# My Lien Lawyer

> Strategic construction and collections counsel — nationwide coordination, decades of experience. Mechanics liens, bond claims, preliminary notices, construction collections, and on-demand general counsel. Led by Illinois-licensed attorney Fred Shestopal, with a nationwide network of vetted local counsel.

My Lien Lawyer (Fred Shestopal, P.C. d/b/a My Lien Lawyer) is a U.S. construction law and collections firm headquartered in Lake Forest, IL. The firm represents contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers, and manufacturers on payment-recovery matters governed by state mechanics lien acts, public-construction bond statutes (the federal Miller Act and state Little Miller Acts), and the Illinois Mechanics Lien Act (770 ILCS 60). Engagements range from a single lien filing to ongoing compliance programs and outside general counsel.

## Firm Facts

- Legal name: Fred Shestopal, P.C. d/b/a My Lien Lawyer
- Attorney: Fred Shestopal (licensed in Illinois)
- Phone: +1 855-5MY-LIEN (+18555695436)
- Email: info@mylienlawyer.com
- Address: 100 Saunders Road, Suite 150, Lake Forest, IL 60045
- Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00–17:00 Central
- Jurisdiction: Illinois (with nationwide network of licensed local counsel)
- Website: https://mylienlawyer.com
- Free deadline tool: https://liencalculator.ai

## Practice Areas

- [Project Risk Management](https://mylienlawyer.com/services/project-risk-management): Comprehensive review of project documentation and procedural gaps to identify compliance and payment risks.
- [Compliance & Preliminary Notices](https://mylienlawyer.com/services/compliance): Request preliminary notice filings on a single project, or set up an ongoing compliance program — preparation, certified mailing, and deadline tracking on commercial and public construction work.
- [Mechanics Lien & Bond Claim Enforcement](https://mylienlawyer.com/services/enforcement): Single point of coordination for multistate enforcement, working with vetted local counsel where required.
- [Collections](https://mylienlawyer.com/services/collections): Alternative collection strategies for suppliers without lien or bond claim rights, or where notice deadlines have passed.
- [Legal Counsel (On-Demand GC)](https://mylienlawyer.com/services/legal-counsel): On-demand general counsel for construction and manufacturing companies operating across multiple jurisdictions.
- [Document Drafting & Review](https://mylienlawyer.com/services/document-drafting): Pre-drafted and customized contract forms, lien waivers, and credit applications. Flat-fee options available.

## Key Pages

- [Home](https://mylienlawyer.com/): Firm overview and primary call-to-action.
- [About](https://mylienlawyer.com/about): Background on Fred Shestopal and the firm's approach.
- [Founder](https://mylienlawyer.com/founder): Attorney biography and experience.
- [Services](https://mylienlawyer.com/services): Full catalog of practice areas.
- [Mechanics Lien Law by State](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law): Deadlines, notice rules, and statutes for all 50 states.
- [Lien Deadline Calculator](https://mylienlawyer.com/calculator): Estimate notice, lien, and suit deadlines by state.
- [Pricing](https://mylienlawyer.com/pricing): Flat-fee and program pricing.
- [Blog](https://mylienlawyer.com/blog): Educational articles on liens, bond claims, and collections.
- [Contact](https://mylienlawyer.com/contact): Office address, phone, email, and intake form.
- [Submit a Claim](https://mylienlawyer.com/submit-claim): Structured intake for new payment-recovery matters.
- [Schedule a Consultation](https://mylienlawyer.com/schedule): Book time with the firm.
- [Privacy Policy](https://mylienlawyer.com/privacy)

