Missouri Mechanics Lien
Deadlines & Filing Rules
Every notice, deadline, and recording requirement for a Missouri construction lien, drawn from RSMo §§ 429.012, 429.013, 429.080, 429.100, 429.170, 429.014, 429.016 and the same rule engine that calculates deadlines for our filing customers.
Missouri lien rules at a glance
- Preliminary notice
- Required for every claimant, including the general contractor
- Lien filing deadline
- within 6 months 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
- Varies by county
- Ask the recording office whether it accepts electronic recording before you rely on it.
- Enforcement deadline
- Within 6 months after the lien is recorded
Who can file a mechanics lien in Missouri
Lien rights depend on where you sit in the contracting chain. Tenant-ordered improvements can support a lien in Missouri. Missouri layers several restrictions on owner-occupied residential projects; read the statute before relying on a lien.
| Claimant | Lien rights in Missouri |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Missouri mechanics lien deadlines
Required for every claimant, including the general contractor. Preliminary notices go to the property owner by any method that proves receipt. Missouri requires a notice of intent to lien before the lien itself is recorded, served at least 10 days ahead of filing.
Calculate your Missouri 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.
Preliminary notice deadline
The notice that preserves lien rights before any payment problem exists.
| Who | Project type | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| All claimants | All projects | Give the owner the statutory notice before receiving any payment: when the contract is signed, when materials are delivered, when work starts, or with the first invoice. |
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 6 months after last furnishing labor or materials |
Recording and enforcing a Missouri lien
Recording the lien
Record with the circuit court clerk 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
Missouri 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 6 months after the lien is recorded.
Wrongful lien exposure
Filing a knowingly false lien in Missouri can carry criminal penalties as well as civil liability. Missouri's criminal penalties target contractor conduct around liens rather than the act of filing an overstated lien: an original contractor who skips the owner notice with intent to defraud commits a class B misdemeanor, a contractor who knowingly issues a fraudulent lien waiver or false affidavit commits a class D felony (§ 429.012.3), and a contractor paid for work who fails to pay subs or suppliers with intent to defraud commits lien fraud (§ 429.014).
Practitioner notes for Missouri
Missouri lien rights start with paperwork from the original contractor. A contractor who deals directly with the owner must give the statutory notice before receiving any payment, either at contract signing, at material delivery, when work starts, or with the first invoice (RSMo § 429.012). This is a condition of the contractor's lien. It does not apply to new homes whose buyer has lien coverage from a Missouri title insurer. Everyone other than the original contractor must give the owner at least 10 days' notice before filing a lien, stating the amount and who owes it (§ 429.100). The lien statement goes to the clerk of the circuit court in the county where the property is located within six months after the debt accrued, which in practice means the last day of furnishing (§ 429.080). Equipment lessors have only 60 days after the last equipment leaves the site. The statement must be verified by oath and include a "just and true account" of the amount due after all credits; a knowingly inflated statement can sink the lien, so confirm with counsel. A suit to enforce must be commenced within six months after the lien is filed (§ 429.170). Owner-occupied residential remodels may carry extra owner-consent rules for subcontractors and suppliers; confirm with counsel before relying on a lien there. Contractors face criminal penalties for skipping the owner notice with intent to defraud, issuing false lien waivers or affidavits, or keeping payment meant for subs (§§ 429.012, 429.014).
These notes summarize the statute as we read it.
Statutory sources: RSMo §§ 429.012, 429.013, 429.080, 429.100, 429.170, 429.014, 429.016. Read the Missouri lien statute. Deadlines turn on facts specific to your project. Confirm with counsel before relying on them.
File your Missouri mechanics lien
We calculate the Missouri 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.
Missouri mechanics lien FAQ
How long do I have to file a mechanics lien in Missouri?
Do I need to send a preliminary notice in Missouri?
Does a Missouri mechanics lien need to be notarized?
Where is a mechanics lien filed in Missouri?
How long is a Missouri mechanics lien valid?
Is a notice of intent to lien required in Missouri?
Can a subcontractor file a mechanics lien in Missouri?
More Missouri lien tools
This page summarizes Missouri 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.