ME · Construction payment counsel
Maine Mechanics Lien Attorney
Fred Shestopal and the My Lien Lawyer team prepare, serve, and enforce Maine mechanics liens, preliminary notices, and public-project bond claims for contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers — directly or with vetted Maine local counsel where the state requires it.
What we handle on Maine projects
Preliminary notice is recommended, though not required, on Maine private projects. A filing with the Registry of Deeds helps protect the claimant against bona fide purchasers and should be refreshed every 120 days to remain effective.
A Maine mechanics lien must be recorded within 90 days of the claimant's last furnishing of labor or materials, under 10 M.R.S. § 3253. Foreclosure must then be commenced within 120 days of recording, creating a combined 210-day window from last furnishing to lawsuit under 10 M.R.S. § 3255. We verify lien rights under 10 M.R.S. § 3253 before anything is recorded.
Foreclosure must be commenced within 120 days after recording the lien, meaning the total time from last furnishing to filing suit is 210 days. If payment still does not arrive, we take the claim into court rather than handing you a file.
On Maine public works, a bond claimant must serve written notice within 90 days of last furnishing labor or materials. That notice is mandatory for claimants without a direct contract with the general contractor and recommended even for those in direct privity with the contractor.
Know your Maine deadlines first
Maine mechanics lien recording runs under 10 M.R.S. § 3253, with foreclosure timing addressed in § 3255 and public works bonds governed by 14 M.R.S. § 871. The state's combined 210-day recording-to-lawsuit window rewards early action.
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 Maine lien rights, cure a defective claim, respond when an owner demands suit, or appear in court. Every Maine matter here is handled under an attorney-client relationship.
- Written analysis of your Maine 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.
Maine mechanics lien questions
Do I need a Maine attorney to file a mechanics lien?
A filing service can mail documents, but it cannot tell you whether you actually hold lien rights in Maine, 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 Maine mechanics lien deadlines?
A Maine mechanics lien must be recorded within 90 days of the claimant's last furnishing of labor or materials, under 10 M.R.S. § 3253. Foreclosure must then be commenced within 120 days of recording, creating a combined 210-day window from last furnishing to lawsuit under 10 M.R.S. § 3255. Preliminary notice is recommended, though not required, on Maine private projects. A filing with the Registry of Deeds helps protect the claimant against bona fide purchasers and should be refreshed every 120 days to remain effective. Full detail, with statute citations, is on our Maine mechanics lien law page.
Can you help on a Maine public project?
Yes. On Maine public works, a bond claimant must serve written notice within 90 days of last furnishing labor or materials. That notice is mandatory for claimants without a direct contract with the general contractor and recommended even for those in direct privity with the contractor. The controlling statute is 14 M.R.S. § 871.
When must a mechanics lien be recorded in Maine?
Within 90 days of the claimant's last furnishing of labor or materials, under 10 M.R.S. § 3253.
Is preliminary notice required in Maine?
No, though a Registry of Deeds filing is recommended and should be refiled every 120 days to protect against bona fide purchasers.
Unpaid on a Maine project?
Send us the contract, the last invoice, and your furnishing dates. We will tell you what Maine 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).