Nebraska Construction Lien FAQ

In Nebraska, a mechanics lien must be recorded within 120 days of the claimant’s last date of furnishing labor, materials, equipment, or services to the project. This deadline is strictly enforced under Nebraska lien law. Missing the 120-day deadline permanently eliminates lien rights, regardless of whether payment is still owed.

The Nebraska residential notice requirement applies to:

• Subcontractors

• Sub-subcontractors

• Material suppliers

any any party that does not have a direct contract with the property owner, and the project involves residential real property containing one to four dwelling units.

General contractors who contract directly with the owner do not need to send this notice.

Mechanics lien rights in Nebraska are available to parties who improve private real property, including:

• General contractors

• Subcontractors

• Material suppliers

• Laborers

• Certain design professionals when services relate to property improvement

Mechanics liens do not apply to public projects, which are protected through bond claims instead.

If you miss the 120-day Nebraska mechancis lien filing deadline, you lose the right to file a mechanics lien in Nebraska. 

A Nebraska mechanics lien must be recorded with the Register of Deeds in the county where the property is located. Filing in the wrong county renders the lien invalid. You can file your Nebraska construction lien via:

• In person

• via mail

• electronically

Recording the Nebraska mechanics lien alone does not secure payment. To enforce a Nebraska mechanics lien, the claimant must file a foreclosure lawsuit within two (2) years of recording the lien. If no lawsuit is filed within this period, the lien automatically expires by operation of law and is unenforceable against the property.

A valid Nebraska mechanics lien must include:

• Claimant’s legal name and address

• Property owner’s name

• Name of the party who hired the claimant

• Legal description of the property

• Description of labor or materials furnished

• Amount claimed as unpaid

• Dates of first and last furnishing

• Verification or sworn statement

No. Nebraska law does not impose a statutory minimum or maximum lien amount. However, the lien must reflect the actual unpaid balance for lienable work. Inflated, unsupported, or speculative amounts can expose the claimant to lien invalidation and potential liability.

Yes. Nebraska law allows multiple contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers to file separate mechanics liens against the same property, provided each claimant independently satisfies the statutory requirements. Each lien secures only the amount owed to that specific claimant.

If the customer pays you the full amount owed after you have recorded a lien, you have a legal obligation to formally clear the lien from the property records.

You must prepare and file a Nebraska Discharge of Lien (or Release of Lien) with the same office where the original lien was recorded.