TENNESSEE CONSTRUCTION LIEN NOTICES

Notice to Owner / Notice of Non-Payment

Pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated §§ 66-11-101 et seq.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

TENNESSEE LIEN LAW REQUIREMENTS:

1. Direct Contractors (Owner-Occupied 1-4 Family) - Must provide Notice to Owner BEFORE commencing work or entering contract (T.C.A. § 66-11-203)

2. Remote Contractors (Subcontractors/Suppliers) - Must provide Notice of Non-Payment within 90 days of end of each month in which labor/materials remain unpaid (T.C.A. § 66-11-145)

SELECT NOTICE TYPE

☐ Notice to Owner (Direct Contractor) - For owner-occupied 1-4 family residential (T.C.A. § 66-11-203)
☐ Notice of Non-Payment (Remote Contractor) - For subcontractors/suppliers (T.C.A. § 66-11-145)

PART A: NOTICE TO OWNER (DIRECT CONTRACTOR)

(T.C.A. § 66-11-203 - Owner-Occupied 1-4 Family Residential)

IMPORTANT: This notice is required for direct contractors (those with contract with owner) on owner-occupied 1-4 family residential buildings. Must be provided BEFORE commencing work or making contract.

NOTICE DATE

Date of This Notice: _________________________________

This notice must be provided BEFORE work commences or contract is entered.

SECTION A1: PROPERTY OWNER

Owner Name: _________________________________

Owner Address:
_________________________________
_________________________________
City: _________________ State: TN ZIP: _________

SECTION A2: PROPERTY INFORMATION

Property Address:
_________________________________
_________________________________
City: _________________ County: _________________ ZIP: _________

Property Type:
☐ Owner-occupied 1-4 family residential building

SECTION A3: CONTRACTOR INFORMATION

Contractor Name: _________________________________

Company Name: _________________________________

Address:
_________________________________
_________________________________
City: _________________ State: _____ ZIP: _________

Phone: _________________________ Email: _________________________

Tennessee Contractor License No.: _________________________________

SECTION A4: STATUTORY NOTICE TO OWNER

NOTICE TO OWNER

(Pursuant to T.C.A. § 66-11-203)

TO: _________________________________ (Property Owner)

PROPERTY: _________________________________

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Under Tennessee law, if the undersigned contractor is not paid for work performed on your property, a lien may be filed against your property. This lien may remain against your property even if you have paid your contractor in full.

TO PROTECT YOURSELF:
1. Keep detailed records of all payments made
2. Require lien waivers from all contractors and subcontractors before making payments
3. Consider establishing a disbursement procedure to ensure all parties are paid

CONTRACTOR:
Name: _________________________________
Address: _________________________________
License No.: _________________________________

PART B: NOTICE OF NON-PAYMENT (REMOTE CONTRACTOR)

(T.C.A. § 66-11-145 - Subcontractors/Suppliers)

IMPORTANT: This notice is required for "remote contractors" (subcontractors, suppliers, and others without direct contract with owner) for each month in which labor/materials remain unpaid.

DEADLINE: Within 90 days of the last day of each month in which labor/materials were provided but not paid.

NOTICE DATE AND PERIOD

Date of This Notice: _________________________________

Month(s) of Unpaid Labor/Materials: _________________________________

90-Day Deadline(s): _________________________________

SECTION B1: RECIPIENTS

To Property Owner:

Name: _________________________________

Address:
_________________________________
_________________________________
City: _________________ State: TN ZIP: _________

To Prime Contractor:

Name: _________________________________

Address:
_________________________________
_________________________________
City: _________________ State: TN ZIP: _________

SECTION B2: PROPERTY INFORMATION

Property Address:
_________________________________
_________________________________
City: _________________ County: _________________ ZIP: _________

SECTION B3: CLAIMANT (REMOTE CONTRACTOR) INFORMATION

Claimant Name: _________________________________

Company Name: _________________________________

Address:
_________________________________
_________________________________
City: _________________ State: _____ ZIP: _________

Phone: _________________________ Email: _________________________

Claimant Type:
☐ Subcontractor
☐ Sub-subcontractor
☐ Material Supplier
☐ Equipment Rental Company
☐ Other: _________________________________

