Georgia Mechanics Lien
Deadlines & Filing Rules

Every notice, deadline, and recording requirement for a Georgia construction lien, drawn from O.C.G.A. §§ 44-14-361.1, 44-14-361.5 and the same rule engine that calculates deadlines for our filing customers.

File a Georgia lien from $99 See the deadlines

Georgia lien rules at a glance

Preliminary notice: Required for subcontractors, sub-subcontractors, and suppliers
Lien filing deadline: within 90 days after last furnishing labor or materials
Notarization: Required; The lien claim must be sworn to under oath
Where to record: Circuit court clerk for the county
E-recording: Available in participating counties
Enforcement deadline: Within 365 days after the lien is recorded

Who can file a mechanics lien in Georgia

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

Claimant	Lien rights in Georgia
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

Georgia mechanics lien deadlines

Required for subcontractors, sub-subcontractors, and suppliers. Preliminary notices go to the property owner and the general contractor by certified mail.

Preliminary notice deadline

The notice that preserves lien rights before any payment problem exists.

Who	Project type	Deadline
All claimants	All projects	Within 30 days after first furnishing labor or materials

Mechanics lien filing deadline

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

Who	Project type	Deadline
All claimants	All projects	Within 90 days after last furnishing labor or materials

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

Recording and enforcing a Georgia lien

Recording the lien

Record with the circuit court clerk for the county. Electronic recording is available in participating counties. The lien must be notarized. The lien claim must be sworn to under oath.

After recording

A copy of the recorded lien must be served on the property owner and the general contractor within 2 days of recording. To keep the lien alive it must be enforced by lawsuit within 365 days after the lien is recorded.

Wrongful lien exposure

Georgia has no dedicated wrongful-lien penalty statute, but an inflated or baseless lien can still be challenged and removed at the claimant's expense.

Practitioner notes for Georgia

Lien filing deadline: file claim of lien within 90 days after completion of work or last furnishing of labor/materials (O.C.G.A. §44-14-361.1(a)(2)). If a Notice of Commencement is filed, remote claimants must send a Notice to Contractor within 30 days (generally the later of 30 days after NOC filing or 30 days after first furnishing) by registered/certified mail or statutory overnight delivery to owner and contractor (O.C.G.A. §44-14-361.5(c)). Post-lien notice: within 2 business days after filing, send copy of claim of lien to owner (and also to contractor if NOC filed) by registered/certified mail or statutory overnight delivery (O.C.G.A. §44-14-361.1(a)). Enforcement: commence lien action within 365 days after lien filing AND file a Notice of Commencement of Lien Action within 30 days after commencing the action (O.C.G.A. §44-14-361.1(a)(3)).

Statutory sources: O.C.G.A. §§ 44-14-361.1, 44-14-361.5. Read the Georgia lien statute.

File your Georgia mechanics lien

We calculate the Georgia 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 a Georgia lien See lien pricing

Georgia mechanics lien FAQ

How long do I have to file a mechanics lien in Georgia?

The Georgia lien must be recorded within 90 days after last furnishing labor or materials. The same deadline applies to every claimant.

Do I need to send a preliminary notice in Georgia?

Required for subcontractors, sub-subcontractors, and suppliers. Serve it on the property owner and the general contractor by certified mail. Missing it usually forfeits lien rights for the unnoticed work.

Does a Georgia 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 Georgia?

With the circuit court clerk for the county. Electronic recording is available in participating counties, which typically cuts the turnaround to a day or two.

How long is a Georgia mechanics lien valid?

A Georgia lien must be enforced through a foreclosure lawsuit within 365 days 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 Georgia?

Yes. Subcontractors have lien rights in Georgia, and so do sub-subcontractors. They must follow the preliminary notice rules to keep those rights.

More Georgia lien tools

Nearby states

This page summarizes Georgia 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.

Georgia Mechanics Lien Deadlines & Filing Rules