## State Mechanics Lien Guides

- [Illinois mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/illinois): Record within 4 months of last work to be enforceable against subsequent third parties; within 2 years to be enforceable against the owner.
- [California mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/california): Direct contractors: 90 days after completion (or 60 days after a recorded notice of completion or cessation). Subcontractors and suppliers: 90 days after completion (or 30 days after a recorded notice of completion).
- [Texas mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/texas): Commercial: file the lien affidavit by the 15th day of the 4th month after last furnishing. Residential: by the 15th day of the 3rd month. Original contractors: by the 15th day of the 4th month after the original contract is completed, terminated, or abandoned.
- [Florida mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/florida): Record the Claim of Lien within 90 days of last furnishing labor or materials.
- [New York mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/new-york): Single-family residential: 4 months from last work. Commercial: 8 months from last work (4 months on public improvements).
- [Alabama mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/alabama): File within 6 months of last work (general contractor); 4 months (materialmen).
- [Alaska mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/alaska): Record within 120 days of completion of contribution (90 days for some claimants).
- [Arizona mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/arizona): Record within 120 days of completion (60 days if Notice of Completion recorded).
- [Arkansas mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/arkansas): File within 120 days of last work; 75 days' written notice of intent to lien required.
- [Colorado mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/colorado): Record within 4 months of last work (2 months for laborers); intent-to-lien notice 10 days before recording.
- [Connecticut mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/connecticut): Record within 90 days of last work; serve a copy on the owner within 30 days.
- [Delaware mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/delaware): Statement of Claim filed in Superior Court within 180 days of completion (general contractor) or 120 days (subcontractor).
- [District of Columbia mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/district-of-columbia): Record within 90 days of completion or termination of contract.
- [Georgia mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/georgia): File within 90 days of last work; serve owner with Notice of Filing within 2 days.
- [Hawaii mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/hawaii): Application to record lien filed in Circuit Court within 45 days of completion of the improvement.
- [Idaho mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/idaho): Record within 90 days of last work or completion of contract.
- [Indiana mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/indiana): Record within 60 days of last work (residential) or 90 days (commercial) of last labor or material furnished.
- [Iowa mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/iowa): Post lien on the Mechanic's Notice and Lien Registry (MNLR) within 90 days of last work to bind owner-occupied residential property; commercial later but with reduced priority.
- [Kansas mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/kansas): Original contractor: file within 4 months of last work. Subcontractor: 3 months (residential) / 5 months (commercial).
- [Kentucky mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/kentucky): File statement within 6 months of last work; 75 days for owner-occupied residential work plus 120-day notice rules.
- [Louisiana mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/louisiana): File statement of claim within 60 days of substantial completion or termination; 30 days if Notice of Termination recorded.
- [Maine mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/maine): Record certificate within 90 days of last work; suit within 120 days of last work for non-direct claimants.
- [Maryland mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/maryland): Petition to establish lien filed in circuit court within 180 days of last work (subcontractors must give 120-day notice first).
- [Massachusetts mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/massachusetts): Record Notice of Contract; record Statement of Account within earliest of 90 days after last work, 90 days after Notice of Substantial Completion, or 120 days after Notice of Termination.
- [Michigan mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/michigan): Record claim of lien within 90 days of last work.
