Louisiana Mechanics Lien
Deadlines & Filing Rules
Every notice, deadline, and recording requirement for a Louisiana construction lien, drawn from La. R.S. §§ 9:4811, 9:4822, 9:4823, 9:4831, 9:4833 and the same rule engine that calculates deadlines for our filing customers.
Louisiana lien rules at a glance
- Preliminary notice
- Required for every claimant, including the general contractor
- Lien filing deadline
- within 60 days after completion of the project
- Notarization
- Not required
- No sworn statement or verification is required
- Where to record
- County recorder where the property sits
- E-recording
- Available in participating counties
- Enforcement deadline
- Within 1 year after the lien is recorded
Who can file a mechanics lien in Louisiana
Lien rights depend on where you sit in the contracting chain. Tenant-ordered improvements can support a lien in Louisiana.
| Claimant | Lien rights in Louisiana |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Louisiana mechanics lien deadlines
Required for every claimant, including the general contractor. Preliminary notices go to the parish recorder by any method that proves receipt. Louisiana requires a notice of intent to lien before the lien itself is recorded, served at least 10 days ahead of filing.
Calculate your Louisiana deadlines
Enter your role and project dates to turn the rules below into calendar dates. For other states, use the mechanics lien deadline calculator.
Choose your role to see which dates you need.
Your deadlines
| Document | Who | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Passed |
liens are filed through the courts by an attorney. Get matched with a lien attorney.
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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.
Preliminary notice deadline
The notice that preserves lien rights before any payment problem exists.
| Who | Project type | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| General contractors | All projects | Before work begins, file a notice of contract, signed by the owner and general contractor, with the parish recorder of mortgages. If the contract price is over $100,000, a general contractor without a timely notice of contract has no privilege and cannot file a statement of claim |
Notice of intent to lien
The final warning before a lien is recorded.
| Who | Project type | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| All claimants | All projects | At least 10 days before filing the lien |
Mechanics lien filing deadline
The last day the lien can be recorded against the property.
| Who | Project type | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| All claimants | All projects | Within 60 days after completion of the project |
Recording and enforcing a Louisiana lien
Recording the lien
Record with the county recorder where the property sits. Electronic recording is available in participating counties. No notary is required on the lien itself. No sworn statement or verification is required.
After recording
A copy of the recorded lien must be served on the property owner promptly after recording. To keep the lien alive it must be enforced by lawsuit within 1 year after the lien is recorded.
Wrongful lien exposure
Louisiana exposes claimants who file an exaggerated or baseless lien to damages. If a statement of claim is improperly filed or the claim is extinguished, the owner can demand a written request for cancellation, due within 10 days. A claimant who fails to deliver it without reasonable cause is liable for the owner's damages and reasonable attorney fees.
Practitioner notes for Louisiana
Louisiana's Private Works Act turns on whether a notice of contract was filed. That notice is signed by the owner and general contractor and filed with the parish recorder of mortgages before work begins. On contracts over $100,000, a general contractor that skips it loses its privilege (La. R.S. 9:4811). Statements of claim or privilege are also filed with the parish recorder of mortgages (La. R.S. 9:4831). When no notice of contract was filed, every claimant has 60 days after a notice of termination is filed, or after substantial completion or abandonment if none is filed (La. R.S. 9:4822(A)). When a notice of contract was filed, subcontractors and suppliers have 30 days after a notice of termination or 6 months after substantial completion. The general contractor has 60 days or 7 months (La. R.S. 9:4822(B), (C)). On residential work with no notice of contract, a notice of nonpayment sent at least 10 days before filing extends the deadline to 70 days (La. R.S. 9:4822(D)). If a notice of contract was filed, a seller of materials to a subcontractor must notify the owner and contractor of nonpayment within 75 days after the end of the month of delivery. Equipment lessors should give notice within 30 days of placing equipment on site (La. R.S. 9:4804). A suit against the owner must be filed within one year after the statement is filed, and a notice of pendency of action must be recorded in that year to bind third persons (La. R.S. 9:4823, 9:4833(E)). A claimant who will not cancel an improper statement within 10 days of a request owes damages and attorney fees (La. R.S. 9:4833). These rules were rewritten effective 2020, so confirm with counsel.
These notes summarize the statute as we read it.
Statutory sources: La. R.S. §§ 9:4811, 9:4822, 9:4823, 9:4831, 9:4833. Read the Louisiana lien statute. Deadlines turn on facts specific to your project. Confirm with counsel before relying on them.
File your Louisiana mechanics lien
We calculate the Louisiana 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.
Louisiana mechanics lien FAQ
How long do I have to file a mechanics lien in Louisiana?
Do I need to send a preliminary notice in Louisiana?
Does a Louisiana mechanics lien need to be notarized?
Where is a mechanics lien filed in Louisiana?
How long is a Louisiana mechanics lien valid?
Is a notice of intent to lien required in Louisiana?
Can a subcontractor file a mechanics lien in Louisiana?
More Louisiana lien tools
This page summarizes Louisiana 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.