Monroe County Recorder Mechanics Lien Filing

You can file your mechanics liens in person or by mail.

In Person

You can bring your documents for recording to any of the following
Monroe County Clerk office locations in person at the addresses below:

Key West Courthouse
500 Whitehead Street
Key West, FL 33040
305-292-3540

Clerk of Court
3117 Overseas Highway
Marathon, FL 33050
305-289-6028

Clerk of Court
88820 Overseas Highway
Plantation Key, FL 33070
305-852-7145

By Mail

Make sure your check is payable to “Clerk of Circuit Court” and send the original documents for recording and your check or the appropriate fees to the Clerk’s Office.

Key West Courthouse
500 Whitehead Street
Key West, FL 33040
305-292-3540

The Monroe County Clerk does not publicly disclose information on recording backlog. However, note that your original documents will be recorded, scanned and microfilmed. The original recorded documents will be returned to you in approximately three weeks.

If the project is located in Monroe county, then yes, you will want to record your lien with the Monroe County Clerk’s office.

All documents must comply with the Monroe County Clerk’s recording requirements. Since changes cannot be made once the instrument has been recorded, make sure to check the following:

1. Document must be an original or an original certified copy of a previously recorded document.

2. Document must be notarized.

3. 3″ by 3″ blank space in upper right corner of the first page.

4. 1″ by 3″ blank space on each subsequent page.

5. Legible, black print of typing for best reproduction by microfilm or photographing.

6. Date the body of the instrument.

7. Grantee’s mailing address, if transfer of interest is real estate. (Example: Deeds, Agreements and Contracts for Deeds)

8. Affix the name and address of person to whom instrument is to be returned on the front of the instrument.

9. On instruments by which the title to real estate or any interest therein of lien thereon is conveyed, created, encumbered, assigned, or otherwise disposed of, the name and address of the person who prepared the instrument must be printed, typewritten or stamped on the face of the instrument in a legible manner. (Instruments executed or acknowledged outside of the State, or before January 1, 1968, are exempt.)

10. Description of real or personal property, if any.

11. Signature(s) should agree with name(s) in the body of the instrument and should be legible and correctly spelled.

12. Signature(s) to be attested by two witnesses (transfer of any property).

13. Acknowledgment of person(s) executing the instrument.
Notary public seal and expiration date (for out of state notary – if the acknowledgment or proof is made before a notary public who does not affix a seal, it shall be sufficient for the notary public to type, print or write by hand on the instrument, “I am a notary public of the State of _______ and my commission expires on _______.(date)”)
Corporate seal, if applicable.

14. A self addressed, stamped envelope is required for all documents.

Every document must have a 3″ by 3″ blank space in upper right corner of the first page and a 1″ by 3″ blank space on each subsequent page.

The Monroe County Clerk accepts check payment for mail-in recording. Make sure your check is payable to “Clerk of Circuit Court”

The Monroe County Clerk’s recording fee is $10.00 for the first page and $8.50 for each additional page of the same document.

Additional Recording Fees

If the document contains more than 4 names to index, there is an additional charge of $1.00 per name.

Copy Fees

Copies: $1.00 per page
Certification: $2.00 per page of document

You can obtain a recorded copy of your lien from any of Monroe County Clerk’s office locations in person at the following addresses:
Key West Courthouse
500 Whitehead Street
Key West, FL 33040
305-292-3540

Clerk of Court
3117 Overseas Highway
Marathon, FL 33050
305-289-6028

Clerk of Court
88820 Overseas Highway
Plantation Key, FL 33070
305-852-7145

You can also search the County Clerk’s official records and purchase documents online at http://www.clerk-of-the-court.com/

To get the property’s legal description, you can visit the Monroe County Clerk’s office.

You can also search for property legal descriptions online with the Monroe County Property Appraiser at:

http://qpublic.net/fl/monroe/

You can also access legal descriptions in Monroe County here.

Determining whether you have the right to file a mechanics lien in Monroe, FL depends on your situation. Generally speaking, every state gives those who have furnished labor and/or materials to a construction project the right to file a mechanics lien if unpaid for the furnishing. The same is true in Florida. However, there are some state-specific limitations as to who is qualified to file a mechanics lien that is important when considering whether you have the right to file a mechanics lien in Monroe County, FL.

You can read more about lien rights and if you have the right to file a lien on our Florida Mechanics Lien Resources page.

The fee to file a Florida Preliminary Notice in Monroe is $10.