Preliminary Notice / Notice of Intent to Claim Lien - Alabama
ALABAMA CONSTRUCTION LIEN NOTICES
Preliminary Notice / Notice of Intent to Claim Lien
Pursuant to Alabama Code §§ 35-11-210 et seq.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
SELECT THE NOTICE THAT FITS THE CLAIMANT AND THE MATERIAL:
-
Advance material notice (§ 35-11-210) - A material furnisher may give the owner written notice of specified material and prices before furnishing it. The owner may object in writing before the material is used. An original contractor does not need either notice in this file merely because it will file a lien, but must comply with the separate lien-filing and enforcement rules.
-
Pre-filing notice (§ 35-11-218) - A person other than the original contractor gives written owner notice before filing a lien statement, except for material covered by an advance § 35-11-210 notice. The notice identifies the amount, what it is for, and who owes it; the unpaid owner balance is then held subject to the lien.
KEY NOTICES:
- Pre-Furnishing Notice (§ 35-11-210) - For materialmen seeking Full Price Lien
- Notice of Intent to Claim Lien (§ 35-11-218) - Required before filing by a claimant other than the original contractor, subject to the advance-material exception
SELECT NOTICE TYPE
☐ Pre-Furnishing Notice (Full Price Lien) - For materialmen, BEFORE furnishing materials (§ 35-11-210)
☐ Notice of Intent to Claim Lien (Unpaid Balance Lien) - Required before filing by a claimant other than the original contractor, except for material covered by a § 35-11-210 advance notice (§ 35-11-218)
PART A: PRE-FURNISHING NOTICE (FOR FULL PRICE LIEN)
(Ala. Code § 35-11-210 - Materialmen Only)
IMPORTANT: This notice must be given BEFORE furnishing the materials. The statute calls for certain specified materials and certain specified prices.
NOTICE DATE
Date of This Notice: _________________________________
Notice must be given BEFORE materials are furnished.
SECTION A1: RECIPIENTS
To Property Owner:
Name: _________________________________
Address:
_________________________________
_________________________________
City: _________________ State: AL ZIP: _________
Optional Copy — Construction Lender (not a § 35-11-210 statutory recipient):
Name: _________________________________
Address:
_________________________________
_________________________________
City: _________________ State: AL ZIP: _________
SECTION A2: PROPERTY INFORMATION
Property Address:
_________________________________
_________________________________
City: _________________ County: _________________ ZIP: _________
Legal Description:
_________________________________
_________________________________
SECTION A3: CONTRACTOR INFORMATION
General Contractor or Subcontractor to Whom Materials Will Be Furnished:
_________________________________
Address:
_________________________________
_________________________________
SECTION A4: MATERIALMAN (CLAIMANT) INFORMATION
Materialman Name: _________________________________
Company Name: _________________________________
Address:
_________________________________
_________________________________
City: _________________ State: _____ ZIP: _________
Phone: _________________________ Email: _________________________
SECTION A5: MATERIALS TO BE FURNISHED
NOTICE: Pursuant to Ala. Code § 35-11-210, the undersigned materialman gives notice that the following specific materials will be furnished at the specified prices:
| Description of Material | Quantity | Unit Price | Total Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| ________________________ | ________ | $_________ | $__________ |
| ________________________ | ________ | $_________ | $__________ |
| ________________________ | ________ | $_________ | $__________ |
| ________________________ | ________ | $_________ | $__________ |
| ________________________ | ________ | $_________ | $__________ |
TOTAL SPECIFIED PRICE: $__________________
NOTICE TO OWNER OR AGENT: The undersigned is about to furnish the contractor or subcontractor named above with the material specified above for the property described above. The specified price shown above will become due to the undersigned for that material, and the undersigned will claim a lien for its payment. Under § 35-11-210, the owner, proprietor, or agent may object in writing before the material is used.
Expected first furnishing date: _________________________________
Written owner objection received: ☐ No ☐ Yes Date received: _________________________________
Had the specified material been used when the objection was received? ☐ No ☐ Yes ☐ Not applicable
PART B: NOTICE OF INTENT TO CLAIM LIEN
(Ala. Code § 35-11-218 - Unpaid Balance Lien)
IMPORTANT: A claimant other than the original contractor must give this written notice BEFORE filing the lien statement, except for material covered by an advance § 35-11-210 notice. Ala. Code § 35-11-218 requires notice to the owner or proprietor, or the owner's or proprietor's agent; copies to a contractor or lender are optional and are not the statutory notice.
