Opinion ID: 1742950
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Kentucky's Public Improvement Lien Statutes

Text: KRS 376.210 et seq. govern liens for labor, materials, or supplies furnished on public improvements. After a lien is filed, the public authority may withhold the lien amount. KRS 376.250(1). The contractor may file a written protest within thirty days; once the protest is filed, the public authority continues to withhold the funds, paying them to neither the contractor nor the lien claimant until the matter is resolved. KRS 376.250(3). Thereafter, the lien claimant may file suit. If suit is filed, the funds are released upon court order or judgment. KRS 376.250(4). However, limitations apply: the lien claimant must institute the suit and serve summons of the suit on the public authority within thirty days after written notice of the contractor's protest is mailed to the lien claimant. Id. (emphasis added). If these requirements are not satisfied within the thirty days, the lien funds are to be automatically released and promptly paid to the contractor. KRS 376.250(4).