What is a characteristic of a statutory lien?

A statutory lien is a type of lien that is established by law and does not require the consent or action of the property owner. It arises automatically due to certain circumstances defined by statute, such as unpaid taxes or mechanics' liens for services rendered on a property.

This means that the lien is imposed by legal provisions rather than through a voluntary agreement between parties. The other options pertain to different aspects of liens. For example, voluntary liens are created through agreements, such as mortgages, and do not reflect the nature of statutory liens. The notion of automatic expiration after a year does not apply to statutory liens uniformly, as they can have different durations depending on the type and jurisdiction laws. Lastly, statutory liens can apply to both real and personal property, contrary to the suggestion that they are limited to personal property.

In short, the defining characteristic of a statutory lien lies in its ability to be created solely by law without the need for consent from the property owner.