A mechanic’s lien is a security interest in the title of real property placed by those who supplied the materials or provided the labor to build or improve the property. This particular remedy is typically used by contractors and subcontractors as a defense against the nonpayment or the imperfection of tender for a construction contract. Furthermore, mechanics liens law is governed by various state laws and interpretations.
It is completely understandable for construction company owners, contractors, and subcontractors to worry about the cost and complexity associated with filing a mechanics lien. However, a mechanics lien is still the best tool for construction companies to receive delinquent compensation from customers.
The Cost to File a Mechanics Lien
There are three main ways to file a mechanics lien with your local court; on your own, using a lien filing service, or hiring an attorney to assist with the process. However, the actual cost of filing a mechanics lien and services that will assist you with this process largely depends on where you live.
Filing a Mechanics Lien on Your Own
In most cases, you can file a mechanics lien on your own. As long as you go through this process correctly, filing a mechanics lien on your own is the most cost-effective way to complete the process. While there are no outside fees, even when filing a mechanics lien on your own, you will need to pay the recording fees. These fees are different in every state and range from $5 – $345.
When filing a mechanics lien without the help of a professional, you are solely responsible to ensure that your application meets the necessary legal requirements. This is the case no matter what state and county you are filing your mechanics lien in. Additionally, you must make sure that there are no errors, get the details right, meet all the deadlines, and include all the necessary and proper documentation. Finally, you must ensure that the lien amount you request is correct.
Filing a lean on your own is by far the most cost-effective way to move through this process. However, although cheaper than other methods, if you are missing any of the necessary materials, list something incorrectly, or miss a deadline, your lien claim will be invalid. Thus, be sure that you can navigate this process by yourself before committing to this process.
Using a Lien Filing Service
Certain companies offer mechanics lien filing services. This can be a viable option as you will pay a flat fee for assistance with this process. A downside to lien filing services is that you will never speak with the representative working on your case. Thus, you cannot judge if the representative has accurate information or any idea of what they are doing. These issues become even more problematic when understanding state and county laws are crucial to the success of your case.
Hiring an Attorney
Certain entities such as Limited Liability Corporations require a lawyer to file a mechanics lien on their behalf. Additionally, a DC construction lawyer will also be able to help create a legal description of the property, file the lien, send out required notices, deal with responses from the property owner, collect the judgment, and finally, release the lien. Antonoplos & Associates group of attorneys have over 20 years of experience guiding DC construction contractors through the mechanic’s lien process. As such, our attorneys can deal with a variety of issues occurring during the mechanic’s lien process.
If you are looking for more information concerning what is a mechanics lien and how to file, enforce, and release your lien in the District of Columbia, you can check out our blog post here.
Contact Our DC Law Office for More Information
Finally, for more on how much does it cost to file a mechanics lien, contact us at 202-803-5676. You can also directly schedule a consultation with one of our skilled attorneys. Additionally, for general information regarding construction law, check out our blog.