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Alaska Mechanics Lien
Deadlines & Filing Rules

Every notice, deadline, and recording requirement for an Alaska construction lien, drawn from AS 34.35.064, 34.35.068, 34.35.070, 34.35.071, 34.35.080 and the same rule engine that calculates deadlines for our filing customers.

File an Alaska lien from $99 See the deadlines

Alaska lien rules at a glance

Preliminary notice
Not required to preserve lien rights
Lien filing deadline
within 120 days after last furnishing labor or materials
Notarization
Required
The lien claim must be sworn to under oath
Where to record
County recorder where the property sits
E-recording
Varies by county
Ask the recording office whether it accepts electronic recording before you rely on it.
Enforcement deadline
Within 6 months after the lien is recorded

Who can file a mechanics lien in Alaska

Lien rights depend on where you sit in the contracting chain. Tenant-ordered improvements can support a lien in Alaska.

Claimant Lien rights in Alaska
General contractor (direct contract with the owner) Yes
Subcontractor (hired by the general contractor) Yes
Sub-subcontractor (hired by a subcontractor) Yes
Material supplier to the owner Yes
Material supplier to the general contractor Yes
Material supplier to a subcontractor Yes

Alaska mechanics lien deadlines

Not required to preserve lien rights.

Calculate your Alaska deadlines

Enter your role and project dates to turn the rules below into calendar dates. For other states, use the mechanics lien deadline calculator.

Project type

Choose your role to see which dates you need.

These dates come from the same rules our lien filing service uses. They are not moved for weekends or holidays. Deadlines turn on facts specific to your project. Confirm with counsel before relying on them.

Mechanics lien filing deadline

The last day the lien can be recorded against the property.

Who Project type Deadline
All claimants All projects Within 120 days after last furnishing labor or materials

Alaska does not require a notice of intent before recording a lien, but sending one is often what gets the invoice paid.

Recording and enforcing an Alaska lien

Recording the lien

Record with the county recorder where the property sits. Whether electronic recording is accepted varies by county, so confirm with the recording office and build mailing time into the deadline. The lien must be notarized. The lien claim must be sworn to under oath.

After recording

Alaska does not require a separate notice after the lien is recorded, though most claimants send one anyway to prompt payment. To keep the lien alive it must be enforced by lawsuit within 6 months after the lien is recorded.

Wrongful lien exposure

Alaska exposes claimants who file an exaggerated or baseless lien to damages. A person injured by a violation of the lien statutes may sue for actual and consequential damages plus costs and reasonable attorney fees. A claimant who does not promptly remove a lien after full payment, or after learning it is mistaken, unjustified, premature or disproportionate, is liable for actual and consequential damages plus costs and attorney fees.

Practitioner notes for Alaska

In Alaska, a claim of lien must be recorded no later than 120 days after you complete your contract or stop furnishing labor, materials, services or equipment, as long as the owner has not recorded a notice of completion (AS 34.35.068(a)). If the owner does record a notice of completion, the window can shrink to 15 days after that recording for a claimant who had advance notice of it or who never gave a notice of right to lien (AS 34.35.068(b)). Giving a notice of right to lien under AS 34.35.064 can protect the longer period, so it is worth considering early on larger jobs. The claim must be verified by oath and state the property, owner, contractor, the work furnished, the amount due, and the last date you furnished (AS 34.35.070). Alaska has no counties; claims are recorded with the state recorder for the recording district where the property sits. A lien lasts six months after recording. To keep it, start a suit to enforce it within those six months, or record an extension notice in the same office within the original six months, which gives six more months (AS 34.35.080(a)). After suing, record a notice of the pending action to protect against later buyers (AS 34.35.080(c)). Release a lien promptly once paid or if it turns out to be mistaken or overstated. A claimant who does not can owe actual and consequential damages plus attorney fees (AS 34.35.074).

These notes summarize the statute as we read it.

Statutory sources: AS 34.35.064, 34.35.068, 34.35.070, 34.35.071, 34.35.080. Read the Alaska lien statute. Deadlines turn on facts specific to your project. Confirm with counsel before relying on them.

File your Alaska mechanics lien

We calculate the Alaska deadlines from your project dates, prepare the lien on the correct form, and handle recording. Self-serve from $99, or full service with recording and notices handled for you from $299.

Start an Alaska lien See lien pricing

Alaska mechanics lien FAQ

How long do I have to file a mechanics lien in Alaska?
The Alaska lien must be recorded within 120 days after last furnishing labor or materials. The same deadline applies to every claimant.
Do I need to send a preliminary notice in Alaska?
No. Alaska does not require a preliminary notice to preserve lien rights, although sending one is still an effective way to get paid before a lien becomes necessary.
Does an Alaska mechanics lien need to be notarized?
Yes. The lien must be notarized before it is recorded. The lien claim must be sworn to under oath.
Where is a mechanics lien filed in Alaska?
With the county recorder where the property sits. Whether electronic recording is accepted varies by county, so check with the recording office and allow time for mailing and processing when working back from your deadline.
How long is an Alaska mechanics lien valid?
An Alaska lien must be enforced through a foreclosure lawsuit within 6 months after the lien is recorded. If no suit is filed by then, the lien expires and can no longer be used to force payment.
Can a subcontractor file a mechanics lien in Alaska?
Yes. Subcontractors have lien rights in Alaska, and so do sub-subcontractors.

More Alaska lien tools

Bordering states

This page summarizes Alaska lien law for general information and is not legal advice. Deadlines depend on your role, project type, and dates; confirm them against the statute or with counsel before relying on them.