Notice of intent to file a mechanics lien
By Justin Winter · Updated August 22, 2026
The short answer
Before you record a lien, you need to show the owner received formal notice. Send it Certified with electronic Return Receipt, $14.99 all-in: USPS records when it was mailed and when it was signed for. Preview the exact pages free. Lien rules vary by state; this template is not legal advice.
The math
The math on one certified letter.
| Option | Cost | Your time |
|---|---|---|
| paperplane, Certified + Return Receipt | $14.99, all in | About two minutes |
| At the counter | USPS fees, plus printing, an envelope and the trip | About ten minutes at the counter, plus the drive and the line |
USPS charges the same fees whoever hands the letter over. The difference is the trip, the form and the slip you keep for a year.
How it works
- Open the template and fill in the bracketed fields with your specific details.
- Confirm the recipient's address.
- Pay $14.99 — we print the next business day and email you the tracking number.
- Your document file is permanently deleted 30 days after delivery.
This is a template, not legal advice — requirements and available remedies vary by state and by your specific situation, so confirm the details that matter for your case before sending.
Questions before you send
Why not go to the post office myself?
You can, and if your time is free it costs less. USPS charges the same fees whoever hands the letter over; paperplane does not replace the post office, it replaces the trip. The mailing record comes from USPS, not from us. $12.99 covers the printing, the envelope, PS Form 3800, a USPS address check before you pay and a handoff the next business day. For a letter you already know how to send, the counter is a fine choice.
What if they refuse the letter?
USPS tracking records what happened to it, including refused or unclaimed. You still have the mailing record. Rules on what that means vary, so check with your court or an attorney if a deadline depends on it.
If something goes wrong, do I pay?
If we cannot mail the letter, the hold on your card is released and you are not charged. If a letter fails after your card is charged, you are refunded automatically and in full.
Why send this by certified mail instead of just filing the lien?
Many states require a contractor to give the property owner written pre-lien notice, and some require proof it was actually received, before a lien is valid or before certain remedies (like attorney's fees) are available. A signed delivery record protects you if the filing or a later lawsuit is challenged.
How is this different from a subcontractor lien notice?
This letter is for a contractor who worked directly for the property owner. A subcontractor or supplier who worked for the general contractor, not the owner directly, typically needs a different notice (a preliminary notice or notice to owner) — see our subcontractor lien notice template instead.
Is this legal advice?
No — it is a template, not legal advice. Mechanics lien rights are entirely creatures of state law: notice deadlines, required content, who must be notified, and filing deadlines vary widely by state and even by project type (residential vs. commercial). Confirm your state's specific requirements, ideally with a construction attorney, before relying on this notice or filing a lien.
What if I'm not paid after sending this notice?
If the deadline in your letter passes without payment, your next steps are typically recording the lien with the county recorder where the property sits and, if it still goes unpaid, filing a lawsuit to foreclose on the lien within your state's deadline — act promptly, as lien and foreclosure deadlines are usually strict and unforgiving.