Illinois Mechanic's Lien Template

Filing Deadline

Record the lien claim within 4 months of the claimant's last date of furnishing labor or materials to be enforceable against third-party purchasers, lenders, and other encumbrancers (770 ILCS 60/7). Recording within 2 years of last furnishing is sufficient only as against the original owner. Foreclosure suit must be filed within 2 years of last furnishing (770 ILCS 60/9). Deadlines are strictly enforced — no equitable tolling.

Clock starts: Claimant's last day of actually furnishing labor or materials to the project (NOT contract date, NOT date of last invoice, NOT substantial completion).

Where to Record

County Recorder of Deeds in the county where the real property is physically located. In Cook County (the largest county), recording is handled by the Cook County Clerk's Office (which absorbed the Recorder of Deeds office in December 2020) — file at the Clerk's Recordings Division, 118 N. Clark St., Chicago. Most Illinois counties accept e-filing through Simplifile or CSC. Cook County e-recording is available.

Notarization

Required — document must be sworn before a notary.

Mandatory. The lien claim must be verified (sworn to under oath) and notarized with the notary's seal/stamp before recording. An unverified or unnotarized claim is invalid. The generator must produce

Service Requirement

After recording, the claimant must serve a copy of the recorded lien on the owner. For general contractors on owner-occupied single-family residential property, written notice to the owner is required within 10 days of recording (failure can extinguish the lien to the extent of owner damages). For subs/suppliers, serving the recorded lien on the owner within 10 days is best practice and required on residential. Service via personal delivery or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the owner's last known address. Lender should also be served if known.