This Vermont lien deadline calculator is for contractors who worked for the owner, subcontractors and suppliers. Enter your role and the date payment came due for your last labor or materials, and it shows each deadline under 9 V.S.A. chapter 51 with the statute section next to it.
Vermont counts from the payment due date, not your last day of work: the lien memorandum has to be recorded with the town clerk within 180 days after payment came due. If you already recorded, add that date and the calculator shows the deadline to file suit and get a court-approved writ of attachment served and recorded, which is the step that keeps a Vermont lien alive.
It takes about 20 seconds, and it's free. When you're ready, LevelSet Collections prepares and records your lien memorandum with the right town or city clerk, in every Vermont town and city, and tells you exactly when the suit and attachment are due. Liens are $199 to $500 all-inclusive.
Usually the due date on your last invoice. If you're unsure, text us.
Leave blank if you haven't recorded yet. With it, we show the suit deadline too.
Public project? You can't lien public property, but you can still get paid. Ask us how. We get contractors, subs and suppliers paid on public work across the country through Freedom of Information Act and state public-records requests for the contract and payment bond, and Miller Act and state Little Miller Act bond claims. Call or text (469) 694-8003.
What sinks Vermont liens
- Counting 180 days from the last day of work instead of the date payment came due.
- Recording with a county office instead of the town or city clerk.
- A sub never sending the owner notice, or sending it after the owner paid the contractor in full.
- Filing suit within 180 days but not getting the attachment.
- Missing the five-month deadline to record the judgment.
- Recording in the Town of Essex for a property inside the City of Essex Junction, or the reverse.
Every deadline above comes from 9 V.S.A. chapter 51. For the full rules, read the Vermont mechanics lien filing guide →
- Vermont mechanics lien filing
- Lien deadlines by state
- Mechanics lien filing in all 18 states
- Construction collections if your lien window has closed
Pricing and turnaround
Liens are $199 to $500, and that includes recording fees, notarizing and serving. Pre-lien notices are $100. Notices of intent are $100. Typical turnaround is 2 business days, and there's no minimum claim amount. We file in every Vermont town and city. Collections run on contingency, 10% to 33%, with no charge if we don't collect. Call (469) 694-8003, Monday through Friday, 8am to 7pm.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to file a lien in Vermont?
180 days after payment became due for your last labor or materials, not 180 days after your last day of work. The lien memorandum is recorded with the town clerk where the property sits (9 V.S.A. §§ 1921(c), 1923).
Do subcontractors need to notify the owner in Vermont?
Yes. Subs and suppliers who deal with the owner's contractor or sub get a lien only by giving the owner written notice that they'll claim one, including the payment due date if known. The lien is limited to the contract price still unpaid when the owner gets the notice (9 V.S.A. § 1921(b)).
Why are Vermont liens filed with a town clerk instead of the county?
Vermont keeps land records by town or city, not by county. A lien on a Burlington property goes to Burlington's Land Records Office, and one in South Burlington goes to the South Burlington City Clerk.
What happens after a Vermont lien is recorded?
Within 180 days after recording (or after payment comes due, if it wasn't due yet when you recorded), you must file suit and obtain a court-approved writ of attachment, then have it served and recorded against the property in the town land records. The writ requires a motion and hearing, so start weeks before day 180 (9 V.S.A. § 1924). After judgment, a certified copy is recorded with the town clerk within five months (9 V.S.A. § 1925).
Can I waive my Vermont lien rights in my contract?
No. Lien rights can't be waived in advance of performing the work, and a contract clause requiring that is unenforceable (9 V.S.A. § 1921(f)).
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.
Inside your deadline?
Liens $199 to $500, recording, notarizing and serving included. Usually filed in 2 business days. Call (469) 694-8003.
