Source: https://www.lienitnow.com/arkansas-property-lien-statutes
Timestamp: 2017-10-23 17:16:46
Document Index: 387512008

Matched Legal Cases: ['§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§\u200218', '§ 6', '§ 18', '§ 18', '§ 18', '§ 8', '§ 18', '§ 10', '§ 18', '§ 18', '§ 6']

Arkansas Property Lien Statutes - Arkansas Mechanics Lien Law | LienItNow
Arkansas Property Lien Statutes - Arkansas Mechanics Lien Law
The provisions of the Arkansas statutes that permit the filing of mechanics liens and materialmen's liens can be found at Arkansas Code 18-44-101 et. seq. The full text of the Arkansas Mechanics Lien Law is provided below, and has been updated as of 2011. To see a quick synopsis of the most important provisions, take a look at our Arkansas Frequently Asked Questions page.
[ § 18-44-101. Buildings, Land or Vessels]
[ § 18-44-102. Land Subject to Lien]
[ § 18-44-103. Leases]
[ § 18-44-104. Liens for Soil or Drain Pipe or Tile]
[ § 18-44-105. Lien of Architect, Engineer, Surveyor, Appraiser, Landscaper, Abstractor, or Title Insurance Agent]
[ § 18-44-106. “Owner” Defined]
[ § 18-44-107. Definitions]
[ § 18-44-108. Refusal to List Parties Doing Work or Furnishing Materials]
[ § 18-44-109. Unlawful to Use Materials Other than as Designated]
[ § 18-44-110. Priorities]
[ § 18-44-111. Repealed by Acts of 1995, Act 1298, 6]
[ § 18-44-112. Repealed by Acts of 1995, Act 1298, 6]
[ § 18-44-113. Assignment of Liens]
[ § 18-44-114. Notice and Service Generally]
[ § 18-44-115. Notice to Owner by Contractor]
[ § 18-44-116. Service on Nonresident or Absconder]
[ § 18-44-117. Filing of Lien]
[ § 18-44-118. Filing of Bond in Contest of Lien]
[ § 18-44-119. Limitation of Actions]
[ § 18-44-120. Repealed by Acts of 1995, Act 1298, 8]
[ § 18-44-121. Repealed by Acts of 1995, Act 1298, 8]
[ § 18-44-122. Contents of Complaint]
[ § 18-44-123. Parties]
[ § 18-44-124. Claims Against Contractors]
[ § 18-44-125. Protection and Enforcement Orders]
[ § 18-44-126. Warning Orders]
[ § 18-44-127. Judgments]
[ § 18-44-128. Attorney’s Fee]
[ § 18-44-129. Repealed by Acts of 1995, Act 1298, 10
[ § 18-44-130. Repealed by Acts of 1995, Act 1298, 10]
[ § 18-44-131. Satisfaction-Entry by Creditors]
[ § 18-44-132. Criminal Offenses-Fraud]
[ § 18-44-133. Repealed by Acts of 2009, Act 454, 6, eff. July 31, 2009]
[ § 18-44-134. Repealed by Acts of 2009, Act 454, 6, eff. July 31, 2009]
[ § 18-44-135. Jointly Owned Property]
Buildings, land or vessels
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(b)(1) In case the lessee shall have forfeited his or her lease, the purchaser of the building and leasehold term, or so much of it as remains unexpired, under the provisions of this subchapter, shall be held to the assignee of the leasehold term and, as such, shall be entitled to pay to the lessor all arrears of rent or other money, interest, and costs due under the lease, unless the lessor shall have regained possession of the leasehold land, or obtained judgment for the possession of it on account of the noncompliance by the lessee with the terms of the lease, prior to the commencement of the improvements thereon.
Liens for soil or drain pipe or tile
(b)(1) The lien for the soil or drain pipe or tile shall attach to the real estate and all improvements thereon in preference to any subsequent liens, encumbrance, or mortgage executed upon the land after the purchase of the soil or drain pipe or tile.
