HI · Construction payment counsel
Hawaii Mechanics Lien Attorney
Fred Shestopal and the My Lien Lawyer team prepare, serve, and enforce Hawaii mechanics liens, preliminary notices, and public-project bond claims for contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers — directly or with vetted Hawaii local counsel where the state requires it.
What we handle on Hawaii projects
Hawaii does not require a statutory preliminary notice on private projects, so lien rights are not conditioned on any early notice step.
A Hawaii mechanics lien application generally must be filed within 45 days of a recorded Notice of Completion under H.R.S. § 507-43. When no Notice of Completion has been filed, the deadline is instead tracked at roughly one year and 45 days from substantial completion, though this is treated as an estimate rather than a fixed statutory date, and claimants should update it once an actual Notice of Completion appears. We verify lien rights under H.R.S. § 507-43 before anything is recorded.
A foreclosure lawsuit must be filed within three months of what the statute calls Lien Attachment, a probable-cause date that the court itself determines at a hearing rather than one the claimant can calculate independently. If payment still does not arrive, we take the claim into court rather than handing you a file.
On Hawaii public projects, a bond claim notice is required within 90 days of last furnishing for sub-tier claimants who are not in privity with the prime contractor.
Know your Hawaii deadlines first
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.
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 Hawaii lien rights, cure a defective claim, respond when an owner demands suit, or appear in court. Every Hawaii matter here is handled under an attorney-client relationship.
- Written analysis of your Hawaii 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.
Hawaii mechanics lien questions
Do I need a Hawaii attorney to file a mechanics lien?
A filing service can mail documents, but it cannot tell you whether you actually hold lien rights in Hawaii, 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 Hawaii mechanics lien deadlines?
A Hawaii mechanics lien application generally must be filed within 45 days of a recorded Notice of Completion under H.R.S. § 507-43. When no Notice of Completion has been filed, the deadline is instead tracked at roughly one year and 45 days from substantial completion, though this is treated as an estimate rather than a fixed statutory date, and claimants should update it once an actual Notice of Completion appears. Hawaii does not require a statutory preliminary notice on private projects, so lien rights are not conditioned on any early notice step. Full detail, with statute citations, is on our Hawaii mechanics lien law page.
Can you help on a Hawaii public project?
Yes. On Hawaii public projects, a bond claim notice is required within 90 days of last furnishing for sub-tier claimants who are not in privity with the prime contractor. The controlling statute is H.R.S. § 103D-324.
When must a mechanics lien be recorded in Hawaii?
Generally within 45 days of a recorded Notice of Completion, or on an estimated basis of about one year and 45 days from substantial completion if no such notice has been filed.
Is preliminary notice required in Hawaii?
No, Hawaii does not impose a statutory preliminary notice requirement on private projects.
Unpaid on a Hawaii project?
Send us the contract, the last invoice, and your furnishing dates. We will tell you what Hawaii 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).