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MA  ·  Mechanic's Lien Guide

Massachusetts Mechanic's Lien Warning Requirements for Contractors

Know your deadlines before you lose your rights. Massachusetts lien law in plain English — no legalese, no fluff.

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Disclaimer: This is general information, not legal advice. Verify current deadlines with your state's contractor board or a construction attorney before relying on any figure here.
Key Deadlines

Massachusetts Lien Law at a Glance

📅
Lien Filing Deadline
90 days from project termination, substantial completion, or last furnishing of labor/materials
from project termination, completion, or last furnishing
⚠️
Preliminary Notice
Required
Filing a Notice of Contract (for prime) or a Statement of Account (for subs) at project start
📋
Notice to Owner
Required
Subcontractors must file a Notice of Identification with the Registry of Deeds and serve it on the prime contractor and owner.
👷
Who Can File
Contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers, laborers, architects, engineers
⚠️ Preliminary Notice Required

Massachusetts's Preliminary Notice Requirement

Massachusetts requires subcontractors to file a "Notice of Identification" with the Registry of Deeds within a set period of their first work. Prime contractors must record a Notice of Contract. Strict procedural requirements apply.

Deadline: Filing a Notice of Contract (for prime) or a Statement of Account (for subs) at project start
Commercial vs Residential

Does the Property Type Change Your Deadline?

Massachusetts has complex procedural requirements that apply to both. Residential property has some homestead protections. Strong procedural compliance is required.

Common Mistakes

What Contractors Get Wrong in Massachusetts

1
Failing to file the Notice of Identification (for subs) or Notice of Contract (for primes) at project start
2
Missing the 90-day lien filing deadline after termination/completion
3
Not following Massachusetts' strict procedural requirements — errors invalidate the lien

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FAQ

Massachusetts Lien Law Questions

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This is general information, not legal advice. Verify current deadlines with your state's contractor board or a construction attorney. JobPapers sells document organization tools — we are not attorneys and do not provide legal services.