Get paid for the work you’ve done
A mechanics’ lien is a powerful statutory device available to unpaid suppliers, subcontractors and contractors. Done properly, it places an encumbrance on the real property, often freezes construction financing or a sale, and provides an avenue to recover attorneys’ fees. In most scenarios these pressure points are greatly effective at bringing attention to your claim — and getting you paid.
Four steps, most done in one sitting
Answer a few questions
Tell us your position in the project chain, the property, the parties, and what you’re owed. Upload invoices and any lien waivers.
Choose & pay online
Full service for a flat $425 — every claimant position, paid securely by Stripe when you submit. Self service is a flat $275 through Lien.Claims, our self-service platform.
Sign the verification
We email your Claim of Lien on Real Property (and, where your tier requires it, the notice of claim of lien upon funds) for notarized signature — with your complete package (self service) or while our attorneys prepare and finalize it (full service).
It gets served & filed
Self service: you serve the owner and file the Claim of Lien with the Clerk of Superior Court, following our step-by-step instructions. Full service: we file with the Clerk of Superior Court, serve the owner, serve any lien upon funds, and send the § 6-21.2 demand letter.
The 15-day lien agent window
On most improvements of $40,000 or more, a potential claimant must serve a Notice to Lien Agent within 15 days of first furnishing to preserve full priority. Miss it, and your lien can be subordinated to intervening deeds of trust. G.S. 44A-11.1, 44A-11.2.
120 days to file
A Claim of Lien on Real Property must be filed with the Clerk of Superior Court in each county where the property sits — and served on the owner — no later than 120 days after last furnishing. G.S. 44A-11, 44A-12.
180 days to enforce
Suit to enforce the lien must be commenced within 180 days of last furnishing, so the lien and the lawsuit should be planned together. G.S. 44A-13.
Self service vs. full service
| What you get | Self Service — $275 (Lien.Claims) | Full Service — $425 |
|---|---|---|
| Attorney-drafted lien package (Claim of Lien on Real Property, Statement of Account, Verification) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Notice of claim of lien upon funds prepared where your tier requires it | ✓ | ✓ |
| Step-by-step service & filing instructions | ✓ | Not needed — we handle it |
| Attorney arranges service on the owner | — you serve | ✓ (cost of service additional) |
| Attorney then files the Claim of Lien with the Clerk of Superior Court | — you file | ✓ |
| § 6-21.2 attorney-fee demand letter | — | ✓ |
| Deadline responsibility | Yours (15-day lien agent, 120-day filing) | Ours to manage, attorney-verified |
| Best for | General contractors comfortable at the courthouse | Everyone else — NC liens are strictly construed and the tier rules are unforgiving |
When is my North Carolina lien deadline?
Enter your last date of furnishing labor or materials. North Carolina requires the Claim of Lien on Real Property to be filed with the Clerk of Superior Court within 120 days — and suit to enforce within 180 days. On projects of $40,000 or more, add your first date of furnishing to check the 15-day Notice to Lien Agent window.
Why an attorney — and not an online lien service?
National lien websites will sell you a form. But North Carolina’s mechanics’ lien statute is strictly construed, and it hides two traps a form can’t catch. First, on improvements of $40,000 or more, a Notice to Lien Agent is due within 15 days of first furnishing — miss it and your later lien can be subordinated or cut off against a buyer or lender (§ 44A-11.2). Second, subcontractors and suppliers generally reach the owner’s property only by subrogation: you serve a notice of claim of lien upon funds first, then file the Claim of Lien on Real Property with that notice attached, and only to the extent the owner still owes the contractor (§ 44A-23). The wrong owner name, legal description, or amount claimed can void the lien — and a form service can’t send the § 6-21.2 demand letter that puts attorneys’ fees on the table. Every lien we prepare is drafted by an attorney licensed in North Carolina — and if your deadline is inside 14 days, we prioritize your filing.
Read the full North Carolina Mechanics’ Lien Guide →
Working on a South Carolina project? SC Lien Guide →
Why liens get denied
Mechanics’ liens are statutory in nature and are generally “strictly construed” — the lien claimant is required to follow the letter of the law, and even small technical mistakes can result in a lien being denied. In North Carolina the tier rules and the lien-agent deadline make this especially easy to get wrong, and online lien services often don’t help you avoid the common perils. Our attorneys prepare and verify every lien — so you don’t become a cautionary tale.
This page provides general information about North Carolina law, not legal advice for your situation. Deadlines are computed from the facts you provide and verified by an attorney before filing.