A Mechanics Lien is a legal claim recorded against a property that gives contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers the right to seek foreclosure if they are not paid for work or materials they provided. It is protected by Article XIV of the California Constitution — making it one of the most powerful payment protection tools available in the construction industry.
A Mechanics Lien must be recorded within 90 days of project completion (or 60 days after a Notice of Completion is recorded). It is the primary remedy on private works projects when the general contractor or owner has failed to pay. You must have served a Preliminary Notice to have lien rights as a subcontractor or supplier.
Cover Me prepares the Mechanics Lien document based on your project information, verifies the current property owner through county records, and has a department supervisor review the document for completeness and accuracy before recording. The lien is then filed with the appropriate county recorder's office and the owner is notified by certified mail. You receive a stamped copy with recording confirmation.
No. Mechanics Liens cannot be filed against publicly owned land. On state and local public works projects, the remedy is a Stop Notice, which freezes funds held by the public agency, or a Bond Claim filed against the payment bond posted by the general contractor.
A Mechanics Lien in California expires 90 days after it is recorded unless a lawsuit to foreclose is filed within that period. If the claimant receives full payment, the lien must be released. Failure to release a lien after payment can result in court-ordered penalties.
An owner can challenge a lien by filing a petition to remove it or by posting a lien release bond. If the dispute proceeds to litigation, Cover Me can refer you to a licensed construction attorney through our Attorney Escalation & Partner Referral program — we prepare all preliminary documents and hand off to counsel for court proceedings.
Copyright © 2026 Cover Me Lien Services - All Rights Reserved.