Sec. 1. 10 MRSA §3253, as amended by PL 1975, c. 91, §1, is further amended to read:

§3253. Dissolution unless claim filed

The lien mentioned in section 3252 shall be is dissolved, unless the claimant, within 90 120 days after he the claimant ceases to labor, furnish materials or perform services, files in the office of the register of deeds in the county or registry district in which such the building, wharf or pier that is the subject of the lien is situated a true statement of the amount due him the claimant, with all just credits given, together with a description of the property intended to be covered by the lien sufficiently accurate to identify it, and the names of the owners, if known; which shall must be subscribed and sworn to by the person claiming the lien, or by someone in his that person's behalf, and recorded in a book kept for that purpose by the register of deeds for said the county or registry district, who is entitled to the same fees therefor as for recording mortgages. This section shall does not apply where when the labor, materials or services are furnished by a contract with the owner of the property affected.

SUMMARY

Current law allows a person who supplies labor or materials for a construction project to file a lien on the property for the amount of the labor or materials supplied. If there is no contract between the person, such as a subcontractor, supplying the labor and materials and the owner of the property, the owner may prevent the filing of a lien by giving notice to the supplier that the owner will not be responsible for payment. If the supplier does not file the lien within 90 days of completion of work, then the lien is dissolved.

This bill extends the period of time from 90 days to 120 days during which a person may file a lien and avoid the dissolution of the lien.