TN · Construction payment counsel
Tennessee Mechanics Lien Attorney
Fred Shestopal and the My Lien Lawyer team prepare, serve, and enforce Tennessee mechanics liens, preliminary notices, and public-project bond claims for contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers — directly or with vetted Tennessee local counsel where the state requires it.
What we handle on Tennessee projects
Remote contractors in Tennessee must serve a sworn Notice of Nonpayment on both the owner and the prime contractor within 90 days after the last day of each month in which they furnished unpaid labor or materials. This is a recurring, month-by-month obligation rather than a single filing, and skipping it for any given month forfeits lien rights tied to that month's work.
When no Notice of Completion has been filed, a Tennessee lien must be recorded within 90 days of actual completion of the project under T.C.A. § 66-11-112. Because the deadline is tied to overall project completion rather than the claimant's own last day of work, contractors should confirm completion status before assuming their filing window has closed. We verify lien rights under T.C.A. § 66-11-112 before anything is recorded.
A recorded Tennessee lien must be enforced by suit within 90 days of recording, though service of a demand to commence lawsuit on the claimant shortens that window to just 60 days. If payment still does not arrive, we take the claim into court rather than handing you a file.
On Tennessee public works, a claimant must serve written notice of its bond claim on the prime contractor and surety within 90 days of the project's overall completion. Missing that window generally cuts off the right to recover against the payment bond.
Know your Tennessee deadlines first
This guide covers Tennessee mechanics lien and public bond claim rules under T.C.A. § 66-11-112 for private work and T.C.A. § 12-4-205 for public projects. Because deadlines track both monthly furnishing and overall completion, careful date tracking from the first day on site is essential.
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 Tennessee lien rights, cure a defective claim, respond when an owner demands suit, or appear in court. Every Tennessee matter here is handled under an attorney-client relationship.
- Written analysis of your Tennessee 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.
Tennessee mechanics lien questions
Do I need a Tennessee attorney to file a mechanics lien?
A filing service can mail documents, but it cannot tell you whether you actually hold lien rights in Tennessee, 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 Tennessee mechanics lien deadlines?
When no Notice of Completion has been filed, a Tennessee lien must be recorded within 90 days of actual completion of the project under T.C.A. § 66-11-112. Because the deadline is tied to overall project completion rather than the claimant's own last day of work, contractors should confirm completion status before assuming their filing window has closed. Remote contractors in Tennessee must serve a sworn Notice of Nonpayment on both the owner and the prime contractor within 90 days after the last day of each month in which they furnished unpaid labor or materials. This is a recurring, month-by-month obligation rather than a single filing, and skipping it for any given month forfeits lien rights tied to that month's work. Full detail, with statute citations, is on our Tennessee mechanics lien law page.
Can you help on a Tennessee public project?
Yes. On Tennessee public works, a claimant must serve written notice of its bond claim on the prime contractor and surety within 90 days of the project's overall completion. Missing that window generally cuts off the right to recover against the payment bond. The controlling statute is T.C.A. § 12-4-205.
When must a mechanics lien be recorded in Tennessee?
Remote claimants must record a sworn statement of lien within 90 days after actual completion of the improvement when no Notice of Completion has been filed, per T.C.A. § 66-11-112.
Is preliminary notice required in Tennessee?
Remote contractors must serve a sworn Notice of Nonpayment on the owner and prime contractor within 90 days after the end of each month in which they furnished unpaid labor or materials.
Unpaid on a Tennessee project?
Send us the contract, the last invoice, and your furnishing dates. We will tell you what Tennessee 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).