Mechanics lien law
New Hampshire lien deadlines for contractors
Updated · Checked against primary sources
The short answer
In New Hampshire, there is no lien filing for private work: the lien arises automatically and lasts 120 days after you last perform services or furnish materials. Secure it by attaching the property within those 120 days. Subcontractors and suppliers must give the owner written notice that they will claim a lien, ideally before starting, and send accounts every 30 days.
The deadlines
| Step | Rule |
|---|---|
| Preliminary notice: who | Subcontractors, suppliers and design professionals who contract with an agent, contractor or subcontractor of the owner (not the owner) must give written notice to the owner, or the person in charge of the property, that they will claim a lien. |
| Preliminary notice: when | Before performing the labor or furnishing the material (RSA 447:5). Notice may be given afterward, but the lien then covers only amounts then due or later becoming due to the owner's contractor (RSA 447:6). (After giving notice, furnish the owner a written account at least once every 30 days (RSA 447:8). Separately, every lien claimant must notify the construction lender within 15 business days after the later of the lender's jobsite posting or first furnishing, though failure alone does not invalidate the lien (RSA 447:12-b).) |
| File or register the lien | No recording step for private projects. The lien arises by statute and continues for 120 days after the services are performed or the materials furnished, unless paid sooner (RSA 447:9). |
| Enforce or perfect it | Secure the lien by attachment of the property while the lien continues, with the writ and return expressly stating that purpose; in practice this must happen within the 120-day period (RSA 447:9, 447:10). |
Other notices and rules
- Public works: liens attach to money due from the state or a political subdivision only if filed within 90 days after completion and acceptance of the project; bond claims likewise within 90 days, with a petition within one year after filing the claim (RSA 447:15, 447:17, 447:18).
- A properly secured attachment has priority over a construction mortgage except to the extent the lender shows disbursements paid subs and suppliers (RSA 447:12-a).
Common questions
- Do I need to send a preliminary notice in New Hampshire?
- Subcontractors, suppliers and design professionals who contract with an agent, contractor or subcontractor of the owner (not the owner) must give written notice to the owner, or the person in charge of the property, that they will claim a lien. Before performing the labor or furnishing the material (RSA 447:5). Notice may be given afterward, but the lien then covers only amounts then due or later becoming due to the owner's contractor (RSA 447:6)..
- How long do I have to file a lien in New Hampshire?
- No recording step for private projects. The lien arises by statute and continues for 120 days after the services are performed or the materials furnished, unless paid sooner (RSA 447:9).
- How long does a New Hampshire lien last before I have to enforce it?
- Secure the lien by attachment of the property while the lien continues, with the writ and return expressly stating that purpose; in practice this must happen within the 120-day period (RSA 447:9, 447:10).
General information from the statutes cited below, checked 2026-09-24. Lien law is strict and details depend on your role and contract. Confirm with a construction lawyer in New Hampshire before relying on a deadline.
Where Pavado comes in
How Pavado builds a CRM around your jobs
Lien rights are usually lost to a calendar, not a court. We build CRMs that start each job's notice and lien clocks from its real start and completion dates and remind you before every deadline, so the rights you earned by doing the work are still there when a customer stops paying.
Instead of bending your shop around someone else's software, we build the system around how your jobs actually move, and connect it to what you already use.
- Your pipeline, your stages. From first call to paid invoice, set up the way your team already works.
- Automations for the busywork. Follow-ups, reminders and handoffs that happen without anyone remembering.
- One record per customer. Calls, quotes, jobs, photos and invoices in one place instead of five apps.
- Connected to your stack. QuickBooks or Xero, Gmail or Outlook, payments and e-sign, plus thousands more through Zapier and an API.
- 1.Book a free demo and walk us through how a job moves today.
- 2.We map the workflow and send a scoped proposal, free.
- 3.We build it, connect your tools and get your team using it.
The first conversation and a scoped proposal are free, and we will tell you early if we are not the right fit.
Go deeper
- GuideWhen to File a Construction Lien: 2026 DeadlinesFile while the clock runs: 30 to 60 days in Canada (60 in Ontario), 90 to 180 in most US states, counted from completion. Registering costs $200 to $500.
- GuideCustomer Short Paid the Final Invoice: 5 MovesBefore you chase the balance, decide whether to deposit the cheque. In the US, cashing one marked 'paid in full' can legally erase what you are owed.
- GuideHow to Collect a Contractor Deposit: 5 RulesMake the deposit due 3 to 5 business days before the start date, size it to your upfront spend, and check state caps: California's is $1,000, not $10,000.
- GuideProgress Payment Schedule: 6 Rules That Get PaidEight states cap what you can collect up front. California's limit is $1,000. How to build a draw schedule under your legal ceiling and stay cash positive.
Other states
- USAlabama lien deadlines
- USAlaska lien deadlines
- USArizona lien deadlines
- USArkansas lien deadlines
- USCalifornia lien deadlines
- USColorado lien deadlines
Sources
Cite this page
Pavado, “New Hampshire Lien Deadlines 2026”, https://www.pavadotech.com/lien-deadlines/new-hampshire, updated 2026-09-24.