LA · Construction payment counsel
Louisiana Mechanics Lien Attorney
Fred Shestopal and the My Lien Lawyer team prepare, serve, and enforce Louisiana mechanics liens, preliminary notices, and public-project bond claims for contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers — directly or with vetted Louisiana local counsel where the state requires it.
What we handle on Louisiana projects
Sub-tier suppliers in Louisiana must serve a Notice of Nonpayment under the state's 75-day rule, measured from the end of each month in which labor or materials were furnished and remain unpaid. Because this notice must be repeated on a rolling monthly basis, claimants working over several months need to track and serve notice for each month individually rather than filing one notice at the project's end.
When no Notice of Contract has been filed, a Louisiana lien claimant generally has six months after substantial completion to record, under La. R.S. 9:4822, though the window is 60 days from substantial completion if a Notice of Contract was filed, and a Notice of Termination can shorten the deadline to as little as 30 to 60 days from filing. Because the applicable deadline shifts depending on what documents the owner or contractor has filed, claimants should check the public record before assuming any single timeframe applies. We verify lien rights under La. R.S. 9:4822 before anything is recorded.
A lawsuit to foreclose a recorded Louisiana mechanics lien must be commenced within one year of recording. If payment still does not arrive, we take the claim into court rather than handing you a file.
On Louisiana public works, a bond claimant must file a sworn statement of claim within 45 days of the recordation of the Notice of Acceptance or of the contractor's default. Because public property cannot be liened directly, the payment bond is the exclusive avenue for unpaid claimants on these projects.
Know your Louisiana deadlines first
Louisiana mechanics lien deadlines under La. R.S. 9:4822 depend on whether a Notice of Contract was filed, while public works bond claims fall under La. R.S. 38:2242. Notice obligations for sub-tier suppliers run on a rolling monthly basis tied to the 75-day rule.
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 Louisiana lien rights, cure a defective claim, respond when an owner demands suit, or appear in court. Every Louisiana matter here is handled under an attorney-client relationship.
- Written analysis of your Louisiana 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.
Louisiana mechanics lien questions
Do I need a Louisiana attorney to file a mechanics lien?
A filing service can mail documents, but it cannot tell you whether you actually hold lien rights in Louisiana, 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 Louisiana mechanics lien deadlines?
When no Notice of Contract has been filed, a Louisiana lien claimant generally has six months after substantial completion to record, under La. R.S. 9:4822, though the window is 60 days from substantial completion if a Notice of Contract was filed, and a Notice of Termination can shorten the deadline to as little as 30 to 60 days from filing. Because the applicable deadline shifts depending on what documents the owner or contractor has filed, claimants should check the public record before assuming any single timeframe applies. Sub-tier suppliers in Louisiana must serve a Notice of Nonpayment under the state's 75-day rule, measured from the end of each month in which labor or materials were furnished and remain unpaid. Because this notice must be repeated on a rolling monthly basis, claimants working over several months need to track and serve notice for each month individually rather than filing one notice at the project's end. Full detail, with statute citations, is on our Louisiana mechanics lien law page.
Can you help on a Louisiana public project?
Yes. On Louisiana public works, a bond claimant must file a sworn statement of claim within 45 days of the recordation of the Notice of Acceptance or of the contractor's default. Because public property cannot be liened directly, the payment bond is the exclusive avenue for unpaid claimants on these projects. The controlling statute is La. R.S. 38:2242.
When must a mechanics lien be recorded in Louisiana?
Generally within 6 to 7 months of substantial completion if no Notice of Contract was filed, 60 days from substantial completion if one was filed, or 30 to 60 days from filing if a Notice of Termination was recorded.
Is preliminary notice required in Louisiana?
Sub-tier suppliers must serve a Notice of Nonpayment under the 75-day rule for each month in which labor or materials were furnished and remain unpaid.
Unpaid on a Louisiana project?
Send us the contract, the last invoice, and your furnishing dates. We will tell you what Louisiana 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).