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Illinois
Lien Waiver Forms

Illinois lien waivers: draw-package practice with no prescribed statutory form

State Rules

How Illinois treats lien waivers

Illinois does not prescribe a statutory lien waiver form: the Mechanics Lien Act (770 ILCS 60) leaves the format to the parties, so our general-purpose conditional and unconditional progress and final waivers apply. What Illinois does regulate is advance waivers: under 770 ILCS 60/1(d), an agreement waiving lien rights made in anticipation of and in consideration for the award of a contract or subcontract is against public policy and unenforceable. In practice, owners and title companies pair waivers with the contractor's sworn statement required by 770 ILCS 60/5 at every payment draw.

Illinois lien waiver forms we generate

Four house forms cover every payment on a Illinois project: conditional or unconditional, progress or final.

Conditional Progress

Conditional Waiver and Release of Lien: Progress Payment

Signed when a progress payment is promised: the waiver only takes effect once that payment actually arrives.

Unconditional Progress

Unconditional Waiver and Release of Lien: Progress Payment

Signed after a progress payment has been received: immediately waives lien rights for work through the covered date.

Conditional Final

Conditional Waiver and Release of Lien: Final Payment

Signed when the final payment is promised: waives all remaining lien rights, but only once the payment clears.

Unconditional Final

Unconditional Waiver and Release of Lien: Final Payment

Signed after the final payment is in hand: a complete, immediate waiver of lien rights on the project.

Signing a lien waiver in Illinois

Execution rules (the form's wording, notarization, witnesses, and whether an electronic signature works) are set by state law. Here's what applies in Illinois, built into every waiver we generate.

Advance waivers

770 ILCS 60/1(d): an agreement to waive or subordinate lien rights under the Illinois Mechanics Lien Act is against public policy and unenforceable where it is made in anticipation of and in consideration for the awarding of a contract or subcontract; no-lien clauses in the construction contract itself are void.

Illinois execution rules

  • No prescribed statutory form: our attorney-reviewed house forms apply.
  • Notarization: not required in Illinois.
  • Witness: not required in Illinois.
  • E-signature: available. Send Illinois waivers for electronic signature and get the signed copy stored with a tamper-evident audit certificate.

Create a free Illinois lien waiver

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Working in another state?

Every state's waiver rules are different. Check before you sign.