NOTICE DATE
Date of This Notice: _________________________________
SECTION B1: RECIPIENTS
Statutory Recipient — Owner, Proprietor, or Agent:
Name: _________________________________
Address:
_________________________________
_________________________________
City: _________________ State: AL ZIP: _________
Optional Copy — General Contractor:
Name: _________________________________
Address:
_________________________________
_________________________________
City: _________________ State: AL ZIP: _________
Optional Copy — Construction Lender:
Name: _________________________________
Address:
_________________________________
_________________________________
SECTION B2: PROPERTY INFORMATION
Property Address:
_________________________________
_________________________________
City: _________________ County: _________________ ZIP: _________
Legal Description:
_________________________________
_________________________________
SECTION B3: CLAIMANT INFORMATION
Claimant Name: _________________________________
Company Name: _________________________________
Address:
_________________________________
_________________________________
City: _________________ State: _____ ZIP: _________
Phone: _________________________ Email: _________________________
Claimant Type:
☐ Subcontractor
☐ Material Supplier
☐ Laborer
☐ Other: _________________________________
SECTION B4: CLAIM INFORMATION
Party to Whom Claimant Furnished Labor/Materials:
_________________________________
Description of Work Performed or Materials Furnished:
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Amount Due and Claimed: $__________________
SECTION B5: NOTICE OF INTENT CONTENT
NOTICE OF INTENT TO CLAIM LIEN
(Pursuant to Ala. Code § 35-11-218)
TO: _________________________________ (Owner / Proprietor / Agent)
OPTIONAL COPIES TO: _________________________________ (General Contractor / Construction Lender / Other)
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned claims a lien against the property described below for labor and/or materials furnished for the improvement thereof.
PROPERTY:
_________________________________
_________________________________
CLAIMANT:
Name: _________________________________
Address: _________________________________
WORK PERFORMED / MATERIALS FURNISHED:
_________________________________
_________________________________
PARTY TO WHOM FURNISHED:
_________________________________
AMOUNT DUE: $__________________
This notice is given pursuant to Alabama Code § 35-11-218 as a prerequisite to filing a Statement of Lien.
SIGNATURE AND SERVICE
SECTION C1: CLAIMANT'S SIGNATURE
The undersigned confirms that the information in this notice is complete and accurate to the best of the undersigned's knowledge. This signature is for the notice only; the later recorded statement has a separate oath and verification requirement under § 35-11-213.
Signature: _________________________________ Date: _________________
Printed Name: _________________________________
Title: _________________________________
SECTION C2: PROOF OF SERVICE
Service Documentation
Service to Owner:
Method: _________________________________
Date delivered: _________________________________
Proof of delivery retained: _________________________________
Service to General Contractor:
Method: _________________________________
Date: _________________________________
Service to Construction Lender (if applicable):
Method: _________________________________
Date: _________________________________
ALABAMA CONSTRUCTION LIEN - LEGAL REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY
TWO TYPES OF LIENS
Full Price Lien:
- Route: Original contractors are not subject to the employee/material-furnisher unpaid-balance limitation in § 35-11-210; a person, firm, or corporation furnishing material may use the advance-notice route
- Amount: Direct-contract claim or the specified material price under a qualifying advance notice, subject to the division's other requirements
- Requirement: The advance notice must identify certain specified materials and certain specified prices; all claimants must separately satisfy filing and enforcement rules
Unpaid Balance Lien:
- Available to: Claimants other than the original contractor, subject to the § 35-11-210 advance-material exception
- Amount: The owner's unpaid balance is held subject to the lien after § 35-11-218 notice; confirm the applicable § 35-11-210 limit for the claimant
- Requirement: Notice of Intent to Claim Lien before filing lien
PRE-FURNISHING NOTICE (§ 35-11-210)
Who Must Give: Materialmen who want a Full Price Lien
When: BEFORE furnishing any materials
To Whom: Owner, proprietor, or agent. A lender or contractor copy is optional unless another controlling source requires it.
Requirements:
- Specify exact materials (not general descriptions)
- Specify exact prices
Effect: A qualifying furnisher may claim the specified material price without the unpaid-balance limit unless the owner gives the written objection described in § 35-11-210 before use
NOTICE OF INTENT TO CLAIM LIEN (§ 35-11-218)
Who Must Give: Claimants other than the original contractor, except as to material covered by a § 35-11-210 advance notice
When: BEFORE filing the Statement of Lien
To Whom: Owner, proprietor, or the owner's/proprietor's agent. Contractor and lender copies are optional and are not added statutory recipients under § 35-11-218.
Content:
- State that a lien is claimed
- Set forth the amount due
- Describe the work performed
- Identify who owes the money
LIEN FILING DEADLINES
| Claimant Type | Deadline | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| Original Contractor | 6 months from last furnishing | Ala. Code § 35-11-215 |
| Every other lien claimant | 4 months from last furnishing | Ala. Code § 35-11-215 |
| Journeyman or day laborer | 30 days from last furnishing | Ala. Code § 35-11-215 |
CLAIMANT-ROLE CHECK
The advance-notice language in § 35-11-210 applies to a person, firm, or corporation furnishing material. Do not classify a mixed labor-and-material subcontractor, supplier, laborer, or other claimant from the label alone; counsel should map the actual contracting and furnishing relationship before selecting a route.
ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT DEADLINES
| Action | Deadline | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Furnishing Notice (Full Price) | Before furnishing | Ala. Code § 35-11-210 |
| Notice of Intent (Unpaid Balance) | Before filing lien | Ala. Code § 35-11-218 |
| File Lien (Original Contractor) | 6 months from last furnishing | Ala. Code § 35-11-215 |
| File Lien (Every Other Claimant) | 4 months from last furnishing | Ala. Code § 35-11-215 |
| File Lien (Journeyman or Day Laborer) | 30 days from last furnishing | Ala. Code § 35-11-215 |
| Enforce Lien | 6 months after maturity of the entire indebtedness secured by the lien | Ala. Code § 35-11-221 |
RECORDED STATEMENT AND ENFORCEMENT
Section 35-11-213 requires a written statement filed in the probate office of the property county and verified by oath. Section 35-11-215 states that the lien is lost unless that statement is filed within the claimant-tier period shown above. Section 35-11-221 separately measures the enforcement action from maturity of the entire indebtedness.
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS
This form is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Alabama mechanics lien law distinguishes between Full Price and Unpaid Balance Liens with different requirements.
CONSULT AN ATTORNEY: Before relying on this form, consult with an Alabama-licensed attorney familiar with construction lien law.
SPECIFIED MATERIAL AND PRICE: For the advance-material route, use the statute's specified-material and specified-price fields and obtain Alabama counsel's approval before delivery.
Alabama Construction Lien Notices Template - Version 2026.10
Based on Alabama Code §§ 35-11-210 et seq.
About this template
- Last updated
- October 22, 2026
- Citations checked
- October 22, 2026
- Jurisdiction
- Alabama
- Category
- Real Estate
Legal authority
- Ala. Code § 35-11-210 (lien scope and advance material-furnishing notice)
- Ala. Code § 35-11-213 (verified statement contents and filing office)
- Ala. Code § 35-11-215 (claimant-tier filing periods)
- Ala. Code § 35-11-218 (pre-filing notice by persons other than the original contractor)
- Ala. Code § 35-11-221 (enforcement period measured from maturity of the entire indebtedness)
Real estate documents transfer ownership, define who can use a property, and record agreements between buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants. Deeds, purchase agreements, leases, and easements have to be drafted to meet state recording requirements, and mistakes show up at closing or years later in title disputes. Good real estate paperwork moves transactions forward quickly and avoids the kind of problems that only surface when it is time to sell or refinance.
Not legal advice
This template is provided for informational purposes. We recommend having an attorney review any legal document before signing, especially for high-value or complex matters.
Checked against the law it cites
A reviewer verified this template's legal citations against the official source on October 22, 2026.
Ala. Code § 35-11-210 (checked October 22, 2026): "But if the person, firm, or corporation, before furnishing any material, shall notify the owner or his or her agent in writing that certain specified material will be furnished by him or her to the contractor or subcontractor for use in the building or improvements on the land of the owner or proprietor at certain specified prices, unless the owner or proprietor or his or her agent objects thereto, the furnisher of the material shall have a lien for the full price thereof as specified in the notice to the owner or proprietor without regard to whether or not the amount of the claim for the material so furnished exceeds the unpaid balance due the contractor, unless on the notice herein provided for being given, the owner or proprietor or his or her agent shall notify the furnisher in writing before the material is used, that he or she will not be responsible for the price thereof."
Ala. Code § 35-11-213 (checked October 22, 2026): "It shall be the duty of every person entitled to such lien to file in the office of the judge of probate of the county in which the property upon which the lien is sought to be established is situated, a statement in writing, verified by the oath of the person claiming the lien, or of some other person having knowledge of the facts, containing the amount of the demand secured by the lien, after all just credits have been given, a description of the property on which the lien is claimed in such a manner that same may be located or identified, a description by house number, name of street, and name of city or town being a sufficient description where the property is located in a city or town, and the name of the owner or proprietor thereof; but no error in the amount of the demand or in the name of the owner or proprietor, shall affect the lien."
Ala. Code § 35-11-215 (checked October 22, 2026): "The lien declared in this division shall be deemed lost unless the statement referred to in Section 35-11-213 shall be filed by every original contractor within six months and by every journeyman and day laborer within 30 days, and by every other person entitled to such lien within four months, after the last item of work or labor has been performed or the last item of any material, fixture, engine, boiler, or machinery has been furnished for any building or improvement on land or for repairing, altering, or beautifying the same under or by virtue of any contract with the owner or proprietor thereof, or his agent, architect, trustee, contractor, or subcontractor."
Ala. Code § 35-11-218 (checked October 22, 2026): "Every person, except the original contractor, who may wish to avail himself of the provisions of this division, shall before filing his statement in the office of the judge of probate, give notice in writing to the owner or proprietor, or his agent, that he claims a lien on such building or improvement, setting forth the amount thereof, for what, and from whom it is owing; and after such notice, any unpaid balance in the hands of the owner or proprietor shall be held subject to such lien. But the provisions of this section shall not apply to the case of any material furnished for such building or improvement, of which the owner was notified in advance as provided in Section 35-11-210."
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