and pays all necessary costs to transfer the action to Superior Court.

Del. Code tit. 25, § 3910 Rules.

The Justice of the Peace Court and Superior Court may adopt appropriate and specific rules to effectuate the intent and purpose of this chapter.

Source: DE Code (Official Site)URL: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title25/c039/index.htmlFetched: 10/4/2026