Are you looking for a mechanic liens lawyer in Irvine, CA?

At Ghassemian Law Group, we are trusted mechanic liens lawyers serving clients across Irvine, CA and the surrounding area.

If you finished the work and the payment never came, a mechanics lien may be the fastest way to get the money you earned. Our firm has spent 26 years handling construction payment disputes for contractors, subcontractors, developers, and property owners throughout Orange County. Deadlines in these cases are short and unforgiving. An Irvine, CA mechanic liens lawyer from Ghassemian Law Group can record your lien correctly, enforce it in court, or defend your property against a claim that should never have been filed. Reach out today for a free consultation.

Mechanic Liens Lawyer Irvine, CA

A mechanics lien is a legal claim recorded against real property by someone who improved that property and was not paid. Contractors, subcontractors, laborers, and material suppliers can all use this tool. Once recorded with the county recorder, the lien clouds the title. The owner may struggle to sell, refinance, or borrow against the property until the debt is resolved.

A properly recorded lien turns an ignored invoice into a problem the owner cannot ignore. But the process is technical, and a missed step can eliminate out your rights entirely. Our Irvine mechanic liens attorneys handle mechanics lien claims from the first preliminary notice through foreclosure litigation.

Types of Mechanic Liens Cases We Handle in Irvine

Payment problems on construction projects take many forms, and the right remedy depends on who you are and where the money stopped. We represent contractors, developers, and other companies, and we take on property owner matters when the case is substantial. These are the matters our Irvine, CA mechanic liens lawyers handle most often.

• Lien recording and perfection. We prepare and record mechanics liens that hold up under scrutiny. Getting the amount, property description, and service dates right matters, because defective liens get challenged and removed.
• Lien foreclosure lawsuits. Recording a lien is step one. If payment still doesn’t come, we file suit to foreclose the lien and force a sale of the property to satisfy the debt.
• Defense against invalid liens. Property owners and developers hire us to challenge liens that were recorded late, inflated, or filed without the required notices. And many liens fail on exactly those grounds.
• Preliminary notice compliance. Subcontractors and suppliers generally must serve a preliminary notice within 20 days of first furnishing labor or materials. We help clients get this right before a dispute ever starts.
• Stop payment notices. A stop notice intercepts construction funds still held by the owner or lender. It’s a separate remedy that often works alongside a lien, and sometimes works when a lien can’t.
• Payment bond claims. On public works and bonded private projects, we pursue claims against the payment bond when direct payment fails.
• Lien release and removal petitions. When an expired or invalid lien sits on a title, we petition the court to clear it.
• Construction litigation. Our services cover the breach of contract, defect, and delay claims that usually come with them.

Why Choose Ghassemian Law Group as my Mechanic Liens Lawyer in Irvine, CA?

26 Years of Construction and Business Litigation Experience

Mahyar Ghassemian built her career as a business and construction litigator at prominent Southern California firms before opening her own practice in 2010, which became Ghassemian Law Group in 2013. She earned a master’s degree in physics from California State University, Long Beach with honors and graduated Cum Laude from Western State University College of Law in 1999. She volunteers with organizations including NAWBO, the AGC, and the OCBA. Every attorney at our firm handles mechanics lien matters, so your case is never an afterthought.

Results in Construction Payment Disputes

We have recovered millions of dollars for clients in construction and business disputes. We’ve recuperated substantial sums owed to general contractors for completed work, saved contractors’ licenses and companies, and protected a contractor’s personal assets in a dispute with a bond company. When a general contractor refuses to pay a subcontractor, or an owner withholds a final draw, we know how to convert that debt into actual payment. Consultations are free, and we’ll tell you honestly whether a lien is worth pursuing.

Understanding Mechanic Liens Cases

Deadlines, Enforcement, and Payment Recovery for Mechanics Lien Cases

California’s lien deadlines function like a statute of limitations. Miss one and the claim goes away, no matter how much you’re owed. The key limitations periods:

• Preliminary notice: subcontractors and suppliers must serve notice within 20 days of first furnishing work or materials, according to CSLB lien guidance.
• Recording the lien: under the Civil Code deadlines, a direct contractor generally has 90 days after completion, shortened to 60 days if the owner records a notice of completion. Subcontractors and suppliers get 90 days, shortened to 30.
• Enforcing the lien: the claimant must file a foreclosure action within 90 days of recording, per the enforcement statute, or the lien expires and becomes unenforceable.
• Content requirements: the recorded claim must include the required lien notice and proof of service, or it may be invalid.

A valid lien secures the reasonable value of the work or the contract price. It does not cover every dollar of a dispute, which is why lien claims often pair with breach of contract actions and other payment disputes.

What Are Important Aspects of a Mechanics Lien Case?

Documentation decides most of these cases. Before anyone argues about the law, the records get examined.

• The written contract, change orders, and any signed extras
• Proof the preliminary notice was served, and when
• Invoices, payment applications, and lien releases already signed
• Evidence of the project completion date, which starts the recording clock
• The claimant’s contractor license status, since unlicensed contractors face serious collection barriers

For owners, the analysis goes the other way. CSLB guidance notes that an owner can end up paying twice for the same work if a direct contractor pockets funds without paying subcontractors. Owners can take steps to protect against liens, including collecting unconditional releases with every progress payment.

What Is The Mechanics Lien Case Timeline?

Most lien matters move fast by litigation standards because the statute forces them to. A typical sequence looks like this:

• Preliminary notice served within 20 days of starting work
• Demand for payment once the invoice goes unpaid
• Lien recorded with the Orange County recorder within the applicable window
• Foreclosure lawsuit filed within 90 days of recording
• Settlement, release bond, or judgment and court-ordered sale

Many cases resolve shortly after recording. The lien gets attention. We’ve seen owners who ignored invoices for months release funds within weeks of a recorded claim, and our lien filing deadlines FAQ covers the timing questions we hear most. Contractors who plan ahead and know how to get paid rarely need to litigate at all.

What Should You Bring to Your Mechanics Lien Consultation?

Bring what you have to you consultation appointment. We can work with incomplete files, but more is better.

• Your contract and all change orders
• Invoices, payment records, and correspondence about the debt
• Copies of any preliminary notice and proof of service
• Records showing when the project was completed
• Any lien documents already recorded or received

At your free consultation, an Irvine mechanics lien attorney will review your deadlines first, then map out your realistic options and costs.

California Legal Resources for Mechanic Liens Cases

California’s lien rules live in the Civil Code, and the state publishes plain-language guidance for both claimants and owners. These resources help you verify the basics.

• The California Legislative Information site publishes the full text of the mechanics lien statutes.
• The Contractors State License Board explains how liens work and how owners can prevent them.
• The Superior Court of Orange County handles lien foreclosure actions filed in this county.

Reach Out to Ghassemian Law Group to Schedule a Consultation

The lien timeframe and deadline may already be running on your project. Whether you’re a contractor chasing payment or an owner staring at a recorded claim, a mechanic liens lawyer in Irvine can tell you exactly where you stand. Your initial consultation is free. Contact us today to schedule a time that works for you.