KY · Construction payment counsel
Kentucky Mechanics Lien Attorney
Fred Shestopal and the My Lien Lawyer team prepare, serve, and enforce Kentucky mechanics liens, preliminary notices, and public-project bond claims for contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers — directly or with vetted Kentucky local counsel where the state requires it.
What we handle on Kentucky projects
Kentucky requires preliminary notice on a sliding scale tied to contract size: 75 days after last furnishing for contracts under $1,000, and 120 days after last furnishing for contracts of $1,000 or more. Because the trigger depends on the dollar value of the contract, claimants should confirm which threshold applies before calculating their notice deadline.
A Kentucky mechanics lien must be recorded within six months of the claimant's last furnishing of labor or materials, per KRS § 376.080. That six-month window is comparatively generous, but claimants should still record as soon as nonpayment becomes clear rather than waiting until the deadline approaches. We verify lien rights under KRS § 376.080 before anything is recorded.
A lawsuit to enforce a recorded Kentucky mechanics lien must be commenced within 12 months of recording. If payment still does not arrive, we take the claim into court rather than handing you a file.
For public contract funds in Kentucky, a claimant must file a lien on those funds within 60 days of the later of the claimant's last furnishing or the project's completion. This mechanism substitutes for a lien against the public property itself, since government-owned property cannot be liened directly.
Know your Kentucky deadlines first
Kentucky mechanics lien recording is governed by KRS § 376.080, while public contract fund claims fall under KRS §§ 376.210 and 376.250. Notice, recording, and foreclosure deadlines all depend on furnishing dates and contract value.
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 Kentucky lien rights, cure a defective claim, respond when an owner demands suit, or appear in court. Every Kentucky matter here is handled under an attorney-client relationship.
- Written analysis of your Kentucky 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.
Kentucky mechanics lien questions
Do I need a Kentucky attorney to file a mechanics lien?
A filing service can mail documents, but it cannot tell you whether you actually hold lien rights in Kentucky, 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 Kentucky mechanics lien deadlines?
A Kentucky mechanics lien must be recorded within six months of the claimant's last furnishing of labor or materials, per KRS § 376.080. That six-month window is comparatively generous, but claimants should still record as soon as nonpayment becomes clear rather than waiting until the deadline approaches. Kentucky requires preliminary notice on a sliding scale tied to contract size: 75 days after last furnishing for contracts under $1,000, and 120 days after last furnishing for contracts of $1,000 or more. Because the trigger depends on the dollar value of the contract, claimants should confirm which threshold applies before calculating their notice deadline. Full detail, with statute citations, is on our Kentucky mechanics lien law page.
Can you help on a Kentucky public project?
Yes. For public contract funds in Kentucky, a claimant must file a lien on those funds within 60 days of the later of the claimant's last furnishing or the project's completion. This mechanism substitutes for a lien against the public property itself, since government-owned property cannot be liened directly. The controlling statute is KRS § 376.210 / § 376.250.
When must a mechanics lien be recorded in Kentucky?
Within six months of the claimant's last furnishing of labor or materials, under KRS § 376.080.
Is preliminary notice required in Kentucky?
Yes, within 75 days of last furnishing for contracts under $1,000, or within 120 days for contracts of $1,000 or more.
Unpaid on a Kentucky project?
Send us the contract, the last invoice, and your furnishing dates. We will tell you what Kentucky 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).