Georgia Mechanic's Lien Template

Filing Deadline

Claim of lien must be filed within 90 days (statute uses '3 months') of the last date the claimant furnished labor, services, or materials to the project. This is a hard, non-extendable deadline under OCGA 44-14-361.1(a)(2).

Clock starts: Last day the claimant (not the GC, not the entire project) furnished labor, services, or materials on the property. Punch-list, warranty repairs, and gratuitous return trips generally do NOT restart the clock.

Where to Record

Office of the Clerk of Superior Court, Real Estate Division, in the Georgia county where the real property is physically located. (Example: Fulton County — 136 Pryor St SW, Atlanta, GA 30303, Real Estate Division; recording fee approximately $25 for the first page. Most counties accept eRecording through GSCCCA-approved vendors and process within 2-3 business days.)

Notarization

Required — document must be sworn before a notary.

Georgia is a 'recordable instrument' state — the claim of lien must be notarized (acknowledged before a notary public) to be accepted for recording by the Clerk of Superior Court. The lien must also b

Service Requirement

Within 2 BUSINESS DAYS after the claim of lien is filed of record, the claimant MUST send a true and accurate copy of the recorded lien to the property owner by (a) registered mail, (b) certified mail, or (c) statutory overnight delivery (e.g., FedEx, UPS overnight with tracking). If the owner's address cannot be found after reasonable diligence, service on the general contractor as the owner's agent is permitted. Proof of mailing (USPS receipt / overnight tracking number) should be retained — it is a statutory prerequisite to enforcement.