Step 1 — Send the Preliminary Notice (if required)
If you are a subcontractor or supplier on a residential project, you must send and/or record the required Notice of Lien Rights within the 30-day or 60-day window of your first day of work/delivery.
Step 2 — Prepare the Indiana Mechanics Lien Form
Your Indiana Mechanics Lien (Notice of Intention to Hold Lien) requires specific information:
Amount claimed as due and owing.
Name and address of the claimant (you).
Name of the party who hired the claimant.
Name of the property owner/lessee.
Lega property description.
First and last date of work.
The document must be signed and notarized.
A Preparation Statement and an Affirmation Statement must be included.
Step 3 — Record the Indiana Mechanics Lien with the County Recorder
You must file the Notice of Intention to Hold Lien in the office of the County Recorder in the county where the property is located.
Remember the Deadline: 60 days (Residential) or 90 days (Commercial) from the last day of furnishing.
Step 4 — Serve the Recorded Indiana Mechanics Lien
The lien must be served upon the owner within 3 days of recording the lien with the County Recorder. As long as you provide two copies of your lien claim form when filing, the recorder will handle issuing and mailing the Notice of Filing.
Step 5 — Enforce the Indiana Mechanics Lien If You Remain Unpaid
If the owner still does not pay, you must enforce the Indiana Lien by filing a foreclosure lawsuit.
Deadline: within 1 year of recording the lien.
Warning: if owner sends Notice to Commence Suit, then you only have a 30-day window to file suit an enforce your Indiana construction Lien.
Indiana requires attorney representation for foreclosure lawsuits.