Mechanics Lien Filing Package — Oklahoma

Mechanics Lien Filing Package (OKLAHOMA)

Quick-Reference Summary

Part A — Pre-Lien Notice

PRE-LIEN NOTICE (42 O.S. § 142.6)

Pursuant to Title 42, Oklahoma Statutes § 142.6

CRITICAL: Pursuant to 42 O.S. § 142.6, this notice must be sent prior to the filing of a lien statement and no later than seventy-five (75) days after the last date of supply of material, services, labor, or equipment. No lien affecting property occupied as a dwelling by an owner is valid unless this pre-lien notice was sent within seventy-five (75) days of the last furnishing.

TO (Original Contractor):
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[______________________], OK [_______]

TO (Owner of property):
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[______________________], OK [_______]

Date of mailing (certified mail, return receipt requested): [__/__/____]

1. Claimant

2. Description of Property

• Street address: [________________________________]
• County: [________________________________]
• Legal description (or sufficient legal description for identification):

[____________________________________________________________]

3. Description of Materials, Services, Labor, or Equipment Furnished

[____________________________________________________________]

4. Last Date of Supply / Furnishing

[__/__/____]

5. Amount Claimed

$[____________]

6. Person to Whom Claimant Furnished

• Name: [________________________________]
• Address: [________________________________]

REQUIRED STATEMENT (per 42 O.S. § 142.6(B)(2)):

NOTICE TO OWNER: This is a notice that the undersigned claimant is furnishing or has furnished material, services, labor, or equipment for the improvement of the property described above. If the claimant is not paid in full for the material, services, labor, or equipment furnished, the claimant may have the right to file a lien against the property under the laws of the State of Oklahoma. You may wish to ensure that the original contractor pays the claimant or obtain a lien waiver before final payment.

Signature of Claimant or Authorized Agent: ______________________________
Print name / title: [________________________________]
Date: [__/__/____]

SERVICE: Must be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested. Retain return-receipt and tracking documentation as evidence of compliance with § 142.6.

Part B — Claim of Mechanics Lien

MECHANIC'S AND MATERIALMAN'S LIEN STATEMENT

Filed pursuant to 42 O.S. §§ 142 / 143
State of Oklahoma, County of [________________________________]

The undersigned, being first duly sworn, deposes and states as follows:

1. Claimant Information

• Name: [________________________________]
• Address: [________________________________]
• Phone: [________________________________]
• Capacity (check one):
  ☐ Original Contractor — filing under 42 O.S. § 142 (4-month deadline)
  ☐ Subcontractor — filing under 42 O.S. § 143 (90-day deadline)
  ☐ Materialman / Supplier — filing under 42 O.S. § 143

2. Owner of Property

• Name: [________________________________]
• Address: [________________________________]

3. Person With Whom Claimant Contracted (if not the owner)

• Name: [________________________________]
• Address: [________________________________]

4. Description of Property

• Street address: [________________________________]
• County: [________________________________]
• Legal description:

[____________________________________________________________]
[____________________________________________________________]

5. Statement of Claim

• Description of labor and/or materials furnished:

[____________________________________________________________]

• Date first furnished: [__/__/____]
• Date last furnished: [__/__/____]
• Total amount of contract: $[____________]
• Amounts paid: $[____________]
• Credits / offsets: $[____________]
• Amount due and unpaid (lien amount): $[____________]

6. Pre-Lien Notice Compliance (42 O.S. § 142.6)

☐ Pre-Lien Notice was sent to the owner and original contractor by certified mail, return receipt requested, on [__/__/____], which is within 75 days of the last date of supply. Proof of mailing attached.
☐ Not applicable — claimant is the original contractor with a direct contract with the owner.

7. Verification (42 O.S. §§ 142 / 143)

I, [________________________________], on oath state that I am the claimant or an authorized agent of the claimant; that I have read the foregoing lien statement; that the statements are true and correct to the best of my knowledge; and that the amount claimed is justly due and owing.

Signed: ______________________________
Print name / title: [________________________________]
Date: [__/__/____]

STATE OF OKLAHOMA )
) ss.
COUNTY OF [________________] )

Subscribed and sworn to before me by [________________________________] this [____] day of [____________], 20[____].

