A homeowner in Alabama hires a contractor for a $75,000 kitchen renovation. The contractor completes the work but the homeowner refuses to pay, claiming defective work. The contractor wants to file a mechanic's lien. What is the deadline for filing?
Correct Answer
A) 120 days from completion
Alabama law requires mechanic's liens to be filed within 120 days from completion of work or last furnishing of materials.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Alabama law provides a 120-day window from the completion of work (or last furnishing of labor or materials) to file a mechanic's lien. This 120-day period gives contractors a reasonable opportunity to exhaust payment negotiations before resorting to legal remedies, while still protecting property owners from indefinitely clouded titles.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option B: 90 days from completion
90 days is not Alabama's statutory deadline. This timeframe applies in some other states but not in Alabama, where the legislature chose the longer 120-day period.
Option C: 30 days from completion
30 days from completion is far too short for Alabama's mechanic's lien filing deadline. This figure may be confused with Alabama's preliminary notice requirement (30 days from first furnishing), which is a different step in the lien process.
Option D: 60 days from completion
60 days is also incorrect for Alabama. While some states use 60-day lien filing windows, Alabama's statute grants the longer 120-day period.
Memory Technique
120 days = 4 months. Picture four calendar pages turning after project completion — by the time the fourth month ends, the lien must be filed. '4 months after the final hammer swing.'
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