Mechanic’s Lien Release Form

A mechanic’s lien release is a legal document used to remove an existing lien from a commercial or residential property. Like a mechanic’s lien, the release form is filed with the public land records office in the county where the property is located. Lienholders typically have between 10 and 30 days to file the release following repayment by the property owner.

Mechanic’s Lien Release Form

A mechanic’s lien release is a legal document used to remove an existing lien from a commercial or residential property. Like a mechanic’s lien, the release form is filed with the public land records office in the county where the property is located. Lienholders typically have between 10 and 30 days to file the release following repayment by the property owner.

Last updated April 29th, 2024

A mechanic’s lien release is a legal document used to remove an existing lien from a commercial or residential property. Like a mechanic’s lien, the release form is filed with the public land records office in the county where the property is located. Lienholders typically have between 10 and 30 days to file the release following repayment by the property owner.

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Instrument Prepared By: ______________
And Recording Requested By: ______________

__________________________________________
Space above this line for recorder’s use only

MECHANIC’S LIEN RELEASE

STATE OF [STATE NAME]
COUNTY OF [COUNTY NAME]

Lien to be Released
Recorded on: [MM/DD/YYYY]
Recorded in [COUNTY NAME] County, State of [STATE NAME]
Book [BOOK #] Page: [PAGE #]
Other information: [ADD ANY OTHER INFORMATION HERE]

Property (with Lien)
Address: [PROPERTY ADDRESS]
Property Description: [LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY]

Claimant
Name: [CLAIMANT NAME]
Address: [CLAIMANT ADDRESS]

Owner
Name: [OWNER NAME]
Address: [OWNER ADDRESS]

KNOW ALL PERSONS that the Claimant, being the owner of the Lien, does hereby release, discharge, and/or acknowledge satisfaction of said Lien. The aforesaid notice and claim of Mechanic’s Lien is released, discharged and/or satisfied for the following reason (check one):

– Payment has been received IN FULL for the lien.
– The Claimant did not enforce the lien within the time required by law and seeks to release the lien.
– Other reason: [OTHER REASON (OPTIONAL)]

Claimant Signature: __________________________ Date: [MM/DD/YYYY]
Claimant Printed Name: [CLAIMANT PRINTED NAME]

NOTARY ACKNOWLEDGMENT

State of [STATE]
County of [COUNTY]

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this [MM/DD/YYYY], by the undersigned, [CLAIMANT NAME], who is personally known to me or satisfactorily proven to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the within instrument.

_________________________________
Notary Public
My Commission Expires: [NOTARY EXPIRATION]


How to Release a Mechanic’s Lien (3 steps)

Step 1 – Negotiate with the Property Owner

More often than not, the property owner will reach out to the worker (claimant) to resolve the lien. Depending on the value of the lien, the owner may attempt to pay a lower amount than owed. While accepting the owner’s offer can resolve the situation faster, it is ultimately up to the claimant to decide if the lower amount is acceptable.

Step 2 – Receive Payment

The claimant should require the owner to pay them before releasing the lien. This is very important, as there is far less incentive for the property owner to pay if the lien is already released. Additionally, once payment is received, the claimant has no reason not to release the lien.

Step 3 – Complete & Record the Release

Once the claimant has been paid for the total value of the lien (or a lesser, agreed-upon amount), they will need to complete the lien release. If the claimant had to notarize the mechanic’s lien when they initially filed it, they will most likely need to notarize the release form as well.

The completed release form must be recorded at the public land records office (e.g., recorder of deeds) to finish the lien release process. A copy should then be sent to the owner via certified mail to inform them that the lien is officially released.

Lien Release Deadlines: By State

View Deadlines

STATE RELEASE DEADLINE STATUTE
Alabama 30 days after receiving written demand § 35-11-231(b)
Alaska None N/A
Arizona 20 days after receiving payment § 33-1006(A)
Arkansas 10 days after receiving payment § 18-44-131(b)
California None N/A
Colorado 10 days after receiving written demand § 38-22-118
Connecticut None N/A
Delaware None N/A
Florida None N/A
Georgia None N/A
Hawaii None N/A
Idaho None N/A
Illinois 10 days after receiving written demand 770 ILCS 60/35(a)
Indiana None N/A
Iowa 30 days after receiving written demand § 572.23(1)
Kansas None N/A
Kentucky 30 days after receiving payment § 382.365(1)
Louisiana 10 days after receiving written demand § 4833(3)
Maine 60 days after receiving payment § 4013(1)
Maryland None N/A
Massachusetts None N/A
Michigan None N/A
Minnesota None N/A
Mississippi 15 days after receiving written demand § 85-7-421(3)
Missouri 10 days after receiving written demand § 429.130
Montana 30 days after receiving payment §§ 71-3-537, 71-3-131
Nebraska None N/A
Nevada 10 days after receiving payment § 108.2437(1)
New Hampshire None N/A
New Jersey 30 days of payment OR within 7 days of demand § 2A:44A-30(a)
New Mexico None N/A
New York None N/A
North Carolina None N/A
North Dakota None N/A
Ohio 30 days after receiving payment § 1311.20
Oklahoma Immediately after receiving payment 42 § 102
Oregon 10 days after receiving written demand § 87.076(4)(a)
Pennsylvania None N/A
Rhode Island None N/A
South Carolina Immediately after receiving payment § 29-5-430
South Dakota 10 days after receiving written demand § 44-9-22
Tennessee 30 days after receiving written demand § 66-11-135(a)
Texas 10 days after receiving written demand § 53.152(a)
Utah 10 days after request § 38-1a-803(2)
Vermont None N/A
Virginia None N/A
Washington Immediately upon receiving payment and demand § 60.04.071
West Virginia Immediately upon receiving demand § 38-2-36(a)
Wisconsin Upon receiving payment and demand § 779.13(1)
Wyoming 30 days after receiving payment § 29-1-313(a)

How to Write

View Instructions

Step 1 – State & County

1. Enter the name of the state where the lien was originally recorded.
2. Enter the name of the county where the lien was originally recorded.

Step 2 – Lien to be Released

3. Type the date (mm/dd/yyyy) on which the original lien was recorded.
4. Enter the name of the county where the lien was recorded (same as field #2).
5. Enter the name of the state in which the lien was recorded (same as field #1).
6. Provide the book number where the lien recording can be found.
7. Enter the page number where the lien was recorded in the record book.
8. Enter any other information regarding the lien here (optional).

Step 3 – Property (with Lien)

9. Provide the full address of the property where the work was completed (the property with the lien to be released).
10. Write the full description of the property. This can be found on the property’s deed and other recorded documents.

Step 4 – Claimant

11. Enter the full name of the claimant, the person who completed the work.
12. Enter the claimant’s full mailing address, including the street name and number, state, and ZIP code.

Step 5 – Owner

13. Type the full name of the owner of the property that has the lien.
14. Type the owner’s complete mailing address (if the owner lives on the property with the lien, this address will be the same as that entered into field 9).

Step 6 – Reason for Release

15. Check the box corresponding to the reason the claimant is releasing the lien. If the “Other reason” box is checked, describe why the claimant is releasing the lien.

Step 7 – Claimant Signature

16. The claimant must sign their name on this blue line. If the claimant intends on having the form notarized (required in some states; highly recommended for all states), they will need to wait to sign until they are in the presence of a notary public.
17. Provide the date (mm/dd/yyyy) the claimant signed the form.
18. Enter the claimant’s full name here.

Step 8 – Notarization

19 – 24. These fields are for notary public completion ONLY.