New York Laws
Article 2 - Mechanics' Liens
21 - Discharge of Lien for Public Improvement.

(a) When one year has elapsed since the filing of the notice of lien
or an extension thereof, unless, before the expiration thereof, either
an extension or an order continuing said lien has been filed in the
office where the notices are filed, or a notice of the pendency of an
action to enforce said lien has been filed as provided in section
eighteen of this article.
(b) When the period of time for which the lien has been continued by
order has expired, unless, before the expiration thereof, either an
order continuing said lien for a further period of time has been filed
in the offices where the notices are filed, or a notice of the pendency
of an action to enforce said lien has been filed as provided in section
eighteen of this article.
3. By satisfaction of a judgment rendered in an action to enforce the
lien.
3-a. Under the provisions of subdivisions four, five and six of this
section a discharge of lien shall only operate to relieve the
comptroller of the state or the financial officer of the public
corporation or the officer or person with whom the lien is filed of any
and all liability imposed upon such officer by reason of the filing of
the lien. Such lien shall be a valid and subsisting lien for all other
purposes until discharged as prescribed by the provisions of the other
subdivisions of this section.
4. By the contractor applying without notice to the supreme court of
this state or to any justice thereof or to the county judge of any
county for an order discharging such lien and depositing with the
comptroller of the state or the financial officer of the public
corporation, or the officer or person with whom the notice of lien is
filed, such a sum of money as is directed by a judge or a justice of the
court, which shall not be less than the amount claimed by the lienor,
with interest thereon for the term of one year from the time of making
such deposit, and such additional amount as the judge or justice deems
sufficient to cover all costs and expenses. The amount so deposited
shall remain with the comptroller or such financial officer or other
officer or person until the lien is otherwise discharged as prescribed
in this section.
(5) Either before or after the beginning of an action by a contractor
or subcontractor executing a bond or undertaking in an amount equal to
one hundred ten percent of such lien conditioned for the payment of any
judgement which may be recovered in an action to enforce the lien:
a. The execution of any such bond or undertaking by any fidelity or
surety company authorized by the laws of this state to transact
business, shall be sufficient; and where a certificate of qualification
has been issued by the superintendent of financial services under the
provisions of section one thousand one hundred eleven of the insurance
law, and has not been revoked, no justification or notice thereof shall
be necessary. Any such company may execute any such bond or undertaking
as surety by the hand of its officers, or attorney, duly authorized
thereto by resolution of its board of directors, a certified copy of
which resolution, under seal of said company, shall be filed with each
bond or undertaking. Any such bond or undertaking shall be filed with
the state or the public corporation with which the notice of lien is

filed and a copy shall be served upon the adverse party. The undertaking
is effective when so served and filed. If a certificate of qualification
issued pursuant to subsections (b), (c) and (d) of section one thousand
one hundred eleven of the insurance law is not filed with the
undertaking, a party may except, to the sufficiency of a surety and by a
written notice of exception served upon the adverse party within ten
days after receipt, a copy of the undertaking. Exceptions deemed by the
court to have been taken unnecessarily, or for vexation or delay, may,
upon notice, be set aside, with costs. Where no exception to sureties is
taken within ten days or where exceptions taken are set aside the
undertaking shall be allowed.
b. In the case of bonds or undertakings not executed pursuant to
paragraph a of this subdivision, the owner or contractor shall execute
an undertaking with two or more sufficient sureties, who shall be free
holders, to the state or public corporation with which the notice of
lien is filed. The sureties must together justify in at least double the
sum named in the undertaking. A copy of the undertaking, with notice
that the sureties will justify before the court, or a judge or justice
thereof, at the time and place therein mentioned, must be served upon
the lienor or his attorney, not less than five days before such time.
Upon the approval of the undertaking by the court, judge or justice an
order shall be made by such court, judge or justice discharging such
lien.
c. If the lienor cannot be found, or does not appear by attorney, then
service under this subsection may be made as prescribed in paragraph c
of subdivision four of section nineteen of this article for the service
of an undertaking with notice of justification of sureties.
Notwithstanding the other provisions of this subdivision relating to
service of notice, in any case where the mailing address of the lienor
is outside the state such service may be made by registered or certified
mail, return receipt requested, to such lienor at the mailing address
contained in the notice of lien.
d. Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, the provisions of
article twenty-five of the civil practice law and rules regulating
undertakings is applicable to a bond or undertaking given for the
discharge of a lien on account of public improvements.
6. Where a contractor has to his credit with the state or with a
public corporation, a sum of money by reason of an estimate due and
payable to him, and where payment of such estimate is withheld because a
notice of lien has been filed against his interest in said money, and
where said money is in excess of the amount claimed in the notice of
lien, the contractor may apply without notice to the supreme court of
this state or to any justice thereof or to the county judge of any
county, for an order discharging such lien and directing the comptroller
of the state or the financial officer or person with whom the lien is
filed, to retain from such estimate a sum of money, which shall not be
less than the amount claimed by the lienor, with interest thereon for
one year and such additional amount as the judge or justice deems
sufficient to cover all costs and expenses and to immediately pay over
the balance of such estimate to the contractor. The amount so retained
shall be held by the comptroller or such financial officer or other
officer or person until the lien is otherwise discharged as provided in
this section. The application for the order may be made upon an
affidavit of the contractor or his attorney and where there is of record
an assignment of all moneys the written consent of such assignee must be
presented to the court showing a proper case therefor.
6-a. Where a contractor has to his credit with the state, or with a
public corporation, a sum of money by reason of an estimate due and

payable to him, and where payment of such estimate is withheld because a
notice of lien has been filed against his interest in said money, and
where the amount due and payable under said estimate is at least one and
one-half times in excess of the amount stated to be due in said notice
of lien, the comptroller of the state or the financial officer or person
with whom the notice of lien is filed, may pay said estimate, after
deducting therefrom a sum which shall be one and one-half times the
amount stated to be due in said notice of lien, and said sum so deducted
shall be withheld until said lien is otherwise discharged, as provided
in this section.
7. Where it appears from the face of the notice of lien that the
claimant has no valid lien by reason of the character of the labor or
materials furnished and for which a lien is claimed, or where the notice
of lien is invalid by reason of failure to comply with the provisions of
section twelve of this article, or where it appears from the public
records that such notice has not been filed in accordance with the
provisions of section twelve of this article, the contractor or any
other party in interest, may apply to the supreme court of this state,
or to any justice thereof, or to the county judge of the county in which
the notice of lien is filed, for an order summarily discharging of
record the alleged lien. A copy of the papers upon which application
will be made together with a notice setting forth the court or the
justice thereof or the judge to whom the application will be made at a
time and place therein mentioned must be served upon the lienor not less
than five days before such time. If the lienor can not be found, such
service may be made as the court, justice or judge may direct. The
application must be made upon a verified petition accompanied by other
written proof showing a proper case therefor, and upon the approval of
the application by the court, justice or judge, an order shall be made
discharging the alleged lien of record.
8. By order of the court vacating or canceling such lien of record,
for neglect of the lienor to prosecute the same, granted pursuant to
section twenty-one-a of this article.