Mechanics lien form builder

A claim of lien is a recorded document. It attaches to the property, shows up on title, and blocks a sale or a refinance until it is resolved. Because it is recorded, it has to be right: the wrong owner, the wrong legal description or an unverified signature can sink an otherwise valid claim.

Recorded with the county where the property sits. Verify it before signing.

Claimant (you)

Claimant address

Property owner

Property description

Customer you contract with

Job name

Amount claimed

As of date

Claim of mechanics lien

COL · 2026-08-31

Property1400 Kestrel Avenue, Unit A-3

JobKestrel Avenue mixed-use — mechanical package

OwnerHarbor Point Holdings LLC

CustomerVantage Construction Group

ClaimantIronline Mechanical LLC, 220 Foundry Row, Suite 4

Amount$48,450.00

The claimant named below claims a mechanics lien against the property described above for labor, services, equipment or materials furnished at the request of, or under contract with, the customer named. The amount of the claim, after deducting all just credits and offsets, is $48,450.00. The claimant last furnished work on 2026-08-31. The claimant demands payment of that amount and claims a lien upon the property to secure it.

Signature ____________________ Title ____________ Date ____________

Geometric abstraction of a tall black rectangle with a red band clamped across its upper third

The fields that get liens thrown out

The amount must be net of every credit and offset. Padding it — including disputed extras, or interest the contract does not allow — is the most common reason a claim gets attacked, and in some states an overstated lien is itself actionable. State the number your own ledger supports.

The property description has to identify the parcel, not just the mailing address. Pull the legal description from the deed or the county assessor record. And the last-furnished date has to be the date you actually furnished contract work: a warranty visit or a punch item usually does not reset it, and claiming that it did is how a timely-looking lien becomes an untimely one.

Draft, record, enforce

From draft to enforceable claim
Step	Where it happens	Timing
Draft	Here, or with counsel	Before the recording deadline, not on it.
Verify	Notary or statutory verification	Requirements vary by state — check yours.
Record	County recorder where the property sits	Filing fee applies; keep the instrument number.
Serve	Owner, and often the prime	Several states require post-recording service.
Enforce	Suit to foreclose	California: 90 days from recording, or it expires.

Lien deadline

Recording is only half the job. In California a claimant must commence an action to enforce the lien within 90 days after recording; if it does not, the claim of lien expires and is unenforceable. Put the suit date in the calendar the day you record.

State notes

CACalifornia. Suit to enforce must be commenced within 90 days of recording, or the claim of lien expires. Civ. Code § 8460
TXTexas. An original contractor files by the 15th day of the fourth month after the month work ended — the third month on residential. Prop. Code § 53.052
FLFlorida. The claim of lien is recorded not later than 90 days after the final furnishing of labour, services or materials. Fla. Stat. § 713.08(5)

Sources

Cal. Civ. Code § 8412
A California direct contractor must record its claim of lien before the earlier of 90 days after completion of the work of improvement, or 60 days after the owner records a notice of completion or cessation.
Read 2026-09-04
Cal. Civ. Code § 8414
A California claimant who is NOT the direct contractor must record before the earlier of 90 days after completion, or 30 days after the owner records a notice of completion or cessation.
Read 2026-09-04
Cal. Civ. Code § 8460
A California claimant must file suit to enforce the lien within 90 days of recording it, or the lien expires and is unenforceable.
Read 2026-09-04
Tex. Prop. Code § 53.052
A Texas original contractor files its lien affidavit by the 15th day of the fourth month after the month work was completed, terminated or abandoned — the 15th day of the third month on residential projects.
Read 2026-09-04
Fla. Stat. § 713.08(5)
A Florida claim of lien may be recorded at any time during the work but not later than 90 days after the final furnishing of labor, services or materials by the lienor.
Read 2026-09-04