Filing deadline

Verified Statement of Lien is recorded in the Probate Office of the county where the property sits (every county if it spans several). Deadlines vary by claimant class: laborers 30 days from last labor; original contractors (including full-price lienors) 6 months from maturity of the debt; all other claimants 4 months from last work or materials furnished. No residential/commercial distinction.

Notice prerequisites

No notice is mandatory before starting work, but a materialman without a direct owner contract may send a pre-furnishing Notice to Owner to gain a 'full price' lien; if the owner does not object before the materials are used, an implied contract for the full price arises. Everyone except an original contractor must give the owner some statutory notice (either the advance notice or an Unpaid Balance notice) before recording a lien statement.

Service on the owner

The owner must receive the statutory notice (advance full-price notice or Unpaid Balance notice) before the lien statement is filed; the Unpaid Balance notice has no fixed deadline other than preceding the filing and must state the amount owed, for what, and by whom.

Enforcement

Suit to enforce must be brought within 6 months after the entire secured debt matures (i.e., becomes contractually due), in the circuit court of the county where the property lies; separate suits are needed for property spanning counties. Owner and, for unpaid-balance liens, the general contractor are necessary parties; parties not joined are not bound. No lis pendens requirement noted.

Ala. Code secs. 35-11-210 through 35-11-234