AK · Construction payment counsel
Alaska Mechanics Lien Attorney
Fred Shestopal and the My Lien Lawyer team prepare, serve, and enforce Alaska mechanics liens, preliminary notices, and public-project bond claims for contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers — directly or with vetted Alaska local counsel where the state requires it.
What we handle on Alaska projects
Alaska does not require preliminary notice on private or residential projects as a general matter. A Notice of Right to Lien under AS § 34.35.064 is optional and only becomes mandatory if the owner has posted a Notice of Non-Responsibility, though serving it proactively is generally good practice.
An Alaska claim of lien must be recorded within 120 days of the date the claimant last furnished labor or materials, under AS §§ 34.35.050 – 34.35.120. If the property owner has recorded a Notice of Non-Responsibility, the claimant must also have served a Notice of Right to Lien beforehand to preserve the claim. We verify lien rights under AS §§ 34.35.050 – 34.35.120 before anything is recorded.
A foreclosure action must be commenced within six months after the lien is recorded, or the lien expires under AS §§ 34.35.050 – 34.35.120. If payment still does not arrive, we take the claim into court rather than handing you a file.
Public work in Alaska is governed by the state's Little Miller Act, AS §§ 36.25.010 – 36.25.025. Claimants without a direct contract with the prime must serve written notice on the prime contractor within 90 days of last furnishing, and any suit on the payment bond must follow within one year of that same date.
Know your Alaska deadlines first
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.
A law firm, not a notice service
Filing bureaus and online lien tools mail documents on request. They cannot give you a legal opinion on whether you hold Alaska lien rights, cure a defective claim, respond when an owner demands suit, or appear in court. Every Alaska matter here is handled under an attorney-client relationship.
- Written analysis of your Alaska lien and bond rights before filing
- Certified mailing with proof of service retained in your file
- Deadline calendaring with reminders ahead of every statutory cutoff
- Foreclosure suit and collections handled by the same firm
See why a law firm matters, side by side with a filing service.
Alaska mechanics lien questions
Do I need a Alaska attorney to file a mechanics lien?
A filing service can mail documents, but it cannot tell you whether you actually hold lien rights in Alaska, fix a defective claim, or foreclose the lien if the money still does not come. My Lien Lawyer handles the analysis, the filing, and the enforcement as one engagement.
What are the key Alaska mechanics lien deadlines?
An Alaska claim of lien must be recorded within 120 days of the date the claimant last furnished labor or materials, under AS §§ 34.35.050 – 34.35.120. If the property owner has recorded a Notice of Non-Responsibility, the claimant must also have served a Notice of Right to Lien beforehand to preserve the claim. Alaska does not require preliminary notice on private or residential projects as a general matter. A Notice of Right to Lien under AS § 34.35.064 is optional and only becomes mandatory if the owner has posted a Notice of Non-Responsibility, though serving it proactively is generally good practice. Full detail, with statute citations, is on our Alaska mechanics lien law page.
Can you help on a Alaska public project?
Yes. Public work in Alaska is governed by the state's Little Miller Act, AS §§ 36.25.010 – 36.25.025. Claimants without a direct contract with the prime must serve written notice on the prime contractor within 90 days of last furnishing, and any suit on the payment bond must follow within one year of that same date. The controlling statute is AS §§ 36.25.010 – 36.25.025.
When must a mechanics lien be recorded in Alaska?
The claim of lien must be recorded within 120 days after the claimant last furnished labor or materials, and the case must then proceed to a foreclosure suit within six months of recording.
Is preliminary notice required in Alaska?
Generally no, but a Notice of Right to Lien under AS § 34.35.064 becomes required if the owner has recorded a Notice of Non-Responsibility, so it is worth serving as a precaution.
Unpaid on a Alaska project?
Send us the contract, the last invoice, and your furnishing dates. We will tell you what Alaska deadlines are still open and what it takes to protect the money. The first call is free.
This page is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Fred Shestopal is licensed in Illinois (with nationwide network of licensed local counsel).