Apr 20, 2026
Liens are your leverage.
Karalynn breaks down what a mechanics lien is, how it secures your work, when to file even if payment is “on the way,” why liens do not stop a project, and what it means when someone bonds around your lien so you actually collect.
Learn more about The Cromeens Law Firm here!
Grab Karalynn's new book Trust Your Gut here.
Follow Karalynn Cromeens on Facebook here.
Follow Karalynn Cromeens on Instagram here.
Follow Karalynn Cromeens on LinkedIn here.
Watch the show on YouTube here.
Key Takeaways
1. A mechanics lien is a security interest in the property for the value of labor and materials you actually provided, not for loans or amounts beyond the work you performed.
2. Liens convert an unsecured debt into secured debt, giving you a direct claim against the property in addition to any breach of contract claim you have against the party who hired you.
3. Because a lien is an involuntary interest in someone else’s property, every state has strict notice, content, filing, and deadline requirements you must follow to keep it valid.
4. You should still send notices and file your lien on time even if you have been promised payment, because promises do not extend statutory deadlines and once you miss them you lose that security.
5. Bonding around a lien does not erase your claim; it moves your recovery to the bond, and you must timely sue on that bond or your rights expire and the bond is released.
Timestamped Overview
00:00 Show intro and mission for contractors
00:17 Episode setup and topics on liens
00:40 Who can file a mechanics lien
01:10 Secured versus unsecured debt explained
01:45 How a lien functions like a mortgage
02:20 Parallel claims against the owner and contractor
02:38 Why liens are a powerful but strict remedy
03:15 Historical background and policy behind lien rights
03:55 State by state notice and filing requirements
04:40 What usually happens after a lien is filed
05:10 Lien expiration periods and enforcement lawsuits
06:00 When it makes sense to sue and when to wait
06:40 Industry statistics on late payment and lien usage
07:24 Why to file even when payment is promised
08:05 How early notices and liens protect the owner and you
08:45 Why liens do not stop active construction work
09:20 How liens affect refinancing and permanent financing
09:48 What it means when someone bonds around your lien
10:35 How to get paid from a lien bond through litigation
11:30 Deadlines that still apply after bonding
11:55 Newsletter invitation and free legal education CTA
12:10 Standard legal disclaimer and firm contact info