Kentucky Mechanic's Lien Template

Filing Deadline

Lien statement must be filed within 6 months after the last day labor was performed or materials were furnished to the project (KRS 376.080). Hard deadline — no grace period, no equitable tolling. Suit to enforce the lien must be filed within 12 months of recording or the lien expires by operation of law.

Clock starts: Last date claimant furnished labor or materials to the project (NOT date of invoice, NOT date of substantial completion of the whole project — claimant's own last-furnishing date).

Where to Record

County Clerk's office in the county where the property/improvement is located. For Jefferson County (Louisville — largest county): Jefferson County Clerk, 527 W. Jefferson Street, Suite 204, Louisville, KY 40202. Filing fee approximately $46.00 for first 5 pages, $3.00 per additional page (verify current fee at time of filing). NOT the circuit court — county clerk only.

Notarization

Required — document must be sworn before a notary.

KRS 376.080 requires the lien statement to be subscribed and sworn to before a notary public or other officer authorized to administer oaths. A jurat (not just an acknowledgment) is required because t

Service Requirement

Within 7 days of filing the lien with the county clerk, claimant MUST mail a copy of the recorded lien statement to the property owner at the owner's last known address by regular U.S. mail (KRS 376.080(1)). Certified mail with return receipt is strongly recommended for proof. Failure to mail within 7 days DISSOLVES the lien — this is a strict statutory requirement, not a technicality. No personal service required.