Maine Mechanics Lien
Deadlines & Filing Rules
Every notice, deadline, and recording requirement for a Maine construction lien, drawn from 10 M.R.S. §§ 3253, 3255 and the same rule engine that calculates deadlines for our filing customers.
Maine lien rules at a glance
- Preliminary notice
- Not required to preserve lien rights
- 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
- Registry of deeds for the county
- E-recording
- Varies by county
- Ask the recording office whether it accepts electronic recording before you rely on it.
- Enforcement deadline
- Within 120 days after last furnishing labor or materials
Who can file a mechanics lien in Maine
Lien rights depend on where you sit in the contracting chain. Tenant-ordered improvements can support a lien in Maine.
| Claimant | Lien rights in Maine |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Maine mechanics lien deadlines
Not required to preserve lien rights.
Calculate your Maine 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.
We can prepare and record the lien for you before the deadline. Start your lien.
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 90 days after last furnishing labor or materials |
Maine 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 Maine lien
Recording the lien
Record with the registry of deeds for the county. 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
A copy of the recorded lien must be served on the property owner within 30 days of recording. To keep the lien alive it must be enforced by lawsuit within 120 days after last furnishing labor or materials.
Wrongful lien exposure
Errors in the lien statement do not void the lien unless the claimant willfully claims more than is due, in which case the proceedings are invalid. No damages, fee or criminal penalty for an excessive mechanic's lien was found in the sections read.
Practitioner notes for Maine
Maine gives a lien to those who furnish labor, materials or services for a building on real estate. How it is preserved depends on whether the claimant contracted with the owner. A subcontractor or supplier without a contract with the owner must, within 90 days after last furnishing, record a sworn statement of the amount due with the register of deeds for the county or registry district where the property is located. The same claimant must mail a copy to the owner (10 M.R.S. § 3253(1)). A claimant who contracted directly with the owner does not have to file that statement (10 M.R.S. § 3253(2)). Every claimant must file suit with the Superior Court or District Court clerk in that county within 120 days after last furnishing, subject to the extension in section 3256 (10 M.R.S. § 3255(1)). Within 60 days after filing suit, record notice of the complaint in the registry of deeds. Without it, a good-faith buyer can take the property free of the lien (10 M.R.S. § 3261). If the claimant had no contract with the owner, the lien reaches only what the owner still owed its own contractor when the owner was served or received the claimant's written notice. That limit does not apply to business or commercial work unless the owner lives on the premises (10 M.R.S. § 3255(3)). Small errors in the statement do not defeat the lien, but willfully claiming more than is due does (10 M.R.S. § 3254). Maine has no required preliminary notice. Because the 120-day suit deadline is short, confirm with counsel early.
These notes summarize the statute as we read it.
Statutory sources: 10 M.R.S. §§ 3253, 3255. Read the Maine lien statute. Deadlines turn on facts specific to your project. Confirm with counsel before relying on them.
File your Maine mechanics lien
We calculate the Maine 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.
Maine mechanics lien FAQ
How long do I have to file a mechanics lien in Maine?
Do I need to send a preliminary notice in Maine?
Does a Maine mechanics lien need to be notarized?
Where is a mechanics lien filed in Maine?
How long is a Maine mechanics lien valid?
Can a subcontractor file a mechanics lien in Maine?
More Maine lien tools
This page summarizes Maine 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.