Wisconsin Mechanics Lien
Deadlines & Filing Rules
Every notice, deadline, and recording requirement for a Wisconsin construction lien, drawn from Wis. Stat. §§ 779.02, 779.06, 779.12 and the same rule engine that calculates deadlines for our filing customers.
Wisconsin lien rules at a glance
- Preliminary notice
- Required for subcontractors, sub-subcontractors, and suppliers
- 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
- Clerk of court 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 Wisconsin
Lien rights depend on where you sit in the contracting chain. Tenant-ordered work can reach the owner's interest in Wisconsin only where the owner consented to or required the improvements. Owner-occupied residential projects carry extra notice requirements in Wisconsin; missing them can cost the lien entirely.
| Claimant | Lien rights in Wisconsin |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Wisconsin mechanics lien deadlines
Required for subcontractors, sub-subcontractors, and suppliers. Preliminary notices go to the property owner by certified mail.
Calculate your Wisconsin 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 | Within 60 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 6 months after last furnishing labor or materials |
Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin lien
Recording the lien
Record with the clerk of court 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
Wisconsin 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 2 years after the lien is recorded.
Wrongful lien exposure
Filing a knowingly false lien in Wisconsin can carry criminal penalties as well as civil liability. Filing a lien or claim of lien that the filer knows or should have known is false, a sham or frivolous is criminal slander of title, a Class H felony (§ 943.60). A claimant who is paid but refuses to deliver a satisfaction owes the requester one-half of the amount claimed in the lien (§ 779.13(1)).
Practitioner notes for Wisconsin
Wisconsin's construction lien law is in Chapter 779 of the statutes. On residential projects adding four or fewer family units, notice starts at the beginning. The prime contractor must put a statutory lien notice in its written contract with the owner, or serve it within 10 days after first work. Subcontractors and suppliers must serve the owner a written notice, in two signed copies, within 60 days after they first furnish labor, services or materials (Wis. Stat. § 779.02(2)). Missing the 60 days limits the lien to work furnished after the owner receives a late notice (§ 779.02(3)). These notices are not required on nonresidential projects or on residential projects with more than four units (§ 779.02(1)(c)). Every claimant must serve the owner a written notice of intent to file a lien claim at least 30 days before filing it (§ 779.06(2)). The claim for lien itself is filed with the clerk of circuit court in the county where the land lies, within 6 months after you last furnished labor or materials. Serve a copy on the owner within 30 days after filing. The claim must be signed but need not be verified (§ 779.06). A foreclosure action must be filed within 2 years after the claim is filed (§ 779.06(1)). Filing a lien you know or should know is false, a sham or frivolous is criminal slander of title, a felony (§ 943.60). After you are paid, failing to deliver a satisfaction can cost half the amount claimed (§ 779.13). Because the 30-day notice of intent must fit inside the 6-month window, plan to serve it by about the fifth month; confirm with counsel on mixed-use projects.
These notes summarize the statute as we read it.
Statutory sources: Wis. Stat. §§ 779.02, 779.06, 779.12. Read the Wisconsin lien statute. Deadlines turn on facts specific to your project. Confirm with counsel before relying on them.
File your Wisconsin mechanics lien
We calculate the Wisconsin 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.
Wisconsin mechanics lien FAQ
How long do I have to file a mechanics lien in Wisconsin?
Do I need to send a preliminary notice in Wisconsin?
Does a Wisconsin mechanics lien need to be notarized?
Where is a mechanics lien filed in Wisconsin?
How long is a Wisconsin mechanics lien valid?
Can a subcontractor file a mechanics lien in Wisconsin?
More Wisconsin lien tools
This page summarizes Wisconsin 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.