IN · Construction payment counsel
Indiana Mechanics Lien Attorney
Fred Shestopal and the My Lien Lawyer team prepare, serve, and enforce Indiana mechanics liens, preliminary notices, and public-project bond claims for contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers — directly or with vetted Indiana local counsel where the state requires it.
What we handle on Indiana projects
Preliminary notice is not required on private commercial projects in Indiana, though owner-occupied residential (Class 2) projects carry separate pre-furnishing notice obligations that warrant a closer look before work begins. Because most commercial claimants have no notice step, the lien filing itself becomes the first formal notice the owner receives of an unpaid claim.
An Indiana mechanics lien claimant must record a sworn statement and notice of intention to hold a lien with the county recorder within 90 days after last furnishing labor or materials, as set out in Ind. Code § 32-28-3-3. This deadline is measured from the claimant's own final date of work or delivery, so subcontractors and suppliers should not assume the general contractor's schedule controls their own filing window. We verify lien rights under Ind. Code § 32-28-3-3 before anything is recorded.
A foreclosure action ordinarily must be commenced within one year of recording the lien, but if the owner serves a Demand to Foreclose, that window collapses to just 30 days. If payment still does not arrive, we take the claim into court rather than handing you a file.
On Indiana public works, unpaid claimants look to the payment bond rather than a lien against government property. A claimant must serve written notice of the bond claim on both the awarding authority and the prime contractor within 60 days after last furnishing labor or materials.
Know your Indiana deadlines first
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.
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 Indiana lien rights, cure a defective claim, respond when an owner demands suit, or appear in court. Every Indiana matter here is handled under an attorney-client relationship.
- Written analysis of your Indiana 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.
Indiana mechanics lien questions
Do I need a Indiana attorney to file a mechanics lien?
A filing service can mail documents, but it cannot tell you whether you actually hold lien rights in Indiana, 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 Indiana mechanics lien deadlines?
An Indiana mechanics lien claimant must record a sworn statement and notice of intention to hold a lien with the county recorder within 90 days after last furnishing labor or materials, as set out in Ind. Code § 32-28-3-3. This deadline is measured from the claimant's own final date of work or delivery, so subcontractors and suppliers should not assume the general contractor's schedule controls their own filing window. Preliminary notice is not required on private commercial projects in Indiana, though owner-occupied residential (Class 2) projects carry separate pre-furnishing notice obligations that warrant a closer look before work begins. Because most commercial claimants have no notice step, the lien filing itself becomes the first formal notice the owner receives of an unpaid claim. Full detail, with statute citations, is on our Indiana mechanics lien law page.
Can you help on a Indiana public project?
Yes. On Indiana public works, unpaid claimants look to the payment bond rather than a lien against government property. A claimant must serve written notice of the bond claim on both the awarding authority and the prime contractor within 60 days after last furnishing labor or materials. The controlling statute is Ind. Code §§ 5-16-5 & 36-1-12-13.1.
When must a mechanics lien be recorded in Indiana?
Within 90 days after last furnishing labor or materials, the claimant must record a sworn statement and notice of intention to hold a lien with the county recorder.
Is preliminary notice required in Indiana?
Not for private commercial projects, though owner-occupied residential projects have their own pre-furnishing notice rules worth confirming before starting work.
Unpaid on a Indiana project?
Send us the contract, the last invoice, and your furnishing dates. We will tell you what Indiana 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).