Mississippi Mechanics Lien
Deadlines & Filing Rules

Every notice, deadline, and recording requirement for a Mississippi construction lien, drawn from Miss. Code Ann. §§ 85-7-131, 85-7-141, 85-7-181 and the same rule engine that calculates deadlines for our filing customers.

Mississippi 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
Not generally available; plan on paper recording
Enforcement deadline
Within 180 days after the lien is recorded

Who can file a mechanics lien in Mississippi

Lien rights depend on where you sit in the contracting chain. Tenant-ordered improvements can support a lien in Mississippi. Owner-occupied residential projects carry extra notice requirements in Mississippi; missing them can cost the lien entirely.

Claimant Lien rights in Mississippi
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

Mississippi mechanics lien deadlines

Required for subcontractors, sub-subcontractors, and suppliers. Preliminary notices go to the property owner 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

Mississippi 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 Mississippi lien

Recording the lien

Record with the circuit court clerk for the county. Electronic recording is not generally available, so build mailing time into the deadline. The lien must be notarized. The lien claim must be sworn to under oath.

After recording

Mississippi 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 180 days after the lien is recorded.

Wrongful lien exposure

Mississippi 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 Mississippi

Lien filing deadline: file 'claim of lien' in the office of the clerk of the chancery court (chancery clerk) within 90 days after last labor/materials (Miss. Code Ann. §85-7-131). Enforcement: suit to enforce must be commenced within 180 days after filing the lien (Miss. Code Ann. §85-7-141). Residential notice to owner requirements exist for claimants not in privity with owner and can impact lien rights; this sheet marks a 30-day prelim as a proxy, but Mississippi notice rules vary by residential/commercial and by claimant type (see §85-7-181 and related sections).

Statutory sources: Miss. Code Ann. §§ 85-7-131, 85-7-141, 85-7-181. Read the Mississippi lien statute.

File your Mississippi mechanics lien

We calculate the Mississippi 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.

Mississippi mechanics lien FAQ

How long do I have to file a mechanics lien in Mississippi?
The Mississippi 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 Mississippi?
Required for subcontractors, sub-subcontractors, and suppliers. Serve it on the property owner by certified mail. Missing it usually forfeits lien rights for the unnoticed work.
Does a Mississippi 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 Mississippi?
With the circuit court clerk for the county. Paper filing is the norm, so allow time for mailing and the recorder's processing queue when working back from your deadline.
How long is a Mississippi mechanics lien valid?
A Mississippi lien must be enforced through a foreclosure lawsuit within 180 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 Mississippi?
Yes. Subcontractors have lien rights in Mississippi, and so do sub-subcontractors. They must follow the preliminary notice rules to keep those rights.

This page summarizes Mississippi 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.