A mechanics lien is used in commercial construction when the owner of a real estate property does not pay a service provider that assisted in the construction and/or remodeling of the property. If a particular debt is not paid, the service provider can place a lien on the property. Then, if the property owner does not pay the debt, the property will eventually be sold in order to pay off the debt.
At the Lang Law Office, we represent both lien holders and property owners in mechanic’s lien-related disputes. In some cases, the holder of the mechanic’s lien will have a viable claim and every right to collect the unpaid balance. However, this does not mean that the lien holder has the right to collect the full amount of the lien. This is where strategic negotiations and settlement talks can arrive at a suitable settlement figure that both sides can agree to.
In other cases, the lien holder may not have a viable claim. For example, perhaps the lien holder never completed the services in accordance with the contractual obligations. In this kind of case, the lien holder may not actually have a viable claim on the value of the property, and the property owner might successfully defend him or herself against the lien.
Whether you are a construction service provider or property owner, you may want to contract the services of a professional real estate attorney to assist you in navigating your mechanic’s lien matter. At the Lang Law Office, we are available to assist you in this regard.