MO · Construction payment counsel
Missouri Mechanics Lien Attorney
Fred Shestopal and the My Lien Lawyer team prepare, serve, and enforce Missouri mechanics liens, preliminary notices, and public-project bond claims for contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers — directly or with vetted Missouri local counsel where the state requires it.
What we handle on Missouri projects
A sub-tier claimant must serve a written Notice of Intent to Lien on the owner at least 10 days before recording the mechanics lien, within the overall 6-month filing window. General contractors in direct contract with the owner also have a separate obligation to timely deliver the statutory Disclosure Notice under RSMo § 429.012.
A Missouri mechanics lien must be filed with the circuit clerk of the county where the property sits within 6 months after the indebtedness accrues, which is measured from the claimant's last furnishing of labor or materials. We verify lien rights under RSMo § 429.080 before anything is recorded.
An action to enforce the lien must be commenced within 6 months after the lien is filed, per RSMo § 429.080. If payment still does not arrive, we take the claim into court rather than handing you a file.
Missouri's Little Miller Act does not set a strict statutory notice deadline for public works bond claims, but serving written notice within 90 days of last furnishing labor or materials is the standard practice and is typically required by the terms of the bond itself.
Know your Missouri deadlines first
Missouri mechanics lien and bond claim rules under RSMo § 429.080 (private) and § 107.170 (public), summarized by My Lien Lawyer. Both the filing and enforcement deadlines run in 6-month increments tied to 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 Missouri lien rights, cure a defective claim, respond when an owner demands suit, or appear in court. Every Missouri matter here is handled under an attorney-client relationship.
- Written analysis of your Missouri 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.
Missouri mechanics lien questions
Do I need a Missouri attorney to file a mechanics lien?
A filing service can mail documents, but it cannot tell you whether you actually hold lien rights in Missouri, 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 Missouri mechanics lien deadlines?
A Missouri mechanics lien must be filed with the circuit clerk of the county where the property sits within 6 months after the indebtedness accrues, which is measured from the claimant's last furnishing of labor or materials. A sub-tier claimant must serve a written Notice of Intent to Lien on the owner at least 10 days before recording the mechanics lien, within the overall 6-month filing window. General contractors in direct contract with the owner also have a separate obligation to timely deliver the statutory Disclosure Notice under RSMo § 429.012. Full detail, with statute citations, is on our Missouri mechanics lien law page.
Can you help on a Missouri public project?
Yes. Missouri's Little Miller Act does not set a strict statutory notice deadline for public works bond claims, but serving written notice within 90 days of last furnishing labor or materials is the standard practice and is typically required by the terms of the bond itself. The controlling statute is RSMo § 107.170.
When must a mechanics lien be recorded in Missouri?
Within 6 months after the indebtedness accrues, filed with the circuit clerk of the county where the property is located, under RSMo § 429.080.
Is preliminary notice required in Missouri?
Sub-tier claimants must serve a written Notice of Intent to Lien on the owner at least 10 days before recording the lien.
Unpaid on a Missouri project?
Send us the contract, the last invoice, and your furnishing dates. We will tell you what Missouri 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).