MD · Construction payment counsel
Maryland Mechanics Lien Attorney
Fred Shestopal and the My Lien Lawyer team prepare, serve, and enforce Maryland mechanics liens, preliminary notices, and public-project bond claims for contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers — directly or with vetted Maryland local counsel where the state requires it.
What we handle on Maryland projects
Maryland does not require a preliminary notice on private projects generally, but sub-tier claimants must serve a Notice of Intent to Lien within 120 days of last furnishing before they can proceed with a Petition. Skipping this step can bar a sub-tier claimant from establishing a lien even if the later Petition is otherwise timely.
A Maryland claimant must file a Petition to Establish Mechanics Lien within 180 days of last furnishing labor or materials, under Md. Real Prop. §§ 9-104 & 9-105. Sub-tier claimants must first serve a Notice of Intent to Lien within 120 days of last furnishing, making Maryland's process a two-step sequence rather than a single filing. We verify lien rights under Md. Real Prop. §§ 9-104 & 9-105 before anything is recorded.
Maryland's lien is described as 'inchoate,' meaning the Petition filed within 180 days of last furnishing itself initiates the court proceeding, rather than a separately recorded lien followed by a later foreclosure suit. If payment still does not arrive, we take the claim into court rather than handing you a file.
A claimant not in direct contract with the prime contractor on a Maryland public works project must serve written notice of a bond claim within 90 days of last furnishing labor or materials. This bond claim process substitutes for a lien since public property in Maryland cannot be liened directly.
Know your Maryland deadlines first
Maryland mechanics liens proceed through a court Petition under Md. Real Prop. §§ 9-104 and 9-105, with public works bond claims addressed in Md. State Fin. & Proc. § 17-108. The 180-day deadline and 120-day Notice of Intent both run from last furnishing.
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 Maryland lien rights, cure a defective claim, respond when an owner demands suit, or appear in court. Every Maryland matter here is handled under an attorney-client relationship.
- Written analysis of your Maryland 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.
Maryland mechanics lien questions
Do I need a Maryland attorney to file a mechanics lien?
A filing service can mail documents, but it cannot tell you whether you actually hold lien rights in Maryland, 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 Maryland mechanics lien deadlines?
A Maryland claimant must file a Petition to Establish Mechanics Lien within 180 days of last furnishing labor or materials, under Md. Real Prop. §§ 9-104 & 9-105. Sub-tier claimants must first serve a Notice of Intent to Lien within 120 days of last furnishing, making Maryland's process a two-step sequence rather than a single filing. Maryland does not require a preliminary notice on private projects generally, but sub-tier claimants must serve a Notice of Intent to Lien within 120 days of last furnishing before they can proceed with a Petition. Skipping this step can bar a sub-tier claimant from establishing a lien even if the later Petition is otherwise timely. Full detail, with statute citations, is on our Maryland mechanics lien law page.
Can you help on a Maryland public project?
Yes. A claimant not in direct contract with the prime contractor on a Maryland public works project must serve written notice of a bond claim within 90 days of last furnishing labor or materials. This bond claim process substitutes for a lien since public property in Maryland cannot be liened directly. The controlling statute is Md. State Fin. & Proc. § 17-108.
When must a mechanics lien be recorded in Maryland?
A Petition to Establish Mechanics Lien must be filed within 180 days of last furnishing, and sub-tier claimants must first serve a Notice of Intent to Lien within 120 days of last furnishing.
Is preliminary notice required in Maryland?
Not generally, but sub-tier claimants must serve a Notice of Intent to Lien within 120 days of last furnishing before pursuing a Petition.
Unpaid on a Maryland project?
Send us the contract, the last invoice, and your furnishing dates. We will tell you what Maryland 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).