CSLB Law & Business ExamInsurance and LiensMedium
A framing subcontractor completed work on a private job where no Notice of Completion or Cessation was recorded. Within how many days after completion of the entire work of improvement must the subcontractor record a mechanics lien to preserve its rights?
- A120 days
- B90 days
- C60 days
- D30 days
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. 90 days
If no Notice of Completion or Notice of Cessation is recorded, any claimant (subcontractor or direct contractor) has 90 days after completion of the overall work of improvement to record a mechanics lien. If a Notice of Completion is timely recorded, the deadline shortens to 60 days for the direct contractor and 30 days for all others.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. 120 days is not a recognized statutory deadline for lien recording.
- C. 60 days applies to the direct contractor only when a Notice of Completion has been recorded.
- D. 30 days applies only to subcontractors when a Notice of Completion has been recorded.
Mechanics Lien Recording Deadline
The deadline to record a mechanics lien depends on whether a Notice of Completion/Cessation was recorded: 90 days after completion if none was recorded, or 60/30 days (direct contractor/others) if one was recorded.
- No NOC recorded: 90 days for everyone after completion
- NOC recorded: 60 days for direct contractor, 30 days for others
- Missing the deadline forfeits lien rights on that project
Memory trick: No notice, 90 days nice; notice filed, 60/30 styled.