Notary Public — State of Oklahoma: ______________________________
My commission expires: [__/__/____]
Notary commission no.: [________________________________]

RECORDING: File the original verified statement with the County Clerk of the county where the property is located.
— Original contractor: within 4 months after last labor or materials (42 O.S. § 142).
— Subcontractor / materialman: within 90 days after last labor or materials (42 O.S. § 143).

Part C — Notice of Filing Lien Claim to Owner

NOTICE OF FILING LIEN STATEMENT TO OWNER (42 O.S. §§ 143.1, 144)

Service deadline: Within one (1) business day after filing the lien statement with the County Clerk (42 O.S. § 143.1).

Date: [__/__/____]

To (Owner of record):
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[______________________], OK [_______]

RE: Mechanic's Lien Statement filed against your property

You are hereby notified that on [__/__/____], the undersigned filed a Mechanic's and Materialman's Lien Statement in the Office of the County Clerk of [______________] County, Oklahoma, as Instrument / Document No. [______________], against the real property commonly described as:

[____________________________________________________________]

Amount claimed: $[____________]
Claimant: [________________________________]
Claimant address: [________________________________]
Claimant phone: [________________________________]

A true and correct copy of the filed lien statement is enclosed.

METHOD OF SERVICE: Certified mail, return receipt requested (or as otherwise provided in 42 O.S. § 144).

Signature of Claimant or Authorized Agent: ______________________________

NOTE: 42 O.S. § 143.1 requires that, on the same day or within one business day after filing the lien statement, the claimant mail to the owner of the subject property a notice and a copy of the lien statement by certified mail, return receipt requested. Failure to do so may render the lien unenforceable.

Part D — Suit to Foreclose

PETITION TO FORECLOSE MECHANIC'S AND MATERIALMAN'S LIEN

Filed pursuant to 42 O.S. § 172
Filing deadline: Within one (1) year after the lien statement is filed with the County Clerk.

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF [______________] COUNTY, STATE OF OKLAHOMA

Case No.: CJ-[__-_______]
Judge: [______________]

PETITION TO FORECLOSE MECHANIC'S AND MATERIALMAN'S LIEN, FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT, AND FOR ATTORNEY FEES

COMES NOW Plaintiff [CLAIMANT NAME] and for its cause of action against Defendants alleges and states:

PARTIES, JURISDICTION, AND VENUE

1. Plaintiff is a [entity type] doing business in Oklahoma.

2. Defendant [OWNER NAME] is the record owner of the property at issue.

3. Defendant [CONTRACTING PARTY] is the party with whom Plaintiff contracted.

4. Defendant [MORTGAGEE] is a lienholder of record on the Property.

5. This Court has jurisdiction under 12 O.S. § 2004 et seq., and venue is proper in [______________] County under 12 O.S. § 131 because the real property at issue is located in this county.

FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS

6. The property (the "Property") is located at [________________________________], [______________] County, Oklahoma, and is more particularly described as:

[____________________________________________________________]

7. Beginning on [__/__/____], Plaintiff furnished labor and/or materials for the improvement of the Property at the request of [CONTRACTING PARTY].

8. Plaintiff last furnished labor and/or materials on [__/__/____].

9. The reasonable value of the labor and/or materials is $[____________]; Plaintiff has been paid $[____________]; and the unpaid balance is $[____________].

10. ☐ Plaintiff is the original contractor and was not required to send a pre-lien notice under 42 O.S. § 142.6.
    ☐ Plaintiff timely sent the pre-lien notice required by 42 O.S. § 142.6 by certified mail, return receipt requested, on [__/__/____], which is within 75 days of last furnishing.

11. Plaintiff timely filed a verified Mechanic's Lien Statement in the Office of the County Clerk of [______________] County on [__/__/____], as Instrument No. [______________], in compliance with 42 O.S. § 142 / § 143.

12. Plaintiff timely mailed a copy of the lien statement and notice of filing to the owner on [__/__/____], in compliance with 42 O.S. § 143.1.

FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION — Foreclosure of Mechanic's and Materialman's Lien (42 O.S. § 172)

13. Plaintiff incorporates the preceding paragraphs.

14. Plaintiff holds a valid mechanic's and materialman's lien on the Property securing the unpaid balance of $[____________].

15. Plaintiff is entitled to foreclose the lien, have the Property sold under decree of this Court, and have the proceeds applied to satisfaction of the lien.

SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION — Breach of Contract

16. Plaintiff incorporates the preceding paragraphs.

17. Defendant [CONTRACTING PARTY] breached the parties' contract by failing to pay. Plaintiff has been damaged in the amount of $[____________], plus interest at the statutory rate of 15 O.S. § 266 / contract rate, prejudgment interest, and costs.

THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION — Quantum Meruit (Alternative)

18. Plaintiff incorporates the preceding paragraphs.

19. The reasonable value of Plaintiff's work is $[____________]. Defendants accepted the benefit and refusal to pay would be inequitable.

PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays for judgment:

a. Adjudging that Plaintiff has a valid mechanic's and materialman's lien upon the Property in the amount of $[____________], with interest from [__/__/____];

b. Foreclosing the lien and ordering sale of the Property under 12 O.S. § 686;

c. Awarding Plaintiff its costs and reasonable attorney fees pursuant to 42 O.S. § 176;

d. Granting such other and further relief as the Court deems just and equitable.

DATED this [____] day of [____________], 20[____].

[________________________________]
OBA No. [______________]
Attorney for Plaintiff

VERIFICATION

I, [________________________________], being first duly sworn, depose and state under oath that I am the [title] of Plaintiff, that I am authorized to make this verification, and that the factual allegations of the foregoing Petition are true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief.

Signed: ______________________________ Date: [__/__/____]

Subscribed and sworn before me this [____] day of [____________], 20[____].

Notary Public — State of Oklahoma: ______________________________

Part E — Pre-Filing Checklist

☐ Determine claimant's status: original contractor (4-month deadline; no § 142.6 notice required) vs. subcontractor/materialman (90-day deadline; § 142.6 notice required).
☐ Confirm whether the project is an owner-occupied dwelling — if so, § 142.6 pre-lien notice is mandatory and the lien is invalid without proof of timely 75-day notice.
☐ Send § 142.6 Pre-Lien Notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, within 75 days after last date of supply; retain return receipt and tracking.
☐ Identify and verify owner of record, legal description, parcel number, and senior encumbrances via title search.
☐ Calendar lien statement filing deadline: 4 months (original contractor — § 142) or 90 days (subcontractor — § 143) after last labor/materials.
☐ Prepare verified Lien Statement including: claimant identity, owner identity, contracting party, property description, dates, amounts, and signed/sworn verification.
☐ Notarize the Lien Statement.
☐ File the original Lien Statement with the County Clerk where the property lies.
☐ Within one (1) business day after filing, mail a copy of the filed Lien Statement and notice to the owner by certified mail, return receipt requested (§ 143.1).
☐ Calendar one-year foreclosure deadline measured from filing of the Lien Statement (42 O.S. § 172).
☐ Confirm no statutory bond has been substituted to discharge the lien.
☐ Document the lienable scope; remove non-lienable items.
☐ Confirm claimant's contractor registration / licensing (where applicable to trade) is in good standing.
☐ Evaluate exposure for wrongful filing under Oklahoma slander-of-title or bad-faith standards before recording.

Sources and References

• 42 O.S. § 141 (Lien for labor, materials) — https://law.justia.com/codes/oklahoma/title-42/section-42-141/
• 42 O.S. § 142 (Original contractor's lien) — https://law.justia.com/codes/oklahoma/title-42/section-42-142/
• 42 O.S. § 142.6 (Pre-lien notice) — https://law.justia.com/codes/oklahoma/title-42/section-42-142-6/
• 42 O.S. § 143 (Subcontractor's lien) — https://law.justia.com/codes/oklahoma/title-42/section-42-143/
• 42 O.S. § 143.1 (Notice to owner of filing) — https://law.justia.com/codes/oklahoma/title-42/section-42-143-1/
• 42 O.S. § 144 (Notice of lien claim) — https://law.justia.com/codes/oklahoma/title-42/section-42-144/
• 42 O.S. § 172 (Foreclosure / limitations) — https://law.justia.com/codes/oklahoma/title-42/section-42-172/
• 42 O.S. § 176 (Attorney fees) — https://law.justia.com/codes/oklahoma/title-42/section-42-176/
• Oklahoma Bar Journal, "To Lien or Not To Lien" (June 2024) — https://www.okbar.org/barjournal/june-2024/to-lien-or-not-to-lien/
• Oklahoma Senate codified statutes (Title 42) — https://oksenate.gov/sites/default/files/2022-05/os42.pdf