MOMissouri
Missouri Lien Law Deadlines for Suppliers and Subcontractors
Missouri's lien filing period generally runs for 6 months after the debt accrues. Notice requirements differ for original contractors, indirect suppliers and residential properties. Filing with the circuit clerk starts a separate enforcement period.
Public date calculations cover Florida and Kansas. Missouri dates require qualified review.
Risk context
Missouri is High Risk for Suppliers
Missouri's filing trigger is when the indebtedness accrued. Do not automatically substitute the last delivery or invoice due date. Before choosing a filing date, establish your contracting role and the property's residential category: those facts determine disclosure, prefiling notice and consent requirements.
Deadline schedule
Missouri Mechanics Lien Deadlines (Updated 2026)
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| Deadline Type | Timing | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Lien Filing Deadline | 6 months after indebtedness accrued | File the verified lien account with the circuit clerk under RSMo 429.080. Establish the accrual date from the claim's facts; last furnishing alone does not settle it. |
| Original-Contractor Disclosure | Before receiving payment | A qualifying original contractor must give the prescribed disclosure before any payment, at contract execution, material delivery, work commencement or with the first invoice. RSMo 429.012 has an exception for certain new residences with title-insurance lien protection. This is separate from the indirect claimant's ten-day notice. |
| 10-Day Notice Before Filing | At least 10 days before the chosen filing date, when applicable | A claimant other than the original contractor generally gives the owner or agent the notice under RSMo 429.100, with the required service and proof. The residential branch in RSMo 429.016 displaces this requirement; RSMo 429.110 permits recording instead only when its owner-absence conditions are met. |
| Owner-Occupied Repairs, Remodels and Additions | Signed consent for a claimant other than the original contractor | For the existing owner-occupied residential property of four units or fewer covered by RSMo 429.013, attach the prescribed signed owner consent to the lien claim. The original contractor is exempt from this consent condition. |
| Other Qualifying Residential Property | Notice of rights at least 5 calendar days before the stated closing, if triggered | Under RSMo 429.016, the owner's recorded notice of intended sale triggers this recording duty. A claimant accurately identified in an earlier notice of rights need not record another. This branch excludes the owner-occupied repair category above and does not require the RSMo 429.100 ten-day notice. |
| Weekends and Holidays | Review the particular filing and office | Do not assume a general next-business-day extension for the six-month lien filing. RSMo 429.016 separately specifies an office-opening adjustment for its notice of rights. |
| Enforcement Deadline | 6 months from filing | Lawsuit to foreclose on the lien must be filed by this date (RSMo 429.170). |
| Statutes | Governing statutes | Mo. Rev. Stat. §429.010; §429.080; §429.100; also §§ 429.012, 429.013, 429.016, 429.110, 429.170, and 506.060. |
Supplier pitfalls
Common Supplier Mistakes in Missouri
Sending the owner disclosure instead of the 10-day notice
The disclosure notice in RSMo 429.012 is the original contractor's duty. Indirect suppliers generally use RSMo 429.100, but must first check whether the residential RSMo 429.016 branch applies instead. A supplier can be an original contractor when it contracts directly with the owner; resolve disputed agency or contract facts before selecting the notice.
Filing with the wrong office
Missouri mechanics liens are filed with the clerk of the circuit court. The separate residential notice of rights goes to the recorder of deeds. When a ten-day notice is required, plan its service before the intended lien filing date.
Missing the 6-month enforcement deadline
Filing the lien starts a second 6-month clock: suit must be filed within 6 months after filing the lien (RSMo 429.170).
Deadline calculator
Not Sure Which Missouri Deadline Applies?
Use this Missouri guide and collect your project facts for qualified review.
Review Missouri project factsThe public calculator provides dates only for reviewed Florida and Kansas scenarios; it does not calculate a Missouri date.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Missouri lien law deadlines?
Generally, file with the circuit clerk within six months after the indebtedness