The kind of lien might also be important. If one is underwriting the office/person one might have to a bailor-bailee type of interest rather than a debtor-creditor type interest. In other words, seems one has to know what one is doing. That a "Dan PETERSEN" was filling liens is telling. Residents and persons might have to tread carefully.
Acceptance of an oath of office is not the same as acceptance of an oath of office for value. Acceptance of an oath of office is something that a king might do with respect to, say, a man taking office as a Governor-General or as a Registrar. "Acceptance for value" has to do with drafts or demands for money being made against the acceptor.