What happens if the court does not apply relation back to block other interests like a judgment lien?

In real estate transactions, the concept of "relation back" is important when considering the rights and interests related to property transfers. When a property is sold, any existing interests, such as liens, typically remain intact unless a legal doctrine allows them to be nullified or altered in some way.

In this scenario, if the court chooses not to apply the doctrine of relation back, it means that any judgment lien that was recorded against the property before the transfer of ownership will continue to encumber the property even after the sale. This results in the lien remaining attached to the property and potentially impacting the buyer's ability to fully enjoy their ownership.

The existence of the lien can put the buyer at a disadvantage, as they may find themselves responsible for satisfying the lien if they wish to have clear title to the property in the future. Thus, the court's decision not to apply relation back allows for existing interests like judgment liens to persist, affecting the overall ownership and marketability of the property.