Mechanics Lien Attorney by State

Alabama mechanics lien deadlines run under Ala. Code §§ 35-11-210 – 35-11-234 for private work and Ala. Code §§ 39-1-1 et seq. for public projects. Both first and last furnishing dates matter from day one, since they anchor every downstream filing deadline.

Alaska mechanics lien rights are set out in AS §§ 34.35.050 – 34.35.120 for private projects and AS §§ 36.25.010 – 36.25.025 for public work. Because deadlines run from first and last furnishing, tracking both dates from day one on site is essential.

Arizona lien deadlines come from A.R.S. §§ 33-993 & 33-1003 for private work and A.R.S. §§ 34-221 to 34-227 for public projects under the state's Little Miller Act. Timing hinges on completion, or an owner-filed Notice of Completion, making early tracking critical.

Arkansas lien deadlines flow from Ark. Code § 18-44-117 for private work and Ark. Code § 22-9-403 for public projects. Both the 120-day filing window and the mandatory 10-day pre-filing notice make early date-tracking essential for Arkansas claimants.

California mechanics lien law is governed by Civil Code §§ 8000–9566. The 20-day Preliminary Notice is the gateway to all lien and stop-notice rights for subcontractors and suppliers.

Colorado mechanics lien practice runs under C.R.S. § 38-22-109 for private work and C.R.S. §§ 38-26-105 & 38-26-107 for public projects. The state's 10-day pre-filing notice and four-month recording window both key off last furnishing, so tracking dates from day one matters.

Connecticut mechanics lien practice is governed by Conn. Gen. Stat. § 49-34 for private work and §§ 49-41a and 49-42 for public projects. The 90-day recording deadline and its companion sub-tier notice both run from last furnishing, so early tracking matters.

Delaware mechanics lien deadlines are set by 25 Del. C. § 2711 for private work and 29 Del. C. § 6962 for public projects. With no preliminary notice requirement, the 120-day (or 180-day for direct-to-owner claimants) recording deadline is the critical date to track.

Florida Chapter 713 is built around the Notice to Owner: subcontractors and suppliers who fail to serve it within 45 days of first furnishing lose all lien rights — even if they are otherwise paid in full to date.

Georgia lien deadlines are governed by O.C.G.A. § 44-14-361.1(a)(2) for private work and § 36-91-92 for public projects. The 90-day filing deadline, conditional 30-day Notice to Contractor, and one-year enforcement period each key off different trigger dates.

Hawaii mechanics lien rights arise under H.R.S. § 507-43 for private work and § 103D-324 for public projects. Because deadlines key off a recorded Notice of Completion or a court-determined Lien Attachment date, claimants should confirm the actual filing or hearing dates as soon as they are available.

Idaho mechanics lien deadlines run from last furnishing under Idaho Code § 45-507, with public bond claims governed by Idaho Code §§ 54-1926 to 54-1930. This overview covers recording windows, foreclosure timing, and notice practices for contractors and suppliers working in Idaho.

Illinois mechanics lien law (770 ILCS 60) requires careful tracking of the 90-day subcontractor notice and the 4-month recording window. Public projects fall under the Public Construction Bond Act (30 ILCS 550).

Indiana mechanics lien recording is governed by Ind. Code § 32-28-3-3, with public works bond claims under Ind. Code §§ 5-16-5 and 36-1-12-13.1. This summary walks through Indiana's 90-day filing deadline, foreclosure timing, and public project notice rules.

Iowa mechanics lien practice runs through the Mechanic's Notice and Lien Registry under Iowa Code § 572.9, with public works bond claims governed by Iowa Code § 573.7. Preliminary notice, recording, and foreclosure deadlines are all measured from precise furnishing dates.

Kansas mechanics liens are governed by K.S.A. 60-1101 and 60-1102, with public works bond claims addressed in K.S.A. 60-1111. Recording deadlines vary by claimant tier, ranging from three to five months after last furnishing.

Kentucky mechanics lien recording is governed by KRS § 376.080, while public contract fund claims fall under KRS §§ 376.210 and 376.250. Notice, recording, and foreclosure deadlines all depend on furnishing dates and contract value.

