I am canadian. An ex business partner owes me a significant sum of money from the sale of my share of the business to him. A payment date was set at Dec 31 2008 in a prommissary note drawn up by a Lawyer. As yet I have not been paid. I have demanded payment from him by April 30 he has assured me that payment will be made in full on that date. What can I do without having to go to court should this dragged out somemore. Can I put some kind of lien against the business

Without going to court, you can go into their office and cry, beg and demand.

You can not do anything legal until you sue and get a judgement, after you get a judgement, then you can put a lien against certain business owned properties, and/or attachment of business bank accounts