Nebraska Mechanics Lien
Deadlines & Filing Rules
Every notice, deadline, and recording requirement for a Nebraska construction lien, drawn from Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 52-125 to 52-159, including §§ 52-135, 52-137, 52-140, 52-147, 52-157 and the same rule engine that calculates deadlines for our filing customers.
Nebraska lien rules at a glance
- Preliminary notice
- Not required to preserve lien rights
- Lien filing deadline
- within 120 days after last furnishing labor or materials
- Notarization
- Required
- The lien claim must be sworn to under oath
- Where to record
- Register 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 2 years after the lien is recorded
Who can file a mechanics lien in Nebraska
Lien rights depend on where you sit in the contracting chain. Tenant-ordered improvements can support a lien in Nebraska.
| Claimant | Lien rights in Nebraska |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Nebraska mechanics lien deadlines
Not required to preserve lien rights.
Calculate your Nebraska 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 120 days after last furnishing labor or materials |
Nebraska 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 Nebraska lien
Recording the lien
Record with the register 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 10 days of recording. To keep the lien alive it must be enforced by lawsuit within 2 years after the lien is recorded.
Wrongful lien exposure
Nebraska exposes claimants who file an exaggerated or baseless lien to damages. If a claimant in bad faith records a lien, overstates the amount, or refuses to release it, the court may declare the lien void and award damages to the owner or anyone injured, including the cost of correcting the record and reasonable attorney's fees.
Practitioner notes for Nebraska
Nebraska's Construction Lien Act is Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 52-125 to 52-159. Most claimants do not need a preliminary notice. On residential work of up to four units where the owner is a "protected party", generally someone who lives or plans to live there (§ 52-129), a claimant may give the owner a written notice of the right to assert a lien, and the act sets out what it must say (§ 52-135). Against such an owner, a subcontractor's or supplier's lien is capped by what remains unpaid on the prime contract when the owner receives the notice, so sending it early matters (§ 52-136). A lien does not attach unless it is recorded with the register of deeds for the county where the land sits no later than 120 days after the claimant's final furnishing of services or materials (§§ 52-127, 52-137). On those protected-party jobs, send the owner a copy of the recorded lien within 10 days after recording (§ 52-135). The lien stays enforceable for 2 years after recording (§ 52-140). If the owner or another interested party sends a written demand to sue, the claimant has 30 days after receiving it to start a suit or record an affidavit that the contract price is not yet due, or the lien lapses. A claimant who records a lien in bad faith, overstates the amount, or refuses to release it risks having the lien declared void and paying damages, including the cost of correcting the record and attorney's fees (§ 52-157). Registers of deeds may require an acknowledged signature; confirm with the county.
These notes summarize the statute as we read it.
Statutory sources: Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 52-125 to 52-159, including §§ 52-135, 52-137, 52-140, 52-147, 52-157. Read the Nebraska lien statute. Deadlines turn on facts specific to your project. Confirm with counsel before relying on them.
File your Nebraska mechanics lien
We calculate the Nebraska 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.
Nebraska mechanics lien FAQ
How long do I have to file a mechanics lien in Nebraska?
Do I need to send a preliminary notice in Nebraska?
Does a Nebraska mechanics lien need to be notarized?
Where is a mechanics lien filed in Nebraska?
How long is a Nebraska mechanics lien valid?
Can a subcontractor file a mechanics lien in Nebraska?
More Nebraska lien tools
This page summarizes Nebraska 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.