After a Notice of Completion, lien rights apply to which group?

After a Notice of Completion, lien rights apply to which group?

• A. Public employees
• B. Subcontractors and material suppliers
• C. Architects and engineers
• D. Owners only

Answer: (B)

A Notice of Completion changes the window and who can pursue a mechanics lien. After such a notice is recorded, the lien rights that remain available are those of subcontractors and material suppliers who have contributed labor or materials to the project and who have preserved their rights properly (usually by giving the required preliminary notices earlier). They have a limited period—typically 60 days after the Notice of Completion—to file their mechanic’s lien. This focus on those who actually supplied labor or materials reflects the purpose of the lien system: to secure payment for people who contributed to finishing the work. Public employees don’t hold private mechanics lien claims on a private project, nor do owners or architects and engineers ordinarily have lien rights in this context. Owners can’t lien their own property, and architects/engineers are professionals who aren’t generally in the position of filing mechanics liens for construction materials or labor. Therefore, the group that retains lien rights after a Notice of Completion is subcontractors and material suppliers.

A Notice of Completion changes the window and who can pursue a mechanics lien. After such a notice is recorded, the lien rights that remain available are those of subcontractors and material suppliers who have contributed labor or materials to the project and who have preserved their rights properly (usually by giving the required preliminary notices earlier). They have a limited period—typically 60 days after the Notice of Completion—to file their mechanic’s lien. This focus on those who actually supplied labor or materials reflects the purpose of the lien system: to secure payment for people who contributed to finishing the work.

Public employees don’t hold private mechanics lien claims on a private project, nor do owners or architects and engineers ordinarily have lien rights in this context. Owners can’t lien their own property, and architects/engineers are professionals who aren’t generally in the position of filing mechanics liens for construction materials or labor. Therefore, the group that retains lien rights after a Notice of Completion is subcontractors and material suppliers.