Legal Definitions - unsecured claim

An unsecured claim is a demand for money, property, or a legal remedy that a creditor asserts against a debtor, but the creditor does not have a lien or a right of setoff against the debtor's property. This means that if the debtor cannot pay the debt, the creditor cannot seize any of the debtor's assets to satisfy the debt.

Examples of unsecured claims include:

• A credit card debt
• A medical bill
• A personal loan

These examples illustrate the definition of unsecured claims because in each case, the creditor does not have any collateral to secure the debt. If the debtor defaults on the debt, the creditor cannot take possession of any property to satisfy the debt. Instead, the creditor may have to pursue legal action to collect the debt, which can be more difficult and time-consuming than collecting a secured debt.