DC · Construction payment counsel
Washington, D.C. Mechanics Lien Attorney
Fred Shestopal and the My Lien Lawyer team prepare, serve, and enforce Washington, D.C. mechanics liens, preliminary notices, and public-project bond claims for contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers — directly or with vetted Washington, D.C. local counsel where the state requires it.
What we handle on Washington, D.C. projects
The District does not require a preliminary or pre-lien notice on private projects. That makes the 90-day recording deadline the only line of defense — there is no early notice to fall back on, so we calendar completion-date confirmations from the first day on site.
A Notice of Mechanic's Lien must be recorded with the D.C. Recorder of Deeds within 90 days after the earlier of completion or termination of the work covered by the claimant's contract, and a copy must be served on the owner. The District's window runs from project completion rather than from the claimant's own last day, which is why we document both dates on every District matter. We verify lien rights under D.C. Code §§ 40-301.01 et seq. (Mechanic's Lien) before anything is recorded.
Suit to enforce the lien must be filed in D.C. Superior Court within 180 days after the notice of lien is recorded. Missing that window releases the lien even though it was recorded on time. If payment still does not arrive, we take the claim into court rather than handing you a file.
On District public work, a claimant without a direct contract with the prime contractor must serve written notice of the claim on the prime within 90 days after its last labor or materials. Suit on the payment bond may be brought no earlier than 90 days and no later than one year after the claimant last furnished labor or materials.
Know your Washington, D.C. deadlines first
Washington, D.C. mechanics lien and payment-bond deadlines explained by My Lien Lawyer. Private claims arise under D.C. Code §§ 40-301.01 et seq. — a notice of lien recorded with the Recorder of Deeds within 90 days of completion, enforced by suit within 180 days. Public work follows the District's Little Miller Act, D.C. Code §§ 2-201.01 et seq.
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 Washington, D.C. lien rights, cure a defective claim, respond when an owner demands suit, or appear in court. Every Washington, D.C. matter here is handled under an attorney-client relationship.
- Written analysis of your Washington, D.C. 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.
Washington, D.C. mechanics lien questions
Do I need a Washington, D.C. attorney to file a mechanics lien?
A filing service can mail documents, but it cannot tell you whether you actually hold lien rights in Washington, D.C., 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 Washington, D.C. mechanics lien deadlines?
A Notice of Mechanic's Lien must be recorded with the D.C. Recorder of Deeds within 90 days after the earlier of completion or termination of the work covered by the claimant's contract, and a copy must be served on the owner. The District's window runs from project completion rather than from the claimant's own last day, which is why we document both dates on every District matter. The District does not require a preliminary or pre-lien notice on private projects. That makes the 90-day recording deadline the only line of defense — there is no early notice to fall back on, so we calendar completion-date confirmations from the first day on site. Full detail, with statute citations, is on our Washington, D.C. mechanics lien law page.
Can you help on a Washington, D.C. public project?
Yes. On District public work, a claimant without a direct contract with the prime contractor must serve written notice of the claim on the prime within 90 days after its last labor or materials. Suit on the payment bond may be brought no earlier than 90 days and no later than one year after the claimant last furnished labor or materials. The controlling statute is D.C. Code §§ 2-201.01 et seq. (D.C. Little Miller Act).
How long do I have to record a mechanics lien in Washington, D.C.?
Ninety days after the earlier of completion or termination of the work covered by your contract. The notice of lien is recorded with the D.C. Recorder of Deeds and a copy must be served on the owner.
Is preliminary notice required in the District of Columbia?
No. The District has no preliminary or pre-lien notice requirement on private projects, which makes the 90-day recording deadline critical — there is no earlier filing to rely on if it is missed.
Unpaid on a Washington, D.C. project?
Send us the contract, the last invoice, and your furnishing dates. We will tell you what Washington, D.C. 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).