Legal Question in Construction Law in Missouri

Re: Mechanics lien

Because there are exceedingly technical statutory requirements for mechanic's liens and because such liens are strictly enforced by the courts, it is not surprising that many liens filed without the consultation of an attorney are ultimately found by a court to be invalid.

Missouri has very strict requirements for the types of notices that must be given to prior to a lien being filed. For example, some notices must be given to the owner of the property prior to work actually commencing. In addition, the type of notice required varies depending on whether you are a subcontractor or original contractor and the type of construction work, among other things.

If you are unsure if you are in compliance with Missouri statutes, I highly recommend that you hire an attorney to assist you with the process, at least for the first few mechanic's liens you file. The money you spend on an attorney is minimal compared to the money you'll lose if you don't strictly comply with Missouri law when attempting to file your lien. Best of luck.