MN · Construction payment counsel
Minnesota Mechanics Lien Attorney
Fred Shestopal and the My Lien Lawyer team prepare, serve, and enforce Minnesota mechanics liens, preliminary notices, and public-project bond claims for contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers — directly or with vetted Minnesota local counsel where the state requires it.
What we handle on Minnesota projects
Subcontractors and suppliers serving sub-tiers or the general contractor must serve a written pre-lien notice on the owner within 45 days of first furnishing labor or materials. Skipping this notice where it applies can forfeit lien rights entirely, making it one of the most consequential early deadlines in Minnesota practice.
The mechanics lien statement must be recorded with the county recorder within 120 days of the claimant's last furnishing of labor, skill, or materials to the project. This 120-day period runs strictly from the last date of contribution, so partial completion or an early estimate of the finish date will not extend it. We verify lien rights under Minn. Stat. § 514.08 before anything is recorded.
Suit to enforce the lien must be brought within 1 year after last furnishing labor or materials, per Minn. Stat. § 514.12, subd. 3. If payment still does not arrive, we take the claim into court rather than handing you a file.
For Minnesota public works, a claimant on a payment bond must serve written notice of claim on both the prime contractor and the surety within 120 days of last furnishing labor or materials. This notice period mirrors the private lien recording deadline, which makes it easier to track but no less strict.
Know your Minnesota deadlines first
Minnesota mechanics lien and bond claim rules under Minn. Stat. § 514.08 (private) and § 574.31 (public), covered by My Lien Lawyer. The 45-day pre-lien notice and 120-day recording window both hinge on furnishing dates that claimants must document from the start.
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 Minnesota lien rights, cure a defective claim, respond when an owner demands suit, or appear in court. Every Minnesota matter here is handled under an attorney-client relationship.
- Written analysis of your Minnesota 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.
Minnesota mechanics lien questions
Do I need a Minnesota attorney to file a mechanics lien?
A filing service can mail documents, but it cannot tell you whether you actually hold lien rights in Minnesota, 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 Minnesota mechanics lien deadlines?
The mechanics lien statement must be recorded with the county recorder within 120 days of the claimant's last furnishing of labor, skill, or materials to the project. This 120-day period runs strictly from the last date of contribution, so partial completion or an early estimate of the finish date will not extend it. Subcontractors and suppliers serving sub-tiers or the general contractor must serve a written pre-lien notice on the owner within 45 days of first furnishing labor or materials. Skipping this notice where it applies can forfeit lien rights entirely, making it one of the most consequential early deadlines in Minnesota practice. Full detail, with statute citations, is on our Minnesota mechanics lien law page.
Can you help on a Minnesota public project?
Yes. For Minnesota public works, a claimant on a payment bond must serve written notice of claim on both the prime contractor and the surety within 120 days of last furnishing labor or materials. This notice period mirrors the private lien recording deadline, which makes it easier to track but no less strict. The controlling statute is Minn. Stat. § 574.31.
When must a mechanics lien be recorded in Minnesota?
Within 120 days after the claimant's last contribution of labor, skill, or materials, recorded with the county recorder under Minn. Stat. § 514.08.
Is a preliminary notice required in Minnesota?
Yes, subcontractors and suppliers serving sub-tiers or the general contractor must serve a written pre-lien notice on the owner within 45 days of first furnishing.
Unpaid on a Minnesota project?
Send us the contract, the last invoice, and your furnishing dates. We will tell you what Minnesota 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).