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A mechanic's lien (also called a construction lien or materialman's lien) is a legal claim you can file against a property when you have performed work or supplied materials for a construction project but have not been paid. Once filed, the lien attaches to the property's title — which means the owner cannot easily sell or refinance the property until your lien is paid or resolved. Mechanic's liens are one of the most powerful tools available to contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers to recover unpaid money without going to court. Every U.S. state has its own specific lien laws governing who can file, how to file, and when.

If you have completed work and are not being paid, take these steps immediately: 1. Document everything — gather your contract, invoices, delivery receipts, and written communications about payment. 2. Send a written demand for payment — a formal demand letter often prompts payment without further action. 3. Check your lien eligibility — use SimpleLiens.com's free eligibility check to find out if you qualify and what your deadlines are. 4. Send any required preliminary notices — in many states you must send a pre-lien notice before you can file a lien. 5. File your lien — if the demand is ignored, file your mechanic's lien before your deadline expires. Don't wait. Lien deadlines are calculated from the date you last furnished labor or materials.

SimpleLiens.com is an online platform that helps contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers file and manage mechanic's lien documents — without the cost or complexity of hiring a construction attorney. You answer a few simple questions about your project, your role, and the amount owed. SimpleLiens.com checks your eligibility, calculates your deadlines, generates the correct legal documents for your state, arranges notarization if required, and electronically files everything with the correct county or recording office. Starting at $29.

Mechanic's liens are available to: general contractors and prime contractors, subcontractors, sub-subcontractors, material suppliers and distributors, equipment rental companies (in most states), laborers, and licensed design professionals such as architects and engineers. The key requirement is that you furnished labor, materials, or services to improve real property and have not been paid. SimpleLiens.com's eligibility check takes about 60 seconds to tell you if you qualify.

A pre-lien notice (also called a preliminary notice, Notice to Owner, or Notice of Intent) is a written notice sent to the property owner before you can file a mechanic's lien. Most states require subcontractors, sub-subcontractors, and material suppliers to send this notice within a specific number of days after first furnishing labor or materials (commonly 20, 45, or 60 days, depending on the state). Failing to send a required pre-lien notice on time can permanently eliminate your lien rights. SimpleLiens.com determines whether you need a pre-lien notice based on your state and role.

SimpleLiens.com offers flat, transparent pricing with no hidden fees: • Pre-Lien Notice: $29 per notice sent • Lien Affidavit: $299 per lien filed • Lien Release: $49 per release filed • Bond Claim: $299 per claim • Online Notary: $36 per document • Online Filing: $60 + county recording fees • USPS Certified Mail: $15 per recipient You will see the full cost breakdown before you pay. Compare that to $300–$500/hour for a construction attorney.

A mechanic's lien creates serious leverage by placing a cloud on the property's title. Once your lien is recorded, the property owner cannot sell the property with a clear title, refinancing becomes extremely difficult, and lenders often require the lien to be resolved before releasing funds. In practice, the vast majority of lien disputes are resolved through payment negotiation — often without ever going to court. Simply filing the lien frequently prompts payment within days or weeks.

To file a mechanic's lien through SimpleLiens.com you will typically need: (1) Your full name and business address; (2) The property owner's name and address; (3) The name and address of the general contractor (if you are a subcontractor); (4) The property address and legal description (SimpleLiens.com looks this up for you); (5) The dates you first and last furnished labor or materials; (6) A description of the work or materials you provided; (7) The total amount owed.

Most clients complete the entire process — from answering questions to having a filed lien — in under an hour. The guided questionnaire takes 10–15 minutes. Document generation is instant. Online notarization is usually available on-demand and takes 5–10 minutes. Electronic filing is submitted the same business day and most counties confirm recording within 24 hours.

A general contractor (also called an original or prime contractor) has a direct written or oral contract with the property owner. A subcontractor is hired by the general contractor — not directly by the owner. This distinction matters because most states require subcontractors to send preliminary notices (pre-lien notices or notices to owner) before they can file a lien. General contractors typically have fewer preliminary notice requirements but are still subject to strict filing deadlines.

The legal description of a property is the formal identification used in official property records. You can find it in several places: (1) The county property appraiser or assessor's website (search by address — most are free); (2) The property's deed, available at the County Clerk or Recorder's office; (3) A title report if you have one; (4) The Notice of Commencement if one was recorded (Florida). SimpleLiens.com automatically looks up and verifies the legal description for the property address you provide.

No. SimpleLiens.com is a document preparation and filing service — not a law firm. We do not provide legal advice, and our platform does not create an attorney-client relationship. We help you prepare and file the correct legal documents based on the information you provide and the requirements of your state's lien law. For legal advice specific to your situation, we recommend consulting a licensed construction attorney in your state.

