FL · Construction payment counsel
Florida Mechanics Lien Attorney
Fred Shestopal and the My Lien Lawyer team prepare, serve, and enforce Florida mechanics liens, preliminary notices, and public-project bond claims for contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers — directly or with vetted Florida local counsel where the state requires it.
What we handle on Florida projects
All claimants not in direct privity with the owner must serve a Notice to Owner before commencing work or within 45 days of first furnishing — whichever is earlier.
Record the Claim of Lien within 90 days of last furnishing labor or materials. We verify lien rights under Florida Construction Lien Law, Chapter 713, Part I before anything is recorded.
Suit to foreclose must be filed within 1 year of recording the Claim of Lien (or sooner if the owner serves a 20-day Notice of Contest of Lien, which shortens it to 60 days). If payment still does not arrive, we take the claim into court rather than handing you a file.
Public-bond claimants must serve notice of nonpayment within 90 days of final furnishing under § 255.05 and file suit within 1 year.
Know your Florida deadlines first
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.
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 Florida lien rights, cure a defective claim, respond when an owner demands suit, or appear in court. Every Florida matter here is handled under an attorney-client relationship.
- Written analysis of your Florida 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.
Florida mechanics lien questions
Do I need a Florida attorney to file a mechanics lien?
A filing service can mail documents, but it cannot tell you whether you actually hold lien rights in Florida, 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 Florida mechanics lien deadlines?
Record the Claim of Lien within 90 days of last furnishing labor or materials. All claimants not in direct privity with the owner must serve a Notice to Owner before commencing work or within 45 days of first furnishing — whichever is earlier. Full detail, with statute citations, is on our Florida mechanics lien law page.
Can you help on a Florida public project?
Yes. Public-bond claimants must serve notice of nonpayment within 90 days of final furnishing under § 255.05 and file suit within 1 year. The controlling statute is Florida Statutes § 255.05 (Public Bond).
What is a Notice to Owner in Florida?
A statutory notice required of every lien claimant who is not in direct privity with the owner. It must be served within 45 days of first furnishing labor or materials, and failure to serve it on time forfeits all lien rights for the project.
When do I record the Claim of Lien?
Within 90 days of the last day labor or materials were furnished to the project.
Unpaid on a Florida project?
Send us the contract, the last invoice, and your furnishing dates. We will tell you what Florida 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).