PA · Construction payment counsel
Pennsylvania Mechanics Lien Attorney
Fred Shestopal and the My Lien Lawyer team prepare, serve, and enforce Pennsylvania mechanics liens, preliminary notices, and public-project bond claims for contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers — directly or with vetted Pennsylvania local counsel where the state requires it.
What we handle on Pennsylvania projects
Pennsylvania does not require a preliminary notice in the traditional sense, but its lien rights are structurally limited: only first-tier subcontractors and their direct suppliers may lien the property. Because sub-subcontractors and more remote parties have no lien rights at all, those further down the chain need to rely on other payment protections rather than a mechanics lien.
A Pennsylvania mechanics lien claim must be filed within six months after the date of completion of the claimant's work, under 49 Pa. Stat. § 1502. A formal Notice of Intent to Lien must also be served at least 30 days before filing, which in practice means around five months after last furnishing. We verify lien rights under 49 Pa. Stat. § 1502 before anything is recorded.
Suit to obtain judgment on the lien claim must be commenced within two years from the date the lien claim was filed, or the lien is wholly lost. If payment still does not arrive, we take the claim into court rather than handing you a file.
A claimant not in direct privity with the prime contractor on a Pennsylvania public project must give written bond claim notice to the prime within 90 days from the date the claimant last performed labor or furnished materials.
Know your Pennsylvania deadlines first
Pennsylvania mechanics liens must be filed within six months of completion under 49 Pa. Stat. § 1502, with public bond claims governed by 8 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 193. The state's limitation to first-tier claimants and their direct suppliers is a distinctive feature worth understanding early.
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 Pennsylvania lien rights, cure a defective claim, respond when an owner demands suit, or appear in court. Every Pennsylvania matter here is handled under an attorney-client relationship.
- Written analysis of your Pennsylvania 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.
Pennsylvania mechanics lien questions
Do I need a Pennsylvania attorney to file a mechanics lien?
A filing service can mail documents, but it cannot tell you whether you actually hold lien rights in Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania mechanics lien deadlines?
A Pennsylvania mechanics lien claim must be filed within six months after the date of completion of the claimant's work, under 49 Pa. Stat. § 1502. A formal Notice of Intent to Lien must also be served at least 30 days before filing, which in practice means around five months after last furnishing. Pennsylvania does not require a preliminary notice in the traditional sense, but its lien rights are structurally limited: only first-tier subcontractors and their direct suppliers may lien the property. Because sub-subcontractors and more remote parties have no lien rights at all, those further down the chain need to rely on other payment protections rather than a mechanics lien. Full detail, with statute citations, is on our Pennsylvania mechanics lien law page.
Can you help on a Pennsylvania public project?
Yes. A claimant not in direct privity with the prime contractor on a Pennsylvania public project must give written bond claim notice to the prime within 90 days from the date the claimant last performed labor or furnished materials. The controlling statute is 8 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 193.
When must a mechanics lien be recorded in Pennsylvania?
The lien claim must be filed within six months after completion of the claimant's work, under 49 Pa. Stat. § 1502, and a formal Notice of Intent to Lien must precede filing by at least 30 days.
Is preliminary notice required in Pennsylvania?
There is no traditional preliminary notice requirement, but lien rights themselves are limited to first-tier subcontractors and their direct suppliers, with more remote parties having no lien rights at all.
Unpaid on a Pennsylvania project?
Send us the contract, the last invoice, and your furnishing dates. We will tell you what Pennsylvania 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).