You Did the Work. You Were Not Paid. New Jersey's Mechanic's Lien Law Is Your Most Powerful Tool.

You completed the job. The work was done correctly. And now the property owner — or the general contractor — is not paying. Maybe they are disputing the amount. Maybe they are claiming defects that do not exist. Maybe they have simply stopped returning calls.

New Jersey's mechanic's lien law gives you a powerful remedy: the right to place a lien on the property where you worked, securing your claim against the real estate itself. But the law has strict deadlines and procedural requirements. Miss them — and you lose the right entirely.

I have run contracting operations in New Jersey. I know what it feels like to be owed money for work you completed. I also know the law — and I use it aggressively on behalf of contractors and subcontractors who have not been paid.

What Is a Mechanic's Lien?

A mechanic's lien is a security interest in real property that protects contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers who have provided labor or materials but have not been paid. When a lien is filed, it attaches to the property — meaning the property cannot be sold or refinanced without addressing the lien.

This is a powerful tool because it puts pressure on the property owner — who typically has a significant financial interest in being able to sell or refinance the property — to resolve the dispute.

The Critical Deadlines

The 90-Day Deadline

The lien claim must be filed with the county clerk in the county where the property is located within 90 days of the last date you provided labor or materials. The “last date of work” is calculated carefully — it does not include warranty work, punch list items, or return visits to correct defects.

The One-Year Deadline to Enforce

Filing the lien claim is not enough. You must also file a lawsuit to enforce the lien within one year of the date the lien was filed. If you do not file suit within one year, the lien expires.

Who Can File a Mechanic's Lien in New Jersey?

New Jersey's mechanic's lien law covers:

• General contractors who contracted directly with the property owner
• Subcontractors who contracted with the general contractor
• Sub-subcontractors (with some limitations)
• Suppliers of materials incorporated into the project
• Architects, engineers, and surveyors

Important: New Jersey requires home improvement contractors to be registered with the Division of Consumer Affairs. An unregistered contractor may not be able to enforce a mechanic's lien. If you are not registered, call immediately — there may be options.

What Happens After the Lien Is Filed?

After the lien is filed, the property owner has several options: pay the claim, post a bond to discharge the lien, or challenge the lien in court. In most cases, the filing of a lien — and the threat of litigation — is enough to bring the property owner to the negotiating table.

If the property owner does not resolve the claim, I file suit to enforce the lien — seeking judgment for the amount owed, plus interest and attorneys' fees in appropriate cases.

Defending Against Improper Lien Claims

I also represent property owners against improper lien claims — claims that are inflated, filed on improper grounds, or filed by contractors who did not complete the work. New Jersey law provides remedies for property owners who are subjected to improper liens, including the right to seek discharge of the lien and, in some cases, damages.