(1)(a) An employee, except a highly compensated employee, who complies with RCW 60.90.030 has a wage lien for wage claims on:

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Terms Used In Washington Code 60.90.020

  • Fee simple: Absolute title to property with no limitations or restrictions regarding the person who may inherit it.
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • person: may be construed to include the United States, this state, or any state or territory, or any public or private corporation or limited liability company, as well as an individual. See Washington Code 1.16.080
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
(i) Any real property in the state of Washington that is owned or subsequently acquired by the employee’s employer;
(ii) Goods and tangible chattel paper in the state of Washington that are owned or are subsequently acquired by the employee’s employer;
(iii) Accounts and payment intangibles that are owned or subsequently acquired by the employee’s employer; and
(iv) Any real property in the state of Washington that the wage claimant has maintained, for all wage claims for maintenance of that property.
(b) A person does not have a wage lien under this chapter for any wage claim that is or would be subject to a lien by that person under chapter 60.04 RCW.
(c) A wage lien is effective against the estate of the employer.
(2) This chapter does not affect the ownership or title in personal or real property of the state or other public entity or public ownership, nor does any lien attach to the fee simple title of the state or other public ownership.