Louisiana mechanics lien deadlines under La. R.S. 9:4822 depend on whether a Notice of Contract was filed, while public works bond claims fall under La. R.S. 38:2242. Notice obligations for sub-tier suppliers run on a rolling monthly basis tied to the 75-day rule.

Maine mechanics lien recording runs under 10 M.R.S. § 3253, with foreclosure timing addressed in § 3255 and public works bonds governed by 14 M.R.S. § 871. The state's combined 210-day recording-to-lawsuit window rewards early action.

Maryland mechanics liens proceed through a court Petition under Md. Real Prop. §§ 9-104 and 9-105, with public works bond claims addressed in Md. State Fin. & Proc. § 17-108. The 180-day deadline and 120-day Notice of Intent both run from last furnishing.

Massachusetts mechanics lien practice under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 254 §§ 2-4 involves sequential Notice of Contract and Statement of Account filings, while public works bonds are governed by Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 149 § 29. Multiple deadlines run from different trigger events.

Michigan mechanics lien and bond claim deadlines under MCL § 570.1111 (private) and MCL § 129.207 (public), explained by My Lien Lawyer. Deadlines run from first and last furnishing, so both dates need careful tracking from the outset of work.

Minnesota mechanics lien and bond claim rules under Minn. Stat. § 514.08 (private) and § 574.31 (public), covered by My Lien Lawyer. The 45-day pre-lien notice and 120-day recording window both hinge on furnishing dates that claimants must document from the start.

Mississippi mechanics lien and bond claim deadlines under Miss. Code Ann. § 85-7-405 / § 85-7-141 (private) and § 31-5-51 (public), from My Lien Lawyer. Filing runs 90 days from last furnishing, with a separate 30-day preliminary notice for sub-tier claimants.

Missouri mechanics lien and bond claim rules under RSMo § 429.080 (private) and § 107.170 (public), summarized by My Lien Lawyer. Both the filing and enforcement deadlines run in 6-month increments tied to last furnishing.

Montana mechanics lien and bond claim deadlines under MCA § 71-3-524 (private) and §§ 18-2-201 to 18-2-206 (public), explained by My Lien Lawyer. The 90-day recording window and optional early notice both depend on tracking furnishing dates closely.

Nebraska mechanics lien and bond claim deadlines under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 52-101 and § 52-137 (private) and § 52-118.01 (public), from My Lien Lawyer. The 120-day filing window and optional 60-day notice both track from furnishing dates.

Nevada mechanics lien and bond claim deadlines under NRS § 108.226 (private) and § 339.035 (public), covered by My Lien Lawyer. Recording windows shift based on completion notices and work stoppages, so the 6-month suit deadline leaves no room for delay.

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 Jersey mechanics lien and bond claim deadlines under N.J. Stat. § 2A:44A-6 (private) and § 2A:44-145 (public), from My Lien Lawyer. Lien rights are limited to first- and second-tier claimants, with a 90-day filing window and 1-year suit deadline.

New Mexico mechanics lien and bond claim deadlines run from first and last furnishing under N.M. Stat. §§ 48-2-6, 48-2-7 for private work and NMSA 1978 § 13-4-19 for public projects. Understanding both trigger dates early helps preserve lien and bond rights before they lapse.

New York Lien Law Article 2 distinguishes between single-family residential, commercial, and public-improvement liens, each with its own filing window. Owners can also serve a 30-day demand to commence suit under § 59.

North Carolina mechanics lien claims must be filed within 120 days of last furnishing under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 44A-12(b), with public bond claims governed by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 44A-25 et seq. Both first and last furnishing dates matter, particularly for the Lien Agent notice requirements that can arise early in a project.

North Dakota mechanics liens must be recorded within 90 days of last furnishing under N.D. Cent. Code §§ 35-27-13 and 35-27-14, with public bond claims governed by Ch. 48-01.2. The 10-day pre-recording Notice of Intent and the three-year foreclosure window are both critical dates to track.

Ohio mechanics liens must be recorded within 75 days of last furnishing under Ohio Rev. Code § 1311.06, and public bond claims follow § 1311.26. The interplay between the Notice of Commencement and the 21-day Notice of Furnishing makes early diligence essential for sub-tier claimants.