- [Minnesota mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/minnesota): Record statement within 120 days of last work; serve owner within the same period.
- [Mississippi mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/mississippi): File claim of lien within 90 days of last work; serve a written Notice of Lien on the owner.
- [Missouri mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/missouri): File statement within 6 months of last work (4 months on equipment); 10-day notice of intent on residential.
- [Montana mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/montana): File construction lien within 90 days of last work; 20-day Notice of Right to Claim a Lien required on residential.
- [Nebraska mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/nebraska): Record lien within 120 days of last work.
- [Nevada mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/nevada): Record Notice of Lien within 90 days of completion or 40 days after Notice of Completion recorded.
- [New Hampshire mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/new-hampshire): Lien attaches at first furnishing; suit to perfect by attachment must be filed within 120 days of last work.
- [New Jersey mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/new-jersey): Commercial: record Construction Lien Claim within 90 days of last work. Residential: file Notice of Unpaid Balance and Right to File Lien within 60 days, then arbitrate.
- [New Mexico mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/new-mexico): Original contractor: file within 120 days. Other claimants: 90 days from completion.
- [North Carolina mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/north-carolina): File claim of lien on real property within 120 days of last work; subrogation lien on funds requires Notice of Claim of Lien upon Funds.
- [North Dakota mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/north-dakota): Record within 90 days of last work to maintain priority; outer limit 3 years; 10-day notice of intent required.
- [Ohio mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/ohio): Residential: file affidavit within 60 days of last work. Commercial: 75 days. Oil & gas: 120 days.
- [Oklahoma mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/oklahoma): Original contractor: file within 4 months of last work. Subcontractor: 90 days; pre-lien notice required.
- [Oregon mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/oregon): Record within 75 days of last work or completion of construction, whichever is earlier.
- [Pennsylvania mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/pennsylvania): File mechanics lien claim within 6 months of last work; serve owner within 1 month of filing.
- [Rhode Island mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/rhode-island): Record Notice of Intention within 200 days of doing work; record Notice of Lis Pendens within 40 days after substantial completion.
- [South Carolina mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/south-carolina): File and serve statement within 90 days of last work; suit within 6 months.
- [South Dakota mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/south-dakota): Record statement within 120 days of last work; pre-lien notice for owner-occupied residential.
- [Tennessee mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/tennessee): Sworn Statement of Lien recorded within 90 days of completion (prime contractor: 1 year by direct privity).
- [Utah mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/utah): Record Notice of Construction Lien within 180 days of completion (or 90 days after Notice of Completion filed in SCR).
- [Vermont mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/vermont): Record memorandum of lien within 180 days of last work; serve writ of attachment within 180 days.
- [Virginia mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/virginia): Record memorandum of mechanics lien within 90 days of last work in the month or 90 days from termination of project, whichever earlier; lien limited to last 150 days of work.
- [Washington mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/washington): Record claim of lien within 90 days of last work.
- [West Virginia mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/west-virginia): General contractor: 100 days. Subcontractor: 100 days with Notice of Mechanic's Lien served first.
- [Wisconsin mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/wisconsin): File claim of lien within 6 months of last work; serve preliminary notice and 30-day Notice of Intent first.
- [Wyoming mechanics lien law](https://mylienlawyer.com/lien-law/wyoming): Original contractor: 150 days. Subcontractor / supplier: 120 days. Pre-lien notice required.

