NH · Mechanics Lien Law
New Hampshire Mechanics Lien Law: Deadlines, Notices & Filing Guide
New Hampshire mechanics lien procedure under RSA 447:9–447:10 (private) and RSA 447:15–447:18 (public), explained by My Lien Lawyer. Lien and lawsuit merge into one 120-day court petition, layered on top of pre-furnishing and recurring notice obligations.
New Hampshire mechanics lien deadlines at a glance
A Pre-Furnishing Notice must be served before the claimant first furnishes labor or materials, and a sworn 30-Day Account Statement under RSA 447:8 must be served every 30 days that work continues. Missing an account statement forfeits lien rights for the period it should have covered, making ongoing compliance just as important as the initial notice.
New Hampshire combines lien recording and the lawsuit itself into a single Ex Parte Petition to Secure Mechanics Lien, which must be filed in court within 120 days of last furnishing labor or materials, under RSA 447:9–447:10.
Because the petition itself functions as both the lien filing and the lawsuit, that same 120-day deadline from last furnishing governs enforcement.
New Hampshire provides two parallel public-project remedies, a Bond Claim and a Lien on Funds, and both require notice within 90 days of project completion and acceptance.
Primary statute
RSA 447:9–447:10 · RSA 447:15–447:18
Who can file a mechanics lien in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire liens are available to contractors, subcontractors, sub-subcontractors, material suppliers, and design professionals where the statute allows, for labor, materials, or services furnished to the improvement.
Overview of New Hampshire lien practice
New Hampshire's process departs from the two-step recording-then-suit model used in most states by folding both steps into a single Ex Parte Petition to Secure Mechanics Lien, due in court within 120 days of last furnishing. That structure raises the stakes on the front end, since a Pre-Furnishing Notice must be served before any labor or materials are even furnished, well before the project's 120-day clock starts running toward filing. Once work begins, claimants must also serve a sworn 30-Day Account Statement every 30 days for as long as work continues, and missing any single statement forfeits lien rights for that specific period rather than the whole project, which makes ongoing administrative discipline as important as the initial filing. Because the petition must be filed in the correct court and identify the actual owner of record, claimants should treat the pre-furnishing and periodic notice requirements as inseparable from the underlying 120-day deadline rather than as optional add-ons. Public project claimants face a separate 90-day notice tied to project completion and acceptance under either the Bond Claim or Lien on Funds remedy. Federal property is not subject to any of these state remedies.
Common pitfalls on New Hampshire projects
Pre-Furnishing Notice must come first
The Pre-Furnishing Notice must be served before the claimant furnishes any labor or materials, not afterward, or lien rights for the work never attach properly.
Missed account statements forfeit periods
A sworn 30-Day Account Statement is required every 30 days of ongoing work, and missing even one forfeits lien rights for the uncovered period.
Sub-tier compliance must be verified
Sub-tier claimants should confirm both Notice of Lien Rights and 30-Day Account Statement compliance, since gaps in either can limit or forfeit lien rights.
New Hampshire mechanics lien FAQs
When must a mechanics lien be recorded in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire combines recording and the lawsuit into a single Ex Parte Petition to Secure Mechanics Lien, which must be filed in court within 120 days of last furnishing.
Is preliminary notice required in New Hampshire?
Yes, a Pre-Furnishing Notice must be served before work begins, and a sworn 30-Day Account Statement must follow every 30 days of ongoing work.
How long do I have to enforce a lien in New Hampshire?
Because the petition itself serves as both lien and lawsuit, the same 120-day deadline from last furnishing applies to enforcement.
What applies to New Hampshire public projects?
Both the Bond Claim and Lien on Funds remedies require notice within 90 days of project completion and acceptance.
Filing a New Hampshire mechanics lien or bond claim?
My Lien Lawyer coordinates mechanics lien filings, bond claims, and construction collections in New Hampshire — directly or through our vetted local-counsel network. The first call is free.
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This page is general information and not legal advice. Statutes change — verify against the official text linked above.