Residential Mechanics Notice and Lien Registry Notice Worksheet - Iowa

IOWA RESIDENTIAL MECHANICS NOTICE AND LIEN REGISTRY WORKSHEET

Select the claimant's role before using this document. Iowa Code §§ 572.13A and 572.13B create different MNLR workflows. There is no universal 30-day subcontractor deadline and private delivery alone does not replace the required registry posting.

1. PROJECT AND ROLE

Residential construction property: ☐ Yes ☐ No

If no, stop. Sections 572.13, 572.13A, and 572.13B apply only to residential construction property. Commercial projects require a separate analysis, including Iowa Code § 572.33.

User's role:

☐ General contractor

☐ Owner-builder who has contracted or will contract with a subcontractor

☐ Subcontractor

Project Information

• Owner: [NAME]
• Owner mailing address: [ADDRESS]
• Property address or location: [ADDRESS / DESCRIPTION]
• Legal description: [LEGAL DESCRIPTION]
• Tax parcel identification number: [PARCEL NUMBER]
• Date work commenced: [DATE]
• MNLR number, if assigned: [NUMBER]

2. GENERAL CONTRACTOR — WRITTEN OWNER NOTICE

Use this section if the general contractor has contracted or will contract with a subcontractor. Under Iowa Code § 572.13, provide the following in writing in boldface type of at least ten points, together with the MNLR internet address and toll-free telephone number:

Persons or companies furnishing labor or materials for the improvement of real property may enforce a lien upon the improved property if they are not paid for their contributions, even if the parties have no direct contractual relationship with the owner. The mechanics' notice and lien registry provides a listing of all persons or companies furnishing labor or materials who have posted a lien or who may post a lien upon the improved property.

• MNLR internet address: [CURRENT OFFICIAL ADDRESS]
• MNLR toll-free telephone number: [CURRENT OFFICIAL NUMBER]
• Date delivered to owner: [DATE]
• Delivery record: [METHOD / RECEIPT]

A general contractor who fails to provide the § 572.13 notice is not entitled to a lien or remedy under Chapter 572.

3. GENERAL CONTRACTOR OR OWNER-BUILDER — NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT

Post a notice of commencement of work to the MNLR no later than ten days after commencement of work. Under § 572.13A, the notice is effective only for labor, service, equipment, or material furnished after posting.

Required Registry Information

• Owner name and address: [NAME / ADDRESS]
• General contractor or owner-builder name: [NAME]
• Address: [ADDRESS]
• Telephone: [NUMBER]
• Property address or location description: [ADDRESS / DESCRIPTION]
• Legal description: [LEGAL DESCRIPTION]
• Date work commenced: [DATE]
• Tax parcel identification number: [NUMBER]
• Other information required by the registry administrator: [INFORMATION]

Deadline and Confirmation

• Work commencement date: [DATE]
• Ten-day deadline: [DATE]
• Date posted to MNLR: [DATE]
• MNLR confirmation or filing number: [NUMBER]

If the required notice was not timely posted, obtain Iowa counsel immediately. Section 572.13A allows a subcontractor to post the notice of commencement with its preliminary notice, but a notice of commencement must be posted before a § 572.13B preliminary notice can be posted. A general contractor's failure to provide the § 572.13A notice defeats that contractor's Chapter 572 lien and remedy.

4. SUBCONTRACTOR — PRELIMINARY NOTICE

A subcontractor on residential construction property must post a preliminary notice to the MNLR. Under § 572.13B, a notice posted before the balance due is paid to the general contractor or owner-builder is effective as to all labor, service, equipment, and material furnished by the subcontractor.

Required Registry Information

• Owner name: [NAME]
• MNLR number: [NUMBER]
• Subcontractor name: [NAME]
• Subcontractor address and telephone: [ADDRESS / NUMBER]
• Person who contracted with subcontractor: [NAME / ADDRESS]
• General contractor or owner-builder under whom work is performed: [NAME]
• Property address or location description: [ADDRESS / DESCRIPTION]
• Legal description: [LEGAL DESCRIPTION]
• First furnishing or first labor date: [DATE]
• Tax parcel identification number: [NUMBER]
• Other information required by the registry administrator: [INFORMATION]

Posting and Owner-Receipt Record

• Date posted to MNLR: [DATE]
• Balance due to general contractor or owner-builder on posting date: $[AMOUNT]
• MNLR confirmation: [NUMBER / ATTACHMENT]
• Administrator's proof of service requested: ☐ Yes ☐ No

The administrator sends the owner notification when the preliminary notice is posted. In an enforcement action, the subcontractor bears the burden to prove owner receipt. Section 572.13B also permits separate proof through methods including certified mail with return receipt, personal service as for an original notice, or actual notice acknowledged by the owner's signed receipt.

Separate notice does not replace MNLR posting. A subcontractor who fails to post the preliminary notice is not entitled to a lien or remedy under Chapter 572.

5. SEPARATE LIEN-PERFECTION WARNING

These residential notices are not the lien statement. Iowa Code § 572.8 requires a verified statement of account to be posted to the MNLR to perfect a lien. Section 572.9 states the outer posting period as two years and ninety days after the claimant's last material or labor, while §§ 572.10-.11 impose important consequences for later posting. Calendar lien and enforcement deadlines with Iowa counsel rather than relying on this worksheet.

Attorney fees are not automatically awarded to every prevailing party. Under § 572.32, a prevailing plaintiff may receive reasonable attorney fees in a lien-enforcement or bond action; separate residential bad-faith and defense remedies also apply.

6. CERTIFICATION

I certify that the factual information entered in this worksheet is accurate to the best of my knowledge and that the applicable notice was posted through the MNLR as reflected above.

Signature: _______________________________

Name and title: [NAME / TITLE]

Date: [DATE]

7. SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• Iowa Code § 572.13: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/572.13.pdf
• Iowa Code § 572.13A: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/572.13A.pdf
• Iowa Code § 572.13B: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/572.13B.pdf
• Iowa Code § 572.8: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/572.8.pdf
• Iowa Code § 572.9: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/572.9.pdf
• Iowa Code § 572.32: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/572.32.pdf