Oklahoma mechanics liens must be recorded within 90 to 120 days of last furnishing depending on contractual tier, under 42 O.S. § 142.4, with public bond claims governed by 61 O.S. § 1. The $10,000 pre-lien notice threshold for commercial projects is a key trigger to watch.

Oregon construction liens must be recorded within 75 days of the earlier of last furnishing or substantial completion under ORS 87.035, with public bond claims governed by ORS 279C.605. The short 8-day preliminary notice window is one of the tightest in the country.

Pennsylvania mechanics liens must be filed within six months of completion under 49 Pa. Stat. § 1502, with public bond claims governed by 8 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 193. The state's limitation to first-tier claimants and their direct suppliers is a distinctive feature worth understanding early.

Rhode Island mechanics liens require both a Notice of Intent and recording within 200 days of last furnishing under R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 34-28-4, 34-28-7, with public bond claims under §§ 37-12-1 et seq. The tight 40-day foreclosure filing deadline that follows recording leaves little margin for delay.

South Carolina requires both recording and sheriff service of a mechanics lien within 90 days of last furnishing under S.C. Code Ann. § 29-5-90, with public bond claims under § 29-5-10 et seq. The state's unusually strict service-by-sheriff and receipt-based bond notice rules make careful timing essential.

This overview explains South Dakota mechanics lien and public-project bond claim deadlines under SDCL § 44-9-15 and SDCL §§ 5-21-3, 5-21-4. Because timing runs from first and last furnishing, tracking both dates from day one is essential to preserving lien and bond rights.

This guide covers Tennessee mechanics lien and public bond claim rules under T.C.A. § 66-11-112 for private work and T.C.A. § 12-4-205 for public projects. Because deadlines track both monthly furnishing and overall completion, careful date tracking from the first day on site is essential.

Texas Chapter 53 lien law is notice-driven: subcontractors and suppliers must serve monthly 'Funds-Trapping' and 'Retainage' notices to preserve lien rights. Public projects fall under the McGregor Act (Government Code Chapter 2253).

This summary explains Utah mechanics lien and public bond claim deadlines under Utah Code § 38-1a-701 et seq. and Utah Code § 14-1-18. Because the private deadline hinges on completion notices and the preliminary notice window can close early, tracking dates from first furnishing forward is critical.

This overview addresses Vermont mechanics lien and public bond claim rules under 9 V.S.A. § 1923 for private projects and 29 V.S.A. § 161 for public work. Since the lien deadline can hinge on either a payment-due date or last furnishing, precise date tracking is important from the start.

This guide covers Virginia mechanics lien and public bond claim deadlines under Va. Code § 43-4 and Va. Code § 2.2-4341. With a 90-day recording window and a 150-day look-back limit on recoverable amounts, tracking furnishing dates closely throughout the project is essential.

This overview explains Washington mechanics lien and public bond claim deadlines under RCW 60.04.091 and RCW 39.08.010 & RCW 60.28.011. With a strict 90-day recording window and separate 30- and 45-day public notice deadlines, tracking dates from first furnishing is critical.

Washington, D.C. mechanics lien and payment-bond deadlines explained by My Lien Lawyer. Private claims arise under D.C. Code §§ 40-301.01 et seq. — a notice of lien recorded with the Recorder of Deeds within 90 days of completion, enforced by suit within 180 days. Public work follows the District's Little Miller Act, D.C. Code §§ 2-201.01 et seq.

This guide covers West Virginia mechanics lien and public bond claim rules under WV Code § 38-2-1 and WV Code § 5-22-1(b). With a first-three-tier limitation, a 100-day recording deadline, and a 150-day look-back rule, tracking dates and claimant tier is essential.

This overview explains Wisconsin mechanics lien and public bond claim deadlines under Wis. Stat. § 779.06 and Wis. Stat. §§ 779.14(2) & 779.15. The mandatory 30-day Notice of Intent and 6-month recording deadline make careful sequencing essential to preserving lien rights.

This overview explains Wyoming mechanics lien and public bond claim deadlines under Wyo. Stat. §§ 29-1-601 et seq. and Wyo. Stat. §§ 16-6-602, 16-6-116. The two-step lien process and the separate retained-funds notice rules make careful date tracking essential from first furnishing onward.