NY · Construction payment counsel
New York Mechanics Lien Attorney
Fred Shestopal and the My Lien Lawyer team prepare, serve, and enforce New York mechanics liens, preliminary notices, and public-project bond claims for contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers — directly or with vetted New York local counsel where the state requires it.
What we handle on New York projects
New York does not require a preliminary notice for private projects, but Lien Law § 38 allows owners to demand an itemized statement of the lien amount.
Single-family residential: 4 months from last work. Commercial: 8 months from last work (4 months on public improvements). We verify lien rights under New York Lien Law, Article 2 before anything is recorded.
1 year from filing for commercial private liens (subject to one renewal); public-improvement liens have specific bond/discharge timelines. If payment still does not arrive, we take the claim into court rather than handing you a file.
Public-improvement claims under Lien Law § 5 must be filed within 30 days after the entire improvement is completed and accepted; a separate notice of claim under State Finance Law § 137 may apply.
Know your New York deadlines first
New York Lien Law Article 2 distinguishes between single-family residential, commercial, and public-improvement liens, each with its own filing window. Owners can also serve a 30-day demand to commence suit under § 59.
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 New York lien rights, cure a defective claim, respond when an owner demands suit, or appear in court. Every New York matter here is handled under an attorney-client relationship.
- Written analysis of your New York 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.
New York mechanics lien questions
Do I need a New York attorney to file a mechanics lien?
A filing service can mail documents, but it cannot tell you whether you actually hold lien rights in New York, 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 New York mechanics lien deadlines?
Single-family residential: 4 months from last work. Commercial: 8 months from last work (4 months on public improvements). New York does not require a preliminary notice for private projects, but Lien Law § 38 allows owners to demand an itemized statement of the lien amount. Full detail, with statute citations, is on our New York mechanics lien law page.
Can you help on a New York public project?
Yes. Public-improvement claims under Lien Law § 5 must be filed within 30 days after the entire improvement is completed and accepted; a separate notice of claim under State Finance Law § 137 may apply. The controlling statute is New York Lien Law, Article 2 §§ 5, 12 (Public Improvement).
Does New York require a preliminary notice?
No. Private projects in New York do not require a pre-lien or preliminary notice. However, owners may demand an itemized statement of the lien at any time under § 38.
How long do I have to file a New York mechanics lien?
Single-family residential: 4 months from last work. Commercial: 8 months. Public improvements: 30 days after the improvement is completed and accepted.
Unpaid on a New York project?
Send us the contract, the last invoice, and your furnishing dates. We will tell you what New York 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).