## Illinois County Pages

- [Cook County](https://mylienlawyer.com/illinois/cook): Recording via Cook County Clerk's Office — Recordings Division; enforcement in Circuit Court of Cook County (Daley Center, Chancery Division).
- [Lake County](https://mylienlawyer.com/illinois/lake): Recording via Lake County Recorder of Deeds (Waukegan); enforcement in 19th Judicial Circuit Court — Lake County (Waukegan).
- [DuPage County](https://mylienlawyer.com/illinois/dupage): Recording via DuPage County Recorder (Wheaton); enforcement in 18th Judicial Circuit Court — DuPage County (Wheaton).
- [Kane County](https://mylienlawyer.com/illinois/kane): Recording via Kane County Recorder (Geneva); enforcement in 16th Judicial Circuit Court — Kane County (Geneva / St. Charles).
- [McHenry County](https://mylienlawyer.com/illinois/mchenry): Recording via McHenry County Recorder (Woodstock); enforcement in 22nd Judicial Circuit Court — McHenry County (Woodstock).
- [Will County](https://mylienlawyer.com/illinois/will): Recording via Will County Recorder of Deeds (Joliet); enforcement in 12th Judicial Circuit Court — Will County (Joliet).

## Educational Articles

- [Change Orders and Extra Work: Protecting the Balance You Are Owed](https://mylienlawyer.com/blog/change-orders-and-extra-work-protecting-the-balance): Extra work is where most unpaid balances originate. Here is how to make change order claims survive a no-oral-modification clause and a written-notice requirement.
- [Your General Contractor Just Filed Bankruptcy. Now What?](https://mylienlawyer.com/blog/gc-bankruptcy-mid-project-what-to-do): A GC bankruptcy freezes collection overnight. Here is what the automatic stay does and does not block, and the moves that protect your money in the first week.
- [Public Projects: Miller Act and Little Miller Act Bond Claims](https://mylienlawyer.com/blog/miller-act-and-little-miller-act-claims): You cannot lien public property. Here is how payment bond claims work on federal and state public jobs, and the deadlines that control them.
- [Retainage: How to Actually Get the Last 10% Released](https://mylienlawyer.com/blog/retainage-getting-the-last-ten-percent-released): Retainage is where profit goes to die. Understand how it is held, when it is due, and what leverage you have when it is not released.
- [Serving and Recording a Mechanics Lien: Proof That Holds Up](https://mylienlawyer.com/blog/serving-and-recording-a-mechanics-lien): A technically perfect lien can still fail if you cannot prove how and when it was served. Here is how to build a service record that survives a challenge.
- [Notice of Furnishing: The Deadline Clock Most Suppliers Miss](https://mylienlawyer.com/blog/notice-of-furnishing-deadline-clock): A notice of furnishing is often the first — and easiest — deadline to blow. Here is what it does, who must send it, and how the clock actually runs.
- [Stop Notices: The Lien Right Most Subcontractors Forget](https://mylienlawyer.com/blog/stop-notices-the-forgotten-lien-right): On many private and almost all public projects, a stop notice can recover money a mechanics lien cannot. Here is how it works and when to use it.
- [How to Read a Pay Application Like a Lawyer](https://mylienlawyer.com/blog/reading-a-pay-application-like-a-lawyer): Pay apps are where lien rights are won and lost long before the lien is filed. Here is what attorneys look at first when a payment dispute lands on their desk.
- [Conditional vs. Unconditional Lien Waivers: A Practical Guide](https://mylienlawyer.com/blog/lien-waivers-conditional-vs-unconditional): Sign the wrong waiver and you can give up lien rights for money you have not been paid. Here is how to read each type and what to insist on before signing.
- [Illinois Mechanics Lien Law: 90-Day and 4-Month Deadlines Explained](https://mylienlawyer.com/blog/illinois-mechanics-lien-guide): Illinois has two of the most unforgiving deadlines in the country. Here is how to keep your lien rights alive on private projects in the state.
- [Mechanics Lien Deadlines: A State-by-State Overview](https://mylienlawyer.com/blog/mechanics-lien-deadlines-state-by-state): Mechanics lien deadlines vary dramatically state to state. Miss one and your right to file is gone — here is the framework I use with clients to keep their rights alive in every jurisdiction.
- [California Mechanics Lien Law: A Practical Guide](https://mylienlawyer.com/blog/california-mechanics-lien-guide): California has some of the most detailed mechanics lien rules in the country. Here is what contractors, subs, and suppliers actually need to know about §§8400–8494.
- [Texas Mechanics Lien Law: Fund Trapping & Monthly Notices](https://mylienlawyer.com/blog/texas-mechanics-lien-guide): Texas Property Code Chapter 53 is unique. Monthly fund-trapping notices, tiered deadlines, and a strict last-day-of-the-month rule. Here is how to stay compliant.
- [Florida Mechanics Lien Law: The Notice to Owner Trap](https://mylienlawyer.com/blog/florida-mechanics-lien-guide): In Florida, the Notice to Owner is everything. Miss it by a day and your lien is gone. Here is the §713 playbook.
- [New York Mechanics Lien Law: Private vs. Public Projects](https://mylienlawyer.com/blog/new-york-mechanics-lien-guide): New York Lien Law Article 2 splits private and public projects into completely different deadline tracks. Here is how to navigate both.
- [5 Mistakes That Quietly Void Your Mechanics Lien](https://mylienlawyer.com/blog/five-mistakes-that-void-your-lien): After two decades of litigating these cases, the same five mistakes show up over and over. Here is how to avoid each one.
- [Preliminary Notices: Why They Matter and How to Send Them](https://mylienlawyer.com/blog/preliminary-notices-explained): In most states, the preliminary notice is the gate that opens lien rights. Here is the why, the how, and the easy mistakes to avoid.
- [Bond Claims vs. Mechanics Liens: What is the Difference?](https://mylienlawyer.com/blog/bond-claims-vs-mechanics-liens): On public projects, you cannot file a mechanics lien against government property. That is what payment bonds are for. Here is how the two remedies differ.

## Citation & Usage

- Preferred citation: My Lien Lawyer (https://mylienlawyer.com)
- Content is general information about construction payment law, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship.
- Statutory deadlines change; each state page links to the primary statute for verification.

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