Mechanics Liens & Construction Liens
FAQ and HELP CENTER

Liens are important tools for enforcing payment terms, and securing your right to payment with the construction project's real estate you helped improve. LienItNow knows what information goes into a lien claim, the format in which the state requires the documents to be drafted, and where and to whom to provide the lien. Each state has specific requirements when it comes to the timing of filing liens, what can be included in the total amount of the lien, where to file a lien and who it gets sent to.

You don't want to be spending time and money figuring out how to file a mechanics' lien. LienItNow.com provides the construction industry online construction lien forms to help contractors, sub-contractors, and material suppliers quickly complete what could otherwise take hours of work.

In three simple steps, complete a lien claim in only 10 quick minutes. Once a time-consuming process for construction companies, LienItNow.com makes completing your lien faster and easier than ever.
LienItNow's services and products are not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. While our site is based on lower cost through the power of "do it yourself", if you need help specific to your issue, you can take a look at our Attorneys Connections page to find a lawyer who can provide the assist.

A lien is an encumbrance on one person's property to secure a debt the property owner owes to another person. Think of it as the property being "tied up," which describes the effect of mechanics liens on real estate. Lien is a French word meaning "knot or binding" that was brought to Britain with the French language during the Middle Ages, making its way to the United States in its formative years. All 50 States now have Statutes permitting the filing of mechanics liens on real property.

The effect of a lien is somewhat similar to mortgages or property loans: liens are recorded land documents that must be paid off in order for the owner to sell the property. The person who filed the property lien can even foreclose on the property if the claim is not paid.

In the modern sense, a mechanic's lien is a security interest in the title to property for the benefit of those who have supplied labor or materials that improve the property. It is similar to a mortgage in that the property usually cannot be sold unless without the mechanics lien being addressed. Mechanics liens are generally filed on property where construction is ongoing or recently completed.

Nearly anyone who provides materials or labor to a construction project is permitted to file a lien on the property, depending on state rules. Each state has specific laws which permit the filing of mechanics liens, which include definitions of who is eligible to file. Many states allow liens to be filed by anyone who worked on construction projects. Many others, however, have limitations. For information on your state, take a look at our state overviews.

Mechanics liens can be placed on real property, or land and buildings. Mechanics liens are referred to by various names, including, construction lien, materialman's lien or supplier's lien when referring to those supplying materials, a laborer's lien when referring to those supplying labor, and a design professional's lien when referring to architects or designers who contribute to a work of improvement.

Yes! All states permit liens to be filed for work performed on construction projects. The names of the liens can be different in each state, making it somewhat confusing. But a mechanics lien by any other name...construction lien, materialman and mechanics lien, notice of claim on lien...is still a lien. With LienItNow.com, you can be sure that we'll know the correct name of the lien in every state, and the requirements provided by those states in order for a lien to be effective.

Yes! Every state that has enacted laws enshiring construction lien claims, and each has different requirements. In fact, each state requires different language in their lien claim forms and have different mailing and filing requirements. For more information on what your state requires, visit LienItNow's Resource Center and select the state you're interested in getting more information on.

The benefit of filing a mechanics lien is that it provides a certain level of security for the value of the labor or materials provided on a construction project. The real estate become the collateral for the value of the lien claim, and, if not paid, the person filing the lien can ask a court to foreclose on the property.

LienItNow has two options for most states, DIY (do it yourself) lien filing, or Full Service lien filing.

LienItNow's DIY option allows customers to complete a construction lien claim form online, obtain a completed document and then send it out and file it themselves. With LienItNow's Full Service option, after the mechanics lien is completed by the customer, LienItNow reviews the document for accuracy, and then sends it out and files it.

Liens generally need to be sent to the person or company that that owns or rents the property, the prime or general contractor, and the person with whom you have a contract. The mechanics lien needs to be filed with the court or the county clerk.

For information on pricing, visit LienItNow's Pricing page.