Unpaid on a Billings-area job? LevelSet Collections prepares and files Yellowstone County mechanics liens, Montana’s construction lien, for contractors, subcontractors and suppliers on jobs in Billings, Laurel, Broadview, Huntley and the rest of the county. We have filed more than 1,100 liens since 2020, and one all-inclusive price covers the notice, the lien and service.
Quick answer: A Yellowstone County mechanics lien is a construction lien filed with the Yellowstone County Clerk and Recorder at 316 North 26th Street in Billings, within 90 days of your final furnishing. On homes and smaller jobs, subs and suppliers also need a recorded Notice of Right to Claim a Lien, and every owner of record has to be served before the lien is filed. See the full Montana deadlines and statutes.
Where Yellowstone County liens are recorded
The Yellowstone County Clerk and Recorder, an elected office at 316 North 26th Street, Billings (mail to P.O. Box 35001, Billings, MT 59107), records about 200 documents a day, including deeds, mortgages, liens, subdivision plats and certificates of survey. Both the construction lien and the Notice of Right to Claim a Lien are recorded there.
The Clerk and Recorder has also warned owners about an out-of-state outfit mailing invoices that charge large fees for copies of deeds. Owners who’ve seen those letters tend to read anything about their property carefully, which is one more reason the lien and the certification of service have to be clean.
Searching Yellowstone County records
Yellowstone County’s online document search covers most recorded documents back to April 20, 1998, and subdivision plats and certificates of survey back to 1883. Full use runs on a yearly subscription or per-document purchase, and unrestricted access is limited to IP addresses that pass a legitimacy check.
We use the county records to confirm the owners of record and pull the legal description, then check whether a Notice of Right to Claim a Lien was recorded and is still active, since in Montana the lien can only be filed while that recorded notice is in effect.
Where we file across Yellowstone County
Yellowstone County has three incorporated cities, Billings, Laurel and Broadview, and towns including Huntley, Custer and Hesper. Billings is the county seat, and every lien in the county, city or not, is recorded with the same Clerk and Recorder.
Yellowstone County work runs from Billings commercial, medical and multifamily projects to new subdivisions on the West End and Heights and energy and industrial work around Laurel. On the public side, voters decide on November 3, 2026 whether to fund a $195 million detention facility expansion and renovation on King Avenue East, adding 320 rated beds and 12 medical beds, with construction expected to start in late 2027 if approved. Public projects in Montana run on bonds, not liens.
What sinks liens in Yellowstone County
- A lapsed Notice of Right to Claim a Lien. On residential and smaller non-commercial jobs, the lien can only be filed while the recorded notice is active.
- Recording the notice late. The notice has to be recorded within 5 business days after it’s given.
- Skipping an owner of record. Every owner of record has to be served before filing, with the certification of service filed with the lien.
- Counting 90 days from the wrong date. The 90 days run from final furnishing, or from the owner’s notice of completion.
- Waiting too long to foreclose. Foreclosure has to start within 2 years of filing. See the Montana deadline table.
How LevelSet handles a Yellowstone County lien
- Intake. You send the job address, who hired you, your first and last dates furnishing, the unpaid balance and any Notice of Right to Claim a Lien you sent.
- Statutory form. We confirm the owners of record and legal description from Yellowstone County records and prepare the Montana construction lien.
- Notarization. Matt Rush signs and swears to the lien as agent for the claimant before a notary.
- Recording. We record it with the Yellowstone County Clerk and Recorder in Billings, with the certification of service.
- Service. Every owner of record is served before filing, and the general contractor gets a copy.
Example: a Yellowstone County deadline walk-through
Example: A framing subcontractor first works on a new house in Billings on May 12, so its Notice of Right to Claim a Lien has to reach the owner by June 1 (20 days) and be recorded with the Yellowstone County Clerk and Recorder within 5 business days after that. Its final day is August 29, so the lien has to be served on every owner of record and filed by November 27 (90 days).
Yellowstone County lien deadline passed?
The lien may be gone, but the money is still owed. We go after the contractor or customer on your Yellowstone County job through construction collections on contingency, 10% to 33%, and you pay nothing if we don’t collect.
Other Montana counties we file in
Montana’s Notice of Right to Claim a Lien, filing, service and foreclosure deadlines, with statute citations, are on our Montana construction lien page. We file in all 56 Montana counties.
Pricing
Liens $199 to $500, including recording fees, notarizing and serving. Pre-lien notices $100. Typical turnaround 2 business days. No minimum. Call (469) 694-8003, Monday through Friday, 8am to 7pm.
Frequently asked questions
Where do you file a Yellowstone County mechanics lien?
With the Yellowstone County Clerk and Recorder, 316 North 26th Street, Billings, MT, or by mail to P.O. Box 35001, Billings, MT 59107.
How far back do Yellowstone County online records go?
Most documents go back to April 20, 1998, and subdivision plats and certificates of survey to 1883.
Which cities are in Yellowstone County?
Billings, Laurel and Broadview are the incorporated cities, with towns including Huntley, Custer and Hesper.
What did Yellowstone County warn property owners about?
Out-of-state invoices charging large fees for copies of deeds. Copies are available directly from the Clerk and Recorder.
This page is general information, not legal advice. LevelSet Collections is not a law firm; we prepare and file liens and notices as agent for the claimant. Deadlines change and depend on the facts of your job. We'll check your dates against the statute before filing. Lien laws are constantly changing. Contact us for the most up-to-date information.
Owed money on a Yellowstone County job?
Liens $199 to $500, notice, recording and service included. Recorded in Billings, usually in 2 business days. Call (469) 694-8003.
