WV · Construction payment counsel
West Virginia Mechanics Lien Attorney
Fred Shestopal and the My Lien Lawyer team prepare, serve, and enforce West Virginia mechanics liens, preliminary notices, and public-project bond claims for contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers — directly or with vetted West Virginia local counsel where the state requires it.
What we handle on West Virginia projects
West Virginia does not mandate a preliminary notice, though claimants may send an optional pre-furnishing notice recommended about 7 days before first furnishing as a best practice. Because this notice is optional, most claimants must rely on timely recording and the 150-day look-back rule to protect their recovery rather than an upfront notice requirement.
A West Virginia lien must be recorded with the county clerk within 100 days of the claimant's last delivery or project completion, under WV Code § 38-2-1. A 150-day statutory look-back period also limits how much of the claimant's work can actually be recovered through the lien. We verify lien rights under WV Code § 38-2-1 before anything is recorded.
A West Virginia lien foreclosure lawsuit must be filed within 6 months of the date the lien was recorded. If payment still does not arrive, we take the claim into court rather than handing you a file.
On West Virginia public projects, a bond claim notice must be served on the prime contractor within 90 days of last furnishing. This notice is mandatory for sub-tier claimants and recommended even for those in direct privity with the general contractor.
Know your West Virginia deadlines first
This guide covers West Virginia mechanics lien and public bond claim rules under WV Code § 38-2-1 and WV Code § 5-22-1(b). With a first-three-tier limitation, a 100-day recording deadline, and a 150-day look-back rule, tracking dates and claimant tier 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 West Virginia lien rights, cure a defective claim, respond when an owner demands suit, or appear in court. Every West Virginia matter here is handled under an attorney-client relationship.
- Written analysis of your West Virginia 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.
West Virginia mechanics lien questions
Do I need a West Virginia attorney to file a mechanics lien?
A filing service can mail documents, but it cannot tell you whether you actually hold lien rights in West Virginia, 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 West Virginia mechanics lien deadlines?
A West Virginia lien must be recorded with the county clerk within 100 days of the claimant's last delivery or project completion, under WV Code § 38-2-1. A 150-day statutory look-back period also limits how much of the claimant's work can actually be recovered through the lien. West Virginia does not mandate a preliminary notice, though claimants may send an optional pre-furnishing notice recommended about 7 days before first furnishing as a best practice. Because this notice is optional, most claimants must rely on timely recording and the 150-day look-back rule to protect their recovery rather than an upfront notice requirement. Full detail, with statute citations, is on our West Virginia mechanics lien law page.
Can you help on a West Virginia public project?
Yes. On West Virginia public projects, a bond claim notice must be served on the prime contractor within 90 days of last furnishing. This notice is mandatory for sub-tier claimants and recommended even for those in direct privity with the general contractor. The controlling statute is WV Code § 5-22-1(b).
When must a mechanics lien be recorded in West Virginia?
Claimants within the first three tiers must record a notice of lien with the county clerk within 100 days of last delivery or completion, subject to a 150-day look-back on recoverable amounts.
Is preliminary notice required in West Virginia?
No, though an optional pre-furnishing notice roughly 7 days before first furnishing is recommended as a best practice.
Unpaid on a West Virginia project?
Send us the contract, the last invoice, and your furnishing dates. We will tell you what West Virginia 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).