Construction Lien Law

The act governs liens asserted against real property to secure payment for labor, services, and materials furnished to improve it, reaching general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and providers of professional design services alike. It defines who qualifies as a lienor — distinguishing those in direct contract with the owner from those who are not — and sets the steps for perfecting a claim, including notices of commencement and termination, demands for contracts and statements of account, prescribed methods of service, and the recording of a claim of lien, while fixing the priority, extent, and duration of the liens that result. It also supplies the machinery for resolving them: payment bonds and their waivers, transfer of a lien to other security, waiver, release, and discharge, enforcement through redemption and sale with personal or deficiency judgments, attorney fees, and remedies where a claim is fraudulent or collusive.

Editorial summary generated from the text of this act. It is not part of the statute — read the sections below for the operative language.