Lien of architect, engineer, surveyor, appraiser, landscaper, abstractor, or title insurance agent
(b)(1) However, the lien does not attach to the land, building, erection, or improvement upon land unless and until the lien is duly filed of record with the circuit clerk and recorder in the county in which the land, building, erection, or improvement is located.
(C) Enforced under this subchapter
Refusal to list parties doing work or furnishing materials
(2)(A) Subject to suit by an aggrieved party in the circuit court where the property is located to enforce subsection (a) of this section including, without limitation, by the contempt powers of the circuit court.
(B) The prevailing party in an action under this subdivision (b)(2) shall receive a judgment for any damages proximately caused by the violation of subsection (a) of this section, the costs of the action, and a reasonable attorney’s fee.
Unlawful to use materials other than as designated
(a)(1) The liens for labor performed or material or fixtures furnished, as provided for in this subchapter, shall have equal priority toward each other without regard to the date of filing the account or lien or the date when the particular labor or material was performed or furnished. All such liens shall date from the time that the construction or repair first commenced.
(b)(1)(A) The liens for labor performed or materials or fixtures furnished, as provided for in this subchapter, shall attach to the improvement on which the labor was performed or the materials or fixtures were furnished in preference to any encumbrance existing on the real estate prior to the commencement of construction or repair of the improvement.
Repealed by Acts of 1995, Act 1298, § 6
Repealed by the Arkansas Legislature.
Notice and service generally
(b)(1) The notice may be served by any:
(2)(A)(i) When served by an officer, his or her official return endorsed on the notice shall be proof of the service.
(B)(i) When served by mail, the service shall be:
Notice to owner by contractor
(a)(1) No lien upon residential real estate containing four (4) or fewer units may be acquired by virtue of this subchapter unless the owner of the residential real estate, the owner’s authorized agent, or the owner’s registered agent has received, by personal delivery or by certified mail, a copy of the notice set out in this subsection.
(5)(A) Any potential lien claimant may also give notice.
(B)(i) If before commencing work or supplying goods a subcontractor, material supplier, laborer, or other lien claimant gives notice under this section, the notice shall be effective for all subcontractors, material suppliers, laborers, and other lien claimants not withstanding that the notice was given after the project commences as defined under § 18-44-110(a)(2).
I UNDERSTAND THAT EACH CONTRACTOR, SUBCONTRACTOR, LABORER, SUPPLIER, ARCHITECT, ENGINEER, SURVEYOR, APPRAISER, LANDSCAPER, ABSTRACTOR, OR TITLE INSURANCE AGENT SUPPLYING LABOR, SERVICES, MATERIAL, OR FIXTURES IS ENTITLED TO A LIEN AGAINST THE PROPERTY IF NOT PAID IN FULL FOR THE LABOR, SERVICES, MATERIALS, OR FIXTURES USED TO IMPROVE, CONSTRUCT, OR INSURE OR EXAMINE TITLE TO THE PROPERTY EVEN THOUGH THE FULL CONTRACT PRICE MAY HAVE BEEN PAID TO THE CONTRACTOR. I REALIZE THAT THIS LIEN CAN BE ENFORCED BY THE SALE OF THE PROPERTY IF NECESSARY. I AM ALSO AWARE THAT PAYMENT MAY BE WITHHELD TO THE CONTRACTOR IN THE AMOUNT OF THE COST OF ANY SERVICES, FIXTURES, MATERIALS, OR LABOR NOT PAID FOR. I KNOW THAT IT IS ADVISABLE TO, AND I MAY, REQUIRE THE CONTRACTOR TO FURNISH TO ME A TRUE AND CORRECT FULL LIST OF ALL SUPPLIERS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS UNDER THE CONTRACT, AND I MAY CHECK WITH THEM TO DETERMINE IF ALL MATERIALS, LABOR, FIXTURES, AND SERVICES FURNISHED FOR THE PROPERTY HAVE BEEN PAID FOR. I MAY ALSO REQUIRE THE CONTRACTOR TO PRESENT LIEN WAIVERS BY ALL SUPPLIERS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS, STATING THAT THEY HAVE BEEN PAID IN FULL FOR SUPPLIES AND SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER THE CONTRACT, BEFORE I PAY THE CONTRACTOR IN FULL. IF A SUPPLIER OR OTHER SERVICE PROVIDER HAS NOT BEEN PAID, I MAY PAY THE SUPPLIER OR OTHER SERVICE PROVIDER AND CONTRACTOR WITH A CHECK MADE PAYABLE TO THEM JOINTLY.
