How to file a lien in California | Step 1: Preparing the lien form

The first step you need to take if you’re filing a California Mechanics Lien is to prepare a California Mechanics Lien form. The Mechanics Lien is simply a piece of paper containing certain information that is filed with a government office. Preparing the lien form might sound simple, but there are many traps for those who are new to filing a Mechanics Lien in California. It’s always important that you get the right California Mechanics Lien form, that it’s formatted correctly, and that it contains the right information. One common Mechanics Lien mistake is to start with the wrong form! Make sure you get your form from a reputable source.

00:00 - Intro
00:33 - Preparing a Mechanics Lien
01:19 - What to include
05:19 - Verification vs Notarization

#MechanicsLien #California #Construction

Once you have the right California Mechanics Lien form, let’s talk about the lien content. California has specific requirements of what must be included in the claim. Failure to include a required piece of information can result in an invalid lien. Generally, you should make sure to include:
1. Correct lien amount;
2. Name of property owner;
3. Description of the labor or materials provided;
4. Name of customer;
5. Property description;
6. Your information;
7. And the required statutory language.
Finally, you must sign your mechanics lien claim, and “verify” it by signing it under a “verification statement,” which is a statement whereby you verify the facts alleged to be true.

Once you’re done with these substeps, you’ll have a California Mechanics Lien form ready to go. Watch the next video (youtu.be/ZQnGSkAZxO4) to learn about how to serve and record your California Mechanics Lien.

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