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Mechanics Lien Deadlines in Maine

In Maine, a claimant who did not contract with the owner must record a lien statement within 90 days after last furnishing labor or materials, there is no preliminary notice requirement in the lien chapter, and the lien must be enforced by a court action filed within 120 days after last furnishing.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Maine at a glance

Deadline to record lien
90 days after last work (no owner contract)
The recording requirement does not apply when the work was done under a contract with the owner; that claimant relies on the 120-day suit.
Preliminary notice required
No
No notice is required to claim the lien. A claimant without an owner contract may send the owner an optional written notice, which limits the owner's defense of having already paid the contractor.
Deadline to enforce lien
120 days after last work
The action is filed in Superior Court or District Court in the county where the property is located.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Maine

How long does a contractor have to file a mechanics lien in Maine?

Deadline to record lien in Maine: 90 days after last work (no owner contract). The recording requirement does not apply when the work was done under a contract with the owner; that claimant relies on the 120-day suit.

Is a preliminary notice required before filing a mechanics lien in Maine?

No. Preliminary notice required in Maine: no. No notice is required to claim the lien. A claimant without an owner contract may send the owner an optional written notice, which limits the owner's defense of having already paid the contractor.

How long do you have to foreclose a mechanics lien in Maine?

Deadline to enforce lien in Maine: 120 days after last work. The action is filed in Superior Court or District Court in the county where the property is located.

Where do the Maine mechanics lien deadlines come from?

The rules above come from 10 M.R.S. 3253, 10 M.R.S. 3251 and 10 M.R.S. 3255. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

What this means in practice

Deadlines often differ by role. The period for a general contractor who dealt directly with the owner can be different from the period for a subcontractor or supplier, and residential projects can have their own rules. Check which category fits before relying on a single number.

The event that starts the clock matters as much as the length of the period. Depending on the statute, it can be the last day labor or materials were furnished, completion of the project, or the recording of a notice of completion or commencement by the owner. Keeping dated records of the last work performed helps establish the start date.

Recording a lien is not the end of the process. If the debt is not paid, the claimant generally has to file a lawsuit to foreclose the lien within the enforcement period, or the lien expires. When the debt is paid, the owner will usually want a signed lien release recorded so the title is clear.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.