Complaint for Breach of Contract and to Foreclose Mechanic's Lien
(GA)

Summary

This template complaint may be used by a primary contractor in Georgia to commence an action to foreclose a mechanic's lien (also sometimes referred to as a materialman's lien). This template contains practical guidance, drafting notes, and alternate clauses. Georgia mechanic's lien law provides for a special lien for parties who provide labor, services, or materials for the improvement of real property at the request of the property's owner, contractor, or an authorized agent of the owner or contractor. See Ga. Code Ann. § 44-14-361. To assert a mechanic's lien, a lien claimant must record a claim of lien within 90 days of the last work or delivery of materials to the project. (For a template see Claim of Mechanic's Lien (GA).) The claimant then has 365 days to commence action on the lien. However, if the owner has filed a notice of contest, the deadline for enforcing the lien is reduced to 60 days. Ga. Code Ann. § 44-14-368. For a template see Notice of Contest (Mechanic's Lien) (GA). Within thirty days of commencing an action on a mechanic's lien, the plaintiff must also file a notice of commencement of action. See Ga. Code Ann. § 44-14-361.1. See Cook Sales, Inc. v. Concrete Enterprises, LLC, 356 Ga. App. 899, 849 S.E.2d 734 (2020) (dismissing a case for failing to timely file the notice). This complaint may be used to foreclose on a mechanic's lien affecting commercial or residential real property. It requests that the court grant the plaintiff both a money judgment and the right to foreclose on the lien. This complaint should only be used by a lien claimant that has privity of contract with the owner. (Note that lien claimants who do not have a direct contract with the property's owner are subject to additional requirements set forth in Ga. Code Ann. § 44-14-361.5.) For a full listing of key content covering mechanic's liens, see Mechanic's Lien Resource Kit. For further guidance see Mechanic's Liens (GA), Mechanic's Lien Resource Kit (GA), and Mechanic's Lien Checklist (GA).