In Illinois, a mechanic's lien must be filed within how many months after the last date of work?
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2 months
A 2-month filing period is not the Illinois standard; this shorter timeframe may be confused with notice requirements in other states or with other types of liens, but it does not apply to Illinois mechanic's liens under 770 ILCS 60.
4 months
6 months
6 months is a common distractor because it is the deadline used in many other states for mechanic's lien filings, but Illinois specifically requires filing within 4 months, making 6 months incorrect for this state.
12 months
12 months is the deadline to enforce (foreclose) a mechanic's lien through a lawsuit in Illinois, not the deadline to file or record the lien itself — these are two distinct deadlines that test-takers frequently confuse.
Why is this correct?
Under 770 ILCS 60/7, a contractor or subcontractor in Illinois must record their mechanic's lien claim with the county recorder within 4 months after the last date on which labor was performed or materials were furnished. This 4-month window is a hard deadline, and failure to file within this period permanently bars the lien claim. The statute is designed to give lien claimants a reasonable but time-limited window to assert their rights without clouding title indefinitely.
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