Before a business owner can file a mechanic’s lien for an unpaid construction or building debt, they must first establish a contract by filing a notice of contract. What is a notice of contract and why do you need it for a mechanic’s lien?
At Law Offices of Alan M. Cohen & Associates LLC, our commercial collections attorneys have more than 50 years of experience helping Massachusetts business owners ethically collect their unpaid debts. This includes protecting the financial interests of contractors, subcontractors and suppliers in the construction industry. If you want to make sure that your mechanic’s lien is valid and filed correctly, our aggressive and relentless mechanic’s lien lawyers will protect your rights and financial interests.
What are the requirements of a mechanic’s lien?
Business owners in Massachusetts who are operating in the building and construction industry have a unique tool to help them collect their unpaid debts: a mechanic’s lien. With a mechanic’s lien, a business owner with an unpaid debt can place a lien on the property that they helped improve. A mechanic’s lien is an invaluable debt collection tool that you can leverage to help you get paid for your hard work.
Filing a mechanic’s lien in Massachusetts involves several critical steps to ensure its validity. These include:
- The existence of a contract: There must be a written or oral contract between the parties involved. This contract establishes the foundation for your lien rights.
- Notice of contract: A notice of contract must be filed within the required time limit after the last date of work or delivery of materials. It must clearly state the property owner’s name, the claimant’s details and a description of the property.
- Statement of account: A statement of account must be filed within the statutory deadline. A statement of account details the amount owed and serves as a formal claim against the property.
- Timely legal action: To enforce the lien, you must initiate a lawsuit within 90 days after filing the Statement of Account.
At Law Offices of Alan M. Cohen & Associates LLC, our mechanic’s lien attorneys can help you ensure that the requirements for a mechanic’s lien are meticulously met, safeguarding your rights and enhancing your chances of successful debt recovery.
Understanding the notice of contract
In order to file a mechanic’s lien, there must be a contract that relates to the property you helped improve. In the absence of a specific contract with the property owner, subcontractors or suppliers can provide a notice of contract based on writings and communications that together, show evidence of a contract.
A notice of contract publicly states that you have lien rights on a property and you have a limited time to file this notice. In other words, a notice of contract is a formal declaration of your intent to secure payment through the lien process. It serves as a public record, informing all interested parties of your claim.
How a Massachusetts mechanic’s lien attorney can help
Don’t take chances with your Notice of Contract. Our firm’s experienced mechanic’s lien lawyers will craft a customized notices of contract, tailored to your specific situation. With over 50 years of combined experience, we use our experience to fight to get you paid. Massachusetts mechanic’s lien law is intricate, and entrusting your unpaid debts to our legal guidance will allow you to focus on your business, while we do what we do best: manage the collection of your unpaid debts.
Trust an aggressive and experienced commercial collections attorney
Attempting to handle debt collection and mechanic’s liens alone can be frustrating and risky. Hiring an experienced attorney ensures you navigate the legal landscape effectively. Our aggressive, relentless and ethical approach to debt collection means we are effective in pursuing what’s owed to you.
To schedule an appointment, contact us today. You can reach us by calling 508-763-6604 or by sending a message through our online form. Let us help you secure the payments you are owed and deserve.