MT · Construction payment counsel
Montana Mechanics Lien Attorney
Fred Shestopal and the My Lien Lawyer team prepare, serve, and enforce Montana mechanics liens, preliminary notices, and public-project bond claims for contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers — directly or with vetted Montana local counsel where the state requires it.
What we handle on Montana projects
On commercial projects and buildings of five or more family dwelling units, Montana recommends, but does not strictly require, a Notice of Right to Claim a Lien served within 20 days of first furnishing and filed with the County Clerk within 5 days of service. Skipping this step does not automatically bar a lien, but it removes a layer of protection that helps establish priority and notify the owner early.
A Montana construction lien must be recorded with the County Clerk and Recorder within 90 days after the claimant's last furnishing of labor or materials, under MCA § 71-3-524. We verify lien rights under MCA § 71-3-524 before anything is recorded.
A foreclosure action on the lien must be commenced within 2 years after the lien is recorded. If payment still does not arrive, we take the claim into court rather than handing you a file.
On Montana public projects, first-tier claimants who furnish to the general contractor or a first-tier subcontractor must give a 90-day bond claim notice, generally measured from project completion, to preserve bond rights. More remote claimants are not strictly bound by the 90-day figure, since bond terms control for those tiers, though following the same timeline is the safer approach.
Know your Montana deadlines first
Montana mechanics lien and bond claim deadlines under MCA § 71-3-524 (private) and §§ 18-2-201 to 18-2-206 (public), explained by My Lien Lawyer. The 90-day recording window and optional early notice both depend on tracking furnishing dates closely.
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 Montana lien rights, cure a defective claim, respond when an owner demands suit, or appear in court. Every Montana matter here is handled under an attorney-client relationship.
- Written analysis of your Montana 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.
Montana mechanics lien questions
Do I need a Montana attorney to file a mechanics lien?
A filing service can mail documents, but it cannot tell you whether you actually hold lien rights in Montana, 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 Montana mechanics lien deadlines?
A Montana construction lien must be recorded with the County Clerk and Recorder within 90 days after the claimant's last furnishing of labor or materials, under MCA § 71-3-524. On commercial projects and buildings of five or more family dwelling units, Montana recommends, but does not strictly require, a Notice of Right to Claim a Lien served within 20 days of first furnishing and filed with the County Clerk within 5 days of service. Skipping this step does not automatically bar a lien, but it removes a layer of protection that helps establish priority and notify the owner early. Full detail, with statute citations, is on our Montana mechanics lien law page.
Can you help on a Montana public project?
Yes. On Montana public projects, first-tier claimants who furnish to the general contractor or a first-tier subcontractor must give a 90-day bond claim notice, generally measured from project completion, to preserve bond rights. More remote claimants are not strictly bound by the 90-day figure, since bond terms control for those tiers, though following the same timeline is the safer approach. The controlling statute is MCA §§ 18-2-201 to 18-2-206.
When must a mechanics lien be recorded in Montana?
Within 90 days after the claimant's last furnishing of labor or materials, recorded with the County Clerk and Recorder under MCA § 71-3-524.
Is preliminary notice required in Montana?
It is recommended, not required: on commercial and larger residential projects, a Notice of Right to Claim a Lien should be served within 20 days of first furnishing and filed with the county within 5 days of service.
Unpaid on a Montana project?
Send us the contract, the last invoice, and your furnishing dates. We will tell you what Montana 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).