When Is the Deadline to Enforce a Lien?

What happens after you file a lien?

We hope you get paid (and that’s generally the case), but it doesn’t always happen. In some situations you might need to file a law suit to enforce your lien.

But wait! Did you know that your lien has an “expiration date”? Every lien has a deadline by which you must file a suit to enforce it, or the lien may become invalidated.

Knowing your lien enforcement deadline is important for two reasons:

1. Lien laws are strict, and the minute your deadline passes it becomes near impossible to enforce the lien (and a lot harder to recover your money)

2. Going to trial is a long and expensive process that is probably the last thing you want to do. Knowing your deadline enables you to attempt receiving payment through channels other than a lawsuit while the lien is still valid

Deadlines are determined by many factors and can often be tricky to calculate. That’s why we’ve created this easy-to-read infographic. Submit the form to the right to learn when your deadline is.