How to Fight a Mechanics Lien in Illinois
Owning property can be expensive, it can be time-consuming, and it can be confusing. If your property has a mechanics lien recorded against it, it can be even harder to sell that property, to refinance it or take a construction or home equity loan to make any improvements to it. Knowing what a mechanics lien is and how to fight it can make such a huge difference. If you are dealing with a lien, Grzymala Law Offices, P.C. can help.
What is a Mechanics Lien?
Despite the name, a mechanic’s lien is not something that involves a mechanic in any way, shape, or form. Instead, a mechanics lien is a legal document that is also referred to as a construction lien or a property lien depending on where you live.
Laws Governing Mechanics Liens in IL
This sort of lien is going to help protect the right of a builder or a worker to seek money in cases of non-payment if they did work for someone. A good example might be a hired contractor to do an upgrade on a bathroom for instance. After completing the work the homeowner refuses to pay the bill, the contractor can put a mechanic’s lien on the property and move forward with legal action to get compensated for the work that they did.
These laws are essential to help protect the contractor or the worker and to ensure that the worker can get their bill paid so long as they have done the work and it is up to par.
How to Fight or Challenge A Mechanics Lien
If you are a worker or a contractor and you feel that you have the right to file a claim under the Illinois Mechanics Lien Act, the first thing you need to do is contact an Illinois mechanics lien lawyer. They are going to be able to help you first and foremost learn how to file a mechanic’s lien in Illinois, and they are also going to be able to help you through the process.
So, how to fight a mechanics lien? After contacting a Chicago mechanics lien attorney, you are going to need to start collecting your evidence. Your mechanics lien attorney is going to be able to give you a clear and defined list of what documents you need.
You will need photographic evidence of the work that you did, proof of completion within the constraints that you agreed to, and that it is also up to par in terms of quality, and you are also going to need to provide original agreement contracts.
It is always best to only do work for anyone, even friends and family if you have a signed contract in place and agreed upon. That contract is going to give your mechanics lien attorney the leverage that they need to create a case that is going to get you a settlement.
You may also need to have any text messages or correspondence that took place between you and the customer to prove that it was not paid, to prove that there was some disagreement, and prove that you attempted to collect civilly after completing the work.
Hire a Mechanic Lien Attorney
A great lawyer like the team at Grzymala Law Offices can help you learn how to file a mechanics lien in Illinois and can help you establish a case that is more likely going to get you results you want. You deserve compensation, and we can help you get the money you worked so hard for.
You have done the work and deserve to get paid for your efforts. If you are struggling with a client that does not want to pay, contact us today to start the mechanics lien process and to get your case heard.