AZ · Construction payment counsel
Arizona Mechanics Lien Attorney
Fred Shestopal and the My Lien Lawyer team prepare, serve, and enforce Arizona mechanics liens, preliminary notices, and public-project bond claims for contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers — directly or with vetted Arizona local counsel where the state requires it.
What we handle on Arizona projects
Arizona limits lien rights to parties in direct contract with the general contractor or a first-tier subcontractor, meaning more remote parties such as supplier-to-supplier or supplier-to-sub-subcontractor relationships fall outside lien protection. A timely Preliminary 20-Day Notice is also a prerequisite to preserving lien rights for those who do qualify.
A claimant generally must record its lien within 120 days after completion of the project if no Notice of Completion has been filed, under A.R.S. §§ 33-993 & 33-1003. If the owner records a Notice of Completion, that window shortens to 60 days from the date of that filing, so every claimant should watch for it. We verify lien rights under A.R.S. §§ 33-993 & 33-1003 before anything is recorded.
Foreclosure must be filed within six months after the lien is recorded; this deadline is treated as jurisdictional and cannot be extended. If payment still does not arrive, we take the claim into court rather than handing you a file.
On Arizona public projects, bond rights are similarly limited to parties in direct contract with the general contractor or a first-tier subcontractor, so claimants further down the contracting chain do not have a bond remedy.
Know your Arizona deadlines first
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.
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 Arizona lien rights, cure a defective claim, respond when an owner demands suit, or appear in court. Every Arizona matter here is handled under an attorney-client relationship.
- Written analysis of your Arizona 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.
Arizona mechanics lien questions
Do I need a Arizona attorney to file a mechanics lien?
A filing service can mail documents, but it cannot tell you whether you actually hold lien rights in Arizona, 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 Arizona mechanics lien deadlines?
A claimant generally must record its lien within 120 days after completion of the project if no Notice of Completion has been filed, under A.R.S. §§ 33-993 & 33-1003. If the owner records a Notice of Completion, that window shortens to 60 days from the date of that filing, so every claimant should watch for it. Arizona limits lien rights to parties in direct contract with the general contractor or a first-tier subcontractor, meaning more remote parties such as supplier-to-supplier or supplier-to-sub-subcontractor relationships fall outside lien protection. A timely Preliminary 20-Day Notice is also a prerequisite to preserving lien rights for those who do qualify. Full detail, with statute citations, is on our Arizona mechanics lien law page.
Can you help on a Arizona public project?
Yes. On Arizona public projects, bond rights are similarly limited to parties in direct contract with the general contractor or a first-tier subcontractor, so claimants further down the contracting chain do not have a bond remedy. The controlling statute is A.R.S. §§ 34-221 to 34-227 (Little Miller Act).
When must a mechanics lien be recorded in Arizona?
Generally within 120 days after completion of the project, or within 60 days after the owner records a Notice of Completion, whichever comes first.
Is preliminary notice required in Arizona?
Yes, a timely Preliminary 20-Day Notice is required to preserve lien rights, and only parties in contract with the general contractor or a first-tier subcontractor qualify at all.
Unpaid on a Arizona project?
Send us the contract, the last invoice, and your furnishing dates. We will tell you what Arizona 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).