UT · Construction payment counsel
Utah Mechanics Lien Attorney
Fred Shestopal and the My Lien Lawyer team prepare, serve, and enforce Utah mechanics liens, preliminary notices, and public-project bond claims for contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers — directly or with vetted Utah local counsel where the state requires it.
What we handle on Utah projects
Utah requires private preliminary notices to be filed with the State Construction Registry within 20 days of first furnishing. A late filing only protects work performed starting five days after the notice goes in, and no notice can be filed more than 10 days after a Notice of Completion has been recorded, so the filing window can close abruptly.
Utah's lien deadline runs from either a recorded Notice of Completion or final project completion, generally understood as 180 days after last furnishing when no such notice was recorded, under Utah Code § 38-1a-701 et seq. Preconstruction professionals such as architects and engineers instead have only 90 days from their last service rendered to record. We verify lien rights under Utah Code § 38-1a-701 et seq. before anything is recorded.
A Utah lien foreclosure suit must be commenced within 180 days of recording, and a Notice of Pendency of Action must be recorded in the county at the same time the suit is filed, or the lien itself can be voided. If payment still does not arrive, we take the claim into court rather than handing you a file.
Utah does not strictly require formal notice before suing on a public payment bond, but sending written notice to the prime contractor and surety within 90 days of last furnishing is recommended practice. If the public entity failed to require a bond in the first place, timely written notice to that entity within the same 90-day window preserves a direct right of action instead.
Know your Utah deadlines first
This summary explains Utah mechanics lien and public bond claim deadlines under Utah Code § 38-1a-701 et seq. and Utah Code § 14-1-18. Because the private deadline hinges on completion notices and the preliminary notice window can close early, tracking dates from first furnishing forward is critical.
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 Utah lien rights, cure a defective claim, respond when an owner demands suit, or appear in court. Every Utah matter here is handled under an attorney-client relationship.
- Written analysis of your Utah 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.
Utah mechanics lien questions
Do I need a Utah attorney to file a mechanics lien?
A filing service can mail documents, but it cannot tell you whether you actually hold lien rights in Utah, 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 Utah mechanics lien deadlines?
Utah's lien deadline runs from either a recorded Notice of Completion or final project completion, generally understood as 180 days after last furnishing when no such notice was recorded, under Utah Code § 38-1a-701 et seq. Preconstruction professionals such as architects and engineers instead have only 90 days from their last service rendered to record. Utah requires private preliminary notices to be filed with the State Construction Registry within 20 days of first furnishing. A late filing only protects work performed starting five days after the notice goes in, and no notice can be filed more than 10 days after a Notice of Completion has been recorded, so the filing window can close abruptly. Full detail, with statute citations, is on our Utah mechanics lien law page.
Can you help on a Utah public project?
Yes. Utah does not strictly require formal notice before suing on a public payment bond, but sending written notice to the prime contractor and surety within 90 days of last furnishing is recommended practice. If the public entity failed to require a bond in the first place, timely written notice to that entity within the same 90-day window preserves a direct right of action instead. The controlling statute is Utah Code § 14-1-18.
When must a mechanics lien be recorded in Utah?
A Utah lien must generally be recorded within 90 days of a recorded Notice of Completion, or within 180 days of final completion if no such notice was filed; preconstruction professionals have 90 days from their last service rendered.
Is preliminary notice required in Utah?
Yes, private preliminary notices must be filed with the State Construction Registry within 20 days of first furnishing, with late filings protecting only work performed after the filing date and none filed more than 10 days after a Notice of Completion.
Unpaid on a Utah project?
Send us the contract, the last invoice, and your furnishing dates. We will tell you what Utah 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).