SECTION B4: CLAIM INFORMATION

Party with Whom Claimant Contracted:
_________________________________

Description of Labor/Services/Materials:
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

Month(s) for Which This Notice is Given:

TOTAL AMOUNT CLAIMED: $__________________

SECTION B5: NOTICE OF NON-PAYMENT CONTENT

NOTICE OF NON-PAYMENT

(Pursuant to T.C.A. § 66-11-145)

TO: _________________________________ (Owner)
AND: _________________________________ (Prime Contractor)

PROPERTY ADDRESS:
_________________________________

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has furnished labor, services, or materials for the improvement of the above-described property and has not been paid for work performed during the month(s) indicated above.

CLAIMANT:
Name: _________________________________
Address: _________________________________
Phone: _________________________________

WORK/MATERIALS PROVIDED:
_________________________________
_________________________________

MONTH(S) UNPAID: _________________________________

AMOUNT DUE: $__________________

NOTICE: Under Tennessee law, the undersigned may have a right to file a lien against the property described above if payment is not received.

SIGNATURE AND SERVICE

SECTION C1: CLAIMANT'S SIGNATURE

I, the undersigned, declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing information is true and correct.

Signature: _________________________________ Date: _________________

Printed Name: _________________________________

Title: _________________________________

SECTION C2: PROOF OF SERVICE

Service Methods (T.C.A. § 66-11-145)

Notice must be sent by:
☐ Registered or certified mail, return receipt requested
☐ Hand delivery with sworn, notarized statement confirming delivery
☐ Commercial delivery service with written confirmation of delivery

NOTE: Personal service by the claimant themselves is NOT effective.

Service Documentation

Service to Owner:
Method: _________________________________
Date: _________________________________
Tracking No./Receipt: _________________________________

Service to Prime Contractor:
Method: _________________________________
Date: _________________________________
Tracking No./Receipt: _________________________________

Rebuttable Presumption of Service

Service is presumed complete:
- Hand delivery: Upon delivery
- Mailing: Within 3 business days
- Commercial overnight delivery: Within 1 business day

TENNESSEE CONSTRUCTION LIEN - LEGAL REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY

NOTICE TO OWNER - DIRECT CONTRACTOR (T.C.A. § 66-11-203)

When Required:
- Owner-occupied 1-4 family residential buildings
- Direct contractors (those with contract with owner)

Timing:
- BEFORE commencing work or entering contract

NOTICE OF NON-PAYMENT - REMOTE CONTRACTOR (T.C.A. § 66-11-145)

When Required:
- Subcontractors, suppliers, and other "remote contractors"
- For each month in which labor/materials remain unpaid

Deadline:
- Within 90 days of the last day of each month in which unpaid labor/materials were provided

Recipients:
- Owner AND Prime Contractor

Separate Notices Required:
- A separate notice is required for each month of unpaid labor/materials

SERVICE METHODS

1. Registered or certified mail, return receipt requested
2. Hand delivery with sworn, notarized statement
3. Commercial delivery service with written confirmation

PERSONAL SERVICE BY CLAIMANT NOT EFFECTIVE

PAYMENT BOND EXCEPTION

If owner provides a 100% payment bond before any work begins, remote contractors must claim against the bond and may NOT file a lien.

LIEN DURATION

The lien continues for one (1) year after work is finished or materials are furnished, and until final decision of any lawsuit.

ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT DEADLINES

NOTICE OF COMPLETION

Owner may file a Notice of Completion to shorten lien filing deadlines. If filed, previously unregistered claims may be barred.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS

This form is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tennessee mechanics lien law has specific notice requirements for different types of claimants and projects.

CONSULT AN ATTORNEY: Before relying on this form, consult with a Tennessee-licensed attorney familiar with construction lien law.

SEPARATE MONTHLY NOTICES: For remote contractors, a separate notice is required for each month of unpaid labor/materials.

PROPER SERVICE METHOD: Personal service by the claimant is NOT effective - use certified mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery with notarized statement.

Tennessee Construction Lien Notices Template - Version 2026.01
Based on T.C.A. §§ 66-11-101 et seq.