What is the deadline to file a mechanic’s lien in Missouri?

In Missouri, an original contractor must file a just and true account of the lien with the clerk of the circuit court of the county within six months after the indebtedness accrued. Before receiving any payment, an original contractor must give the person it contracted with a written Notice to Owner in ten-point bold type (at signing, on delivery of materials, when work starts, or with the first invoice); giving it is a condition precedent to the contractor’s lien. That notice is not required for a new residence whose buyer has mechanics’ and suppliers’ lien protection through a title insurance company registered in Missouri. An action to enforce the lien must be commenced within six months after the lien is filed. A subcontractor or supplier often has different notice requirements and deadlines. This is Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 429.080, 429.012, 429.170.

WhatMissouri
Deadline to file the lien6 months after the debt accrues
Who this deadline is forA contractor hired directly by the owner

Source

Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 429.080, 429.012, 429.170

Read the statute in the Missouri Revised Statutes (Missouri Revisor of Statutes): revisor.mo.gov.

Checked against the statute on November 13, 2026.

This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.

How Seayora uses this rule

A contractor on Seayora keeps every job’s dates, its estimate, its invoices and its payments in one record, so the date work was last performed and the amount still owed are on file when a lien deadline is counted.

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