Georgia · Free Business GuideHow Do You File a Mechanic's Lien in Georgia?
Construction · 7 min read · Georgia Law
Reviewed by Yu Huang, attorney licensed in Alabama and Georgia · Last updated
The Short Answer
Georgia's lien process (O.C.G.A. § 44-14-361.1) runs on a strict timeline: the claim of lien generally must be filed within 90 days of last furnishing labor or materials, the owner must be sent a statutory notice, and an action to enforce, plus a Notice of Commencement of Lien Action, generally must follow within 365 days of filing. Miss a step and the lien right is lost.
Filing a Mechanic's Lien in Georgia
Georgia's lien process (O.C.G.A. § 44-14-361.1) runs on a strict timeline: the claim of lien generally must be filed within 90 days of last furnishing labor or materials, the owner must be sent a statutory notice, and an action to enforce, plus a Notice of Commencement of Lien Action, generally must follow within 365 days of filing. Miss a step and the lien right is lost.
Because the clock runs from 'last furnishing,' documenting exactly when work or deliveries stopped is critical, and preliminary notices, notices of commencement, and contractor-licensure status all affect the rights. The lien file should be built while the project is active, not after payment fails.
The Georgia Contract Clock
Actions on simple written contracts in Georgia must be brought within six years of the breach under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-24; oral contracts carry four years (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-25), and contracts under seal can extend to twenty. As in every state, companion claims (fraud, conversion, statutory claims) often carry shorter periods that drive the real deadline.
Where Georgia Disputes Are Fought
We handle Georgia business disputes in the superior and state courts, including the metro Atlanta business bench, and in arbitration seated in Georgia when the contract requires it. Forum-selection, choice-of-law, arbitration, and fee-shifting clauses in your contract can move or reshape the dispute, and reading them early is what keeps a Georgia matter on efficient footing.
A Worked Example Under Georgia Law
A general contractor has not paid you for materials you last delivered to a project two months ago.
In Georgia, the clock runs from last furnishing: file the claim of lien within 90 days, send the statutory notice, and commence an enforcement action (with a Notice of Commencement) within 365 days of filing the lien (O.C.G.A. § 44-14-361.1). At two months out you still have room, but documenting exactly when delivery stopped is critical. Miss a step and the lien is gone.
Illustration only, real disputes turn on their specific facts.
Steps to Protect Your Company
Preserve every document
Gather the signed contract, amendments, purchase orders, invoices, emails, and text messages. The informal record often matters as much as the signature page.
Understand the breach before you act
Acting on a wrong assumption about who breached first can convert you from the injured party into the party in breach. Get advice before withholding performance.
Send a documented demand
A clear, professional demand letter often resolves disputes without litigation, and if it does not, it becomes evidence of your good faith and the other side's refusal to cure.
Mind the Georgia clock
Six years on written contracts (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-24) is the headline number, but companion claims can run shorter, and leverage erodes long before any deadline arrives.
Costly Mistakes to Avoid
Key Georgia Terms Explained
Statute of Limitations
The deadline to sue: in Georgia, generally six years on a written contract (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-24), with shorter periods for many companion claims.
Forum-Selection Clause
A contract term choosing where disputes will be decided. It can move your case to another court, or into arbitration, and is one of the first things to check.
Liquidated Damages
A pre-agreed amount set in the contract as the remedy for a breach, enforceable when it is a reasonable estimate of harm rather than a penalty.
Blue-Pencil Rule
Under Georgia's Restrictive Covenants Act (O.C.G.A. § 13-8-50 et seq.), courts may narrow an overbroad covenant rather than voiding it, a notable contrast with South Carolina.
Georgia Questions, Answered
How long does my company have to act in Georgia?
Actions on simple written contracts in Georgia must be brought within six years of the breach under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-24; oral contracts carry four years (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-25), and contracts under seal can extend to twenty. As in every state, companion claims (fraud, conversion, statutory claims) often carry shorter periods that drive the real deadline.
Where would a Georgia dispute like this be litigated?
We handle Georgia business disputes in the superior and state courts, including the metro Atlanta business bench, and in arbitration seated in Georgia when the contract requires it. Forum-selection and arbitration clauses in the contract can move the matter to a different venue entirely, which is one of the first things we review in any Georgia case.
Do I have to notify the owner before filing?
Often yes, especially for subcontractors and suppliers who did not contract directly with the owner. The required notice is a prerequisite to certain liens, and missing it is a frequent reason claims fail.
Does this guide replace advice about my specific Georgia dispute?
No. This guide is educational and general. The rules described here have exceptions and fact-specific applications, and those can only be assessed against the documents and circumstances of a particular matter. The initial consultation is confidential and without charge.
Can a Hoover, Alabama firm handle my Georgia business dispute?
Yes. Between them, our attorneys are licensed in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina and represent Georgia businesses in person, by telephone, and by video conference. What changes across the state line is the law that applies, and we practice under Georgia's.
Reading for Another State?
The same question, answered under each state's law.
Discuss Your Georgia Matter With Counsel
Licensed in Georgia. Hourly, flat-fee, hybrid, and contingency arrangements on qualifying matters. The initial consultation is confidential and without charge.
This guide is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Georgia law and its application depend on the specific facts of your situation and can change over time. For advice about your matter, speak with an attorney licensed in Georgia.