Montana Code Annotated
Part 5. Construction Liens
71-3-535. Attachment of lien -- filing

71-3-535. Attachment of lien -- filing. (1) A person's lien does not attach and may not be enforced unless, after entering into the contract under which the lien arises, the person has filed a lien not later than 90 days after:
(a) the person's final furnishing of services or materials; or
(b) the owner files a notice of completion pursuant to 71-3-533.
(2) (a) The lien must be filed with the county clerk and recorder of the county in which the improved real estate is located, and the county clerk and recorder may allow the lien to be filed electronically.
(b) The person claiming the lien shall certify to the county clerk and recorder that a copy of the lien has been served on the owner of record as provided in 71-3-534(2).
(3) The lien statement must contain:
(a) the name and address of the person claiming the lien;
(b) a description of the real property against which the lien is claimed sufficient to identify it;
(c) the name of the contracting owner;
(d) the name and address of the party with whom the person claiming the lien contracted to furnish services or materials;
(e) a description of the services or materials provided;
(f) the amount unpaid for services or materials or, if no amount is fixed by the contract, a good faith estimate of the amount unpaid, designated as an estimate;
(g) (i) the date on which the services or materials were first furnished; and
(ii) the date on which the services or materials were last furnished; and
(h) a declaration that a notice of a right to claim a lien was given to the contracting owner or an explanation of why the notice was not required.
(4) A lien notice that is filed pursuant to this section before the person claiming the lien has substantially furnished services or materials pursuant to a real estate improvement contract is not effective to create a construction lien unless the lien claimant is prevented from fulfilling the lien claimant's obligation because of the fault of another person.
(5) Except as provided in subsection (6), a lien attaches at the commencement of work as defined in 71-3-522.
(6) A lien attaches when it is filed if it is for the preparation of plans, surveys, or architectural or engineering plans or drawings for any change in the physical condition of land or structures that are not used incident to producing a change in the physical condition of the real estate.
History: En. Sec. 9, Ch. 202, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 357, L. 1999.