Illinois law requires that an unpaid contractor or sub – contractor act quickly to preserve his or her Mechanics Lien rights. The deadline for your particular case depends on the relationships between the type of property involved and your relationship with other parties involved in the project.

In some cases, to fully protect your Lien Rights it may be necessary for you to take action immediately upon having signed your contract. In some cases, even though you have not been fully paid, it may be too early to record your Claim for a Mechanics Lien.

A careful review of all the related facts by an attorney experienced in Construction Law and Mechanics Lien Law is necessary to determine the correct dollar amount and time deadlines for your Claim for Lien. An attorneyʼs review and gathering of these facts can also take time, including the time necessary to conduct or obtain a title search on the property where you did your work. A title search is absolutely necessary to not only provide an accurate legal description of the property, but also to identify the true owner of the property, any mortgage(s) on the property, the date when the property may have been converted to a condominium, etc.- all of which may affect your Lien Rights. In some cases, not all of your work may be lienable.

If you have not been paid on time, delay in perfecting your Lien Rights can be fatal to your chances of getting paid. Do not hesitate to call me if you have any concerns that you may not be paid for your work or materials.

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