Contractors and construction attorneys alike respectfully describe the mechanics lien as the most powerful tool available to guarantee that contractors and suppliers get paid the money they’ve earned on their projects and jobs.
At Levelset, we hate liens and are on a mission to create a world where no one ever has to file a lien. There are many ways to avoid a situation where a lien is necessary, and we are constantly looking for ways to help people get paid what they’ve earned without ever having to file a lien.
In some situations, however, filing a lien is a necessary evil. Not to worry. We’ve got your back with every construction payment form you could ever need, all for free.
Free Mechanics Lien Form Downloads
Providing the construction industry with useful tools and helpful information has been part of Levelset’s mission since Day 1. On our website, you can find tons of resources that will help you manage your payments — everything from guides, to FAQs, to free forms and more.
Below you’ll find links to download free mechanics forms for all 50 states, Washington DC, and the US Virgin Islands. But be careful, because while mechanics liens are available nationwide, certain requirements must be met in order to be able to file a valid lien claim.
To download the lien form, just click on the link and follow the instructions.
- Alabama Lien Form
- Alaska Lien Form
- Arizona Lien Form
- Arkansas Lien Form
- California Lien Form
- Colorado Lien Form (GC)
- Colorado Lien Form (Subs)
- Connecticut Lien Form
- Florida Lien Form
- Georgia Lien Form
- Hawaii Lien Form
- Idaho Lien Form
- Illinois Lien Form (GC)
- Illinois Lien Form (Subs)
- Illinois Lien Form (w/ Tenant)
- Indiana Lien Form
- Iowa Lien Form
- Kansas Lien Form
- Kentucky Lien Form
- Louisiana Lien Form
- Maine Lien Form
- Michigan Lien Form
- Minnesota Lien Form
- Mississippi Lien Form
- Missouri Lien Form
- Montana Lien Form
- Nevada Lien Form
- New Hampshire Lien Form
- New Jersey Lien Form
- New Mexico Lien Form
- New York Lien Form
- N. Carolina Lien Form (GC)
- N. Carolina Lien Form (Upon Funds)
- N. Carolina Lien Form (Subs)
- N. Dakota Lien Form
- Ohio Lien Form
- Oklahoma Lien Form
- Oregon Lien Form
- Pennsylvania Lien Form (GC)
- Pennsylvania Lien Form (Subs)
- Rhode Island Lien Form
- S. Carolina Lien Form (GC)
- S. Carolina Lien Form (Subs)
- S. Dakota Lien Form
- Tennessee Lien Form
- Texas Lien Form (GC)
- Texas Lien Form (Subs)
- US Virgin Islands Lien Form
- Utah Lien Form
- Vermont Lien Form
- Virginia Lien Form (GC)
- Virginia Lien Form (Subs)
- Washington Lien Form
- Wash DC Lien Form
- W. Virginia Lien Form
- Wisconsin Lien Form (GC)
- Wisconsin Lien Form (Subs)
What Needs to be Included on Your Mechanics Lien Form?
When filing a mechanics lien against a piece of property, the document itself must contain certain information. Generally, all mechanics liens should include: the identity and information of the party filing the lien claim, identification of the property where the work was performed, a description of the labor performed or materials provided, and the amount being claimed.
Sounds simple enough, right? Wrong!
While the above is generally required on every mechanics lien, depending on the state where the lien is being filed, the required information can change drastically. Additional information that may be required typically falls into the following categories: specific statutory language, project dates, project amounts, documentation to include as exhibits, or various contract information. Read on for a brief overview of information that may be required in a mechanics lien filing.
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Lien Claim Required Information – Some Examples
The following are a mish-mash of items that may be required in a lien claim depending on the lien laws of the state where the project is located. A given state may require some combination of the following pieces of information in addition to the “regular” project information, or may require none – again, these requirements vary from state-to-state, and you must refer to the specific lien and notice requirements of the state your project is in for guidance on how to proceed!! With that being said, here are a few things to think about, in general.
SPECIFIC STATUTORY LANGUAGE
Some states have specific warnings or other information that must be included on lien claims verbatim. These statements can range from a statement regarding when the lien expires, to multiple paragraphs outlining an owner’s potential next steps forward.
A good example of this is Florida, where a lien claim must include the following specific warning, word-for-word:
WARNING!
THIS LEGAL DOCUMENT REFLECTS THAT A CONSTRUCTION LIEN HAS BEEN PLACED ON THE REAL PROPERTY LISTED HEREIN. UNLESS THE OWNER OF SUCH PROPERTY TAKES ACTION TO SHORTEN THE TIME PERIOD, THIS LIEN MAY REMAIN VALID FOR ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE OF RECORDING, AND SHALL EXPIRE AND BECOME NULL AND VOID THEREAFTER UNLESS LEGAL PROCEEDINGS HAVE BEEN COMMENCED TO FORECLOSE OR TO DISCHARGE THIS LIEN.
Other states that have a specific statutory language requirement include California, Texas (in some cases), and others.
PROJECT DATES
Some states like to throw you a curveball when it comes to the important project dates or milestones that are required to appear in a lien filing. These can include:
- the contract date
- the first date the claimant was on the project
- the last date the claimant was on the project
- the date the amount owed was due
PROJECT DOLLAR AMOUNTS
There’s a good bit of variability in this category as well. Here are a few examples of different dollar amounts that may be required on a lien claim:
- the estimated total contract amount
- the paid-to-date amount received by the claimant
- the value of any change orders
- the amount of any credits applied to the amount owed
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
It’s not unheard of for a state to require specific supporting documentation or attachments to be included with a lien filing. Depending on the state, this may include:
- copies of all preliminary notices sent by the claimant on the project
- a copy of the project contract
- copies of all project invoices
- proof of the claimant’s state-issued business license
VARIOUS PROJECT INFORMATION
This “catch-all” category is a wild card of sorts and includes items like:
- the contractor’s license number
- the terms of the contract
- the building permit number
Essential Reading
Unconditional Lien Waivers vs Conditional Lien Waivers and the Construction Payment Catch 22
The Ultimate Guide to Lien Waivers
What’s Your Next Step?
Dealing with a payment issue can be very stressful, and if you’re here, there’s a good chance that you’re dealing with some sort of payment problem on one of your projects or jobs. Rest assured that the Levelset team is here to help.
With Levelset, you don’t have to stress about getting paid. Instead, you can relax knowing that your lien documents are sent quickly and correctly to the county recorder with all fees covered. Our support team has your back to help you through the process and access to the Levelset technology platform makes it easy to track your orders and only pay for the documents and services you need, when you need them.
If you need help sending a notice, filing a claim, or even if you’re not sure what your next step is, we have construction payment experts standing by to help you figure out what your best course of action is. Get in touch with us — we’re here to help you get paid.
