ND · Construction payment counsel
North Dakota Mechanics Lien Attorney
Fred Shestopal and the My Lien Lawyer team prepare, serve, and enforce North Dakota mechanics liens, preliminary notices, and public-project bond claims for contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers — directly or with vetted North Dakota local counsel where the state requires it.
What we handle on North Dakota projects
North Dakota has no statutory requirement for a preliminary notice to preserve mechanics lien rights. It does, however, require a Notice of Intent to be served on the owner at least 10 days before the lien itself is recorded, which functions as a practical substitute step in the process.
A North Dakota mechanics lien must generally be recorded within 90 days of last furnishing under N.D. Cent. Code §§ 35-27-13, 35-27-14. A Notice of Intent to Lien must be served on the owner at least 10 days before recording, and while late filings remain possible up to three years after work began, they are subordinated to any interests recorded earlier. We verify lien rights under N.D. Cent. Code §§ 35-27-13, 35-27-14 before anything is recorded.
Foreclosure must be commenced within three years of recording, with a lis pendens recorded within that same window, and a pre-suit warning served at least 10 days ahead if delivered personally or 20 days ahead by registered mail. If the owner serves a written demand to enforce, the claimant then has only 30 days to file suit or the lien is forfeited. If payment still does not arrive, we take the claim into court rather than handing you a file.
On North Dakota public projects, a bond claim notice must reach the prime contractor within 90 days of last furnishing, extended to 180 days for NDDOT projects. The notice is mandatory for lower-tier claimants and simply recommended for those contracting directly with the general contractor.
Know your North Dakota deadlines first
North Dakota mechanics liens must be recorded within 90 days of last furnishing under N.D. Cent. Code §§ 35-27-13 and 35-27-14, with public bond claims governed by Ch. 48-01.2. The 10-day pre-recording Notice of Intent and the three-year foreclosure window are both critical dates to track.
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 North Dakota lien rights, cure a defective claim, respond when an owner demands suit, or appear in court. Every North Dakota matter here is handled under an attorney-client relationship.
- Written analysis of your North Dakota 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.
North Dakota mechanics lien questions
Do I need a North Dakota attorney to file a mechanics lien?
A filing service can mail documents, but it cannot tell you whether you actually hold lien rights in North Dakota, 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 North Dakota mechanics lien deadlines?
A North Dakota mechanics lien must generally be recorded within 90 days of last furnishing under N.D. Cent. Code §§ 35-27-13, 35-27-14. A Notice of Intent to Lien must be served on the owner at least 10 days before recording, and while late filings remain possible up to three years after work began, they are subordinated to any interests recorded earlier. North Dakota has no statutory requirement for a preliminary notice to preserve mechanics lien rights. It does, however, require a Notice of Intent to be served on the owner at least 10 days before the lien itself is recorded, which functions as a practical substitute step in the process. Full detail, with statute citations, is on our North Dakota mechanics lien law page.
Can you help on a North Dakota public project?
Yes. On North Dakota public projects, a bond claim notice must reach the prime contractor within 90 days of last furnishing, extended to 180 days for NDDOT projects. The notice is mandatory for lower-tier claimants and simply recommended for those contracting directly with the general contractor. The controlling statute is N.D. Cent. Code Ch. 48-01.2.
When must a mechanics lien be recorded in North Dakota?
The lien must generally be recorded within 90 days of last furnishing, and a Notice of Intent must be served on the owner at least 10 days before recording. Late filings are possible up to three years after work began but are subordinate to interests recorded earlier.
Is preliminary notice required in North Dakota?
There is no statutory preliminary notice requirement in North Dakota, though the Notice of Intent that must precede recording by at least 10 days serves a similar practical function.
Unpaid on a North Dakota project?
Send us the contract, the last invoice, and your furnishing dates. We will tell you what North Dakota 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).