New Mexico Mechanic Lien Filing Deadlines

Contractors — 120-Day Mechanic Lien Claim Filing Deadline

Under New Mexico law, contractors must record a Mechanic Lien Claim within 120 days after completion of the contract. This is the longest filing period among New Mexico claimant types. No preliminary notice is required for contractors.

The 120-day deadline is measured from completion of the contract, not from last furnishing of labor or materials. Contractors should carefully determine the contract completion date to calculate the correct filing deadline.

Subcontractors & Materialmen — 90-Day Filing Deadline

Subcontractors and materialmen must record a Mechanic Lien Claim within 90 days after completion of the project. This deadline runs from project completion, not from the subcontractor's last date of furnishing.

Subcontractors not in privity with the contractor must have served a Notice of Right to Claim a Mechanic Lien within 60 days of first furnishing (for claims over $5,000) as a prerequisite to filing. Those on residential projects of 4 or fewer units are exempt from this notice requirement.

Residential Stop Notice — 20-Working-Day Window

On residential projects (4 or fewer dwelling units), the original contractor's final bill triggers a 20-working-day window during which subcontractors and suppliers may file mechanic liens. The contractor must notify all subcontractors and the owner of this filing window.

Subcontractors must notify their suppliers and certify compliance within 5 days of receiving the contractor's notification. This compressed timeline requires prompt action on residential projects.

Late Notice — 30-Day Lookback Protection

If the Notice of Right to Claim a Mechanic Lien is filed more than 60 days after first furnishing, the mechanic lien protects only materials shipped within the 30-day period prior to the date of the notice. This partial protection encourages timely filing but preserves some rights for claimants who miss the 60-day deadline.