ADDRESS OF PROPERTY _________________________
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE SIGNATURE ABOVE IS THAT OF THE OWNER, REGISTERED AGENT OF THE OWNER, OR AUTHORIZED AGENT OF THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY AT THE ADDRESS SET OUT ABOVE.
(8)(A) If the residential contractor supplies a performance and payment bond or if the transaction is a direct sale to the property owner, the notice requirement of this subsection shall not apply, and the lien rights arising under this subchapter shall not be conditioned on the delivery and execution of the notice.
(b)(1)(A) The General Assembly finds that owners and developers of commercial real estate are generally knowledgeable and sophisticated in construction law, are aware that unpaid laborers, subcontractors, and material suppliers are entitled to assert liens against the real estate if unpaid, and know how to protect themselves against the imposition of mechanics’ and material suppliers’ liens.
(5)(A) The notice shall be sent to the owner, the owner’s authorized agent, or the owner’s registered agent and to the contractor before seventy-five (75) days have elapsed from the time that the labor was supplied or the materials furnished.
IF BILLS FOR LABOR, SERVICES, OR MATERIALS USED TO CONSTRUCT OR PROVIDE SERVICES FOR AN IMPROVEMENT TO REAL ESTATE ARE NOT PAID IN FULL, A CONSTRUCTION LIEN MAY BE PLACED AGAINST THE PROPERTY. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE LOSS, THROUGH FORECLOSURE PROCEEDINGS, OF ALL OR PART OF YOUR REAL ESTATE BEING IMPROVED. THIS MAY OCCUR EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE PAID YOUR CONTRACTOR IN FULL. YOU MAY WISH TO PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST THIS CONSEQUENCE BY PAYING THE ABOVE NAMED PROVIDER OF LABOR, SERVICES, OR MATERIALS DIRECTLY, OR MAKING YOUR CHECK PAYABLE TO THE ABOVE NAMED PROVIDER AND CONTRACTOR JOINTLY."
Service on nonresident or absconder
(a)(1) Whenever property is sought to be charged with a lien under this subchapter, the notice may be filed with the recorder of deeds of the county in which the property is situated if the owner of the property so sought to be charged:
(c)(1) The recorder of deeds in each county of this state shall receive, file, and keep every such notice presented to him or her for filing and shall further record it at length in a separate book appropriately entitled.
(2) For service so performed, the recorder of deeds shall receive for each notice, the sum of twenty-five cents (25¢), and for each copy certified, as stated in this section, of each of the notices he or she shall receive the sum of fifty cents (50¢), to be paid by the party so filing or procuring the certified copy, as the case may be.
(a)(1) It shall be the duty of every person who wishes to avail himself or herself of the provisions of this subchapter to file with the clerk of the circuit court of the county in which the building, erection, or other improvement to be charged with the lien is situated and within one hundred twenty (120) days after the things specified in this subchapter shall have been furnished or the work or labor done or performed:
(A) A sworn statement evidencing compliance with the applicable notice provisions of §§ 18-44-114 --18-44-116; and
(B) A copy of each applicable notice given under §§ 18-44-114 -- 18-44-116.
(b)(1)(A) It shall be the duty of the clerk of the circuit court to endorse upon every account the date of its filing and to make an abstract of the account in a book kept by him or her for that purpose, properly indexed.
