\nAfter offsetting the damages assessed for the plaintiff, and the allowances to the defendant for any improvements, the jury shall find a verdict for the balance for the plaintiff or defendant, as the case may be, and judgment shall be entered therefor according to the verdict. Any such balance due to the defendant is a lien upon the land recovered by the plaintiff until it is paid. (1871-2, c. 147, ss. 6, 7; Code, ss. 478, 479; Rev., ss. 657, 658; C.S., s. 703.)
North Carolina Legal Code