Mechanic's liens can generally be filed on any private (non-government) real property improvement project, including residential construction and remodeling, commercial construction, tenant improvement projects, and new development. Government-owned properties (public projects) cannot be liened — instead, unpaid contractors must file a payment bond claim against the surety bond the general contractor is required to carry. SimpleLiens.com handles both construction lien filings and bond claims.

A lien release (or release of lien) is a document filed in the county property records to officially remove a mechanic's lien once you have been paid. After receiving payment, you are typically required by law to file a release promptly — most states impose a deadline (often 10–60 days after a written demand from the owner). Failing to release a lien after being paid can expose you to liability for the owner's damages and attorney's fees. SimpleLiens.com makes lien releases fast and easy.

SimpleLiens.com can prepare and file: Pre-Lien Notices / Notices to Owner, Mechanic's Lien Affidavit / Claim of Lien, Lien Release / Satisfaction of Lien, and Bond Claims for public projects. We also offer online notarization and certified mail delivery services. Our platform guides you to the correct document type based on your role, state, and project type.

A construction lien is a legal claim you file against a property to secure payment you are owed. A lien waiver is a document — usually exchanged when you receive a progress or final payment — in which you agree to waive your lien rights for work covered by that payment. Lien waivers come in four types: conditional progress, unconditional progress, conditional final, and unconditional final. Always read lien waivers carefully before signing — an unconditional final waiver surrenders all your lien rights for the project.

An original contractor (also called a prime or general contractor) has a direct contract with the property owner. A subcontractor is hired by the original contractor — not directly by the owner. This distinction drives almost every rule in lien law: subcontractors typically must send preliminary notices that general contractors do not need to send; subcontractors often have earlier notice deadlines; and subcontractors may have shorter windows to file their lien. Knowing which role you hold is the first question SimpleLiens.com asks.

If you don't qualify to file a lien — for example, because a deadline has passed — SimpleLiens.com will tell you upfront during the eligibility check, and you will not be charged. We believe in honest, upfront eligibility screening. If you do not qualify for a lien, we can still help you send a demand notice, and our team can point you toward other options such as small claims court or breach of contract claims.

In most states, yes. Mechanic's lien rights typically arise from the furnishing of labor or materials, not from the existence of a written contract. An oral agreement to perform work is generally sufficient to establish lien rights. However, having a written contract significantly strengthens your position if the lien is disputed. SimpleLiens.com will ask you about your contract during the guided filing process, but the absence of a written contract does not automatically disqualify you.

Yes. Even though you have no direct relationship with the property owner, you have lien rights against the property under the laws of every U.S. state. Your lien rights arise from the fact that your work or materials improved the owner's property — regardless of who hired you. The key requirement is that you follow the preliminary notice and filing deadline rules for your state precisely. SimpleLiens.com guides you through the exact steps for your state and your role.

Compared to a traditional attorney: • Cost: SimpleLiens starts at $29 vs. $300–$500/hour for an attorney • Speed: Documents ready in minutes vs. 3–5 business days • Convenience: 100% online vs. office visits and phone calls • Process: Guided questionnaire vs. multiple meetings For complex disputes — contested liens, foreclosure lawsuits, or projects involving significant legal ambiguity — a construction attorney is still the right choice. SimpleLiens handles the standard filing work at a fraction of the cost.

If you file a mechanic's lien and it is not paid within the time allowed by your state's law, you must file a lawsuit to enforce (foreclose) the lien before the enforcement deadline expires. This deadline varies by state — typically between one and two years from the date the lien was filed. Enforcement deadlines are absolute; if missed, the lien expires and becomes unenforceable. SimpleLiens.com recommends consulting a licensed construction attorney in your state if your lien has not been resolved through negotiation.

Yes. Material suppliers who provide materials incorporated into a construction project have lien rights in every U.S. state. Whether you supplied lumber, concrete, roofing materials, electrical components, plumbing fixtures, or any other building materials, you are entitled to file a mechanic's lien if you are not paid. Most states also extend lien rights to suppliers of specially fabricated materials — items custom-made for a specific project — even if those materials were never actually installed.

Yes. Many states require preliminary notices and copies of filed liens to be delivered by USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt. SimpleLiens.com can handle all required certified mail on your behalf for $15 per recipient. We prepare the notice, address it to the correct parties, send it via USPS Certified Mail, and provide you with tracking information and delivery confirmation — which you can save as legal proof that the notice was properly served.

Yes, property owners have several options to remove or challenge a filed lien: (1) Pay the amount owed, which entitles them to a release; (2) Bond off the lien — replace it with a payment bond, which frees the title while preserving your right to claim against the bond; (3) File a Notice of Contest of Lien, which in many states shortens your deadline to enforce significantly (often to 60 days); (4) File a lawsuit challenging the lien's validity. If you receive any legal notice from the property owner after filing your lien, respond immediately.