Filing of bond in contest of lien
(a)(1) In the event any person claiming a lien for labor or materials upon any property shall file such a lien within the time and in the manner required by law with the circuit clerk or other officer provided by law for the filing of such a lien, and if the owner of the property, any mortgagee or other person having an interest in the property, or any contractor, subcontractor, or other person liable for the payment of such a lien shall desire to contest the lien, then the person so desiring to contest the lien may file:
(b)(1)(A) Upon the filing of the bond, if the circuit clerk or other officer before whom it is filed approves the surety, he or she shall give to the person claiming the lien, at his or her last known address, three (3) days’ notice of the filing of the bond.
(2)(A) Within the three (3) days’ notice, the person claiming the lien may appear and question the sufficiency of the surety or form of the bond.
(c)(1) If no action to enforce the lien shall be filed within the time prescribed by law for the enforcement of a lien against the surety, the bond shall be null and void.
(e)(1) Any party aggrieved by the acceptance or rejection of the bond may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction by an action which is appropriate.
(f)(1) A protest under subdivision (a)(1)(B) of this section shall be filed as a civil action in the circuit court of the county where the lien is filed.
(3)(A) The summons shall be in customary form directed to the sheriff of the county in which the action is filed, with directions for service of the summons on the named defendants. In addition, the clerk of the circuit court shall issue and direct the sheriff to serve upon the named defendants a notice in the following form:
You are hereby notified that the attached complaint in the above-styled cause claims that you have not satisfied the requirements for claiming a lien upon the property described in the complaint and seeks to have the lien discharged by the court. If, within five (5) days, excluding Sundays and legal holidays, from the date of service of this notice, you have not filed in the office of the clerk of this court a written objection to the claims made against you by the plaintiff, then an order discharging the lien shall be issued immediately by the court. If you should file a written objection to the allegations of the complaint of the plaintiff within five (5) days, excluding Sundays and legal holidays, from the date of service of this notice, a hearing will be scheduled by the court to determine whether or not the lien should be discharged.”
(4)(A) The action shall be heard as expeditiously as the business of the circuit court permits.
Repealed by Acts of 1995, Act 1298, § 8
(b)(1) In case of judgment against the owner or his or her property upon the lien, the owner shall be entitled to deduct from any amount due by him or her to the contractor the amount of the judgment and costs.
Protection and enforcement orders
(b) The judgment if for plaintiff shall be that he or she recover the amount of the indebtedness found due, to be levied out of the property charged with the lien therefor, and the property charged shall be correctly described in the judgment.
(a) When any contractor, subcontractor, laborer, or material supplier who has filed a lien, as provided for in this chapter, gives notice thereof to the owner of property by any method permitted under § 18-44-115(f)(3) and the claim has not been paid within twenty (20) days from the date of service of the notice, and if the contractor, subcontractor, laborer, or material supplier is required to sue for the enforcement of his or her claim, the court shall allow the successful contractor, subcontractor, laborer, or material supplier a reasonable attorney’s fee in addition to other relief to which he or she may be entitled.
Repealed by Acts of 1995, Act 1298, § 10
Section Repealed by the Arkansas Legislature.
Satisfaction--Entry by creditors
Criminal offenses--Fraud
(a) It shall be unlawful for any contractor, subcontractor, or other person who has performed work or furnished materials for the improvement of any property when the work or materials may give rise to a mechanic’s, laborer’s, or materialman’s lien under the laws of this state, this subchapter, §§ 18-44-201--18-44-210, and § 18-44-301--18-44-305, or any other statute providing for a mechanic’s, laborer’s, or materialman’s lien, or the assignee of such person, knowingly to receive payment of the contract price or any portion of it without applying the money so received toward the discharge of any liens known to the person receiving the payment, or properly record it as required by statutes, with the intent thereby to deprive the owner or person so paying the contractor or other person receiving payment of his or her funds without discharging the liens and thereby to defraud the owner or person so paying.
(c)(1) If the amount of the contract price so received and not applied to the discharge of the liens, with the intent to defraud, shall exceed the sum of twenty-five dollars ($25.00), the party so receiving shall be deemed guilty of a felony and shall be punished by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment in the Department of Corrections for not less than one (1) year nor more than five (5) years, or by both.
Repealed by Acts of 2009, Act 454, § 6, eff. July 31, 2009
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