File a California mechanics lien without a law firm
Verified e-signature, county recording, and owner service — handled for a flat $199, or $0 with Unlimited. County fees at cost.
When a lien is the right move
A mechanics lien is the last rung of California's payment ladder. Notice Harbor covers every rung, so you can escalate only as far as you need to.
- 1
Preliminary notice
Served near the start of the job, it preserves your lien rights. If you're a sub or supplier, this usually has to come first.
- 2
Intent to lien letter
A formal demand that warns a lien is next. It resolves many disputes on its own — and costs far less than escalating.
- 3
Mechanics lien
A claim recorded against the property's title. It follows the property, not the person — the strongest leverage short of a lawsuit.
Mind the recording window
With no Notice of Completion on record, you have 90 days from completion of the project to record. If the owner records a Notice of Completion, the window collapses — 60 days for the direct contractor, 30 days for subcontractors and suppliers. Miss it and the lien right is gone.
Check your deadline with the free calculator →From unpaid invoice to recorded lien
You fill out one form and sign. We take it from there.
- 1
Tell us about the job
The property, the amount unpaid, and who hired you — a guided 4-step form built around Cal. Civ. Code §§ 8410–8424.
- 2
E-sign the verified claim
You sign the claim under penalty of perjury electronically. California does not require a notary for mechanics liens.
- 3
We serve, then record
The owner is served by Certified Mail first, then the claim goes to the county recorder with proof of service attached.
- 4
Recorded lien in your dashboard
Instrument number, recording date, tracking, and proof of service — everything you'd need to enforce or release.
Pricing
Unlimited filings for a flat fee, or pay as you go.
Unlimited
Billed annually
Unlimited preliminary notices and mechanics liens — plus deadline tracking with notice of completion monitoring.
Pay-As-You-Go
- Preliminary notice$49
- Lien recording$199
- Lien release$99
- Lien waiverFree
No subscription required.
What California contractors say
Filing prelims used to kill half my day. This system pulls the data automatically and I get my prelims done in under five minutes now.
CMCarlos M.Roofing contractor · Oakland, CAI don't have an admin team. This handles the compliance paperwork so I can stay on the job site. Worth every penny.
DWDavid W.HVAC contractor · San Diego, CAThe support team is phenomenal. When I had a question on a complex project, a real person walked me through it in minutes. They actually understand the trades.
RHRobert H.Plumbing contractor · Anaheim, CASent an intent to lien letter from my truck on Thursday and had a check by Tuesday. We didn't even need to record the actual lien.
JTJim T.Landscaping · Santa Rosa, CAJuggling 5 active jobs used to mean drowning in paperwork. Notice Harbor lets us track and process our notices in one dashboard.
JLJessica L.Electrical contractor · San Francisco, CADeadline tracking is a lifesaver. The platform alerted me when a Notice of Completion was recorded so I didn't miss my lien window.
SKSarah K.Commercial painting · Stockton, CA
Frequently asked questions
Related guides
Record your lien before the window closes
We prepare, serve, and record your California mechanics lien — flat $199, or $0 with Unlimited.
Start My LienThis page is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney–client relationship. California lien and notice deadlines are strict and fact-specific — “completion” alone can be triggered by actual completion, the owner’s occupancy or use, or a 60-day cessation of labor. Notice Harbor is not a law firm. Confirm any deadline that matters to your claim with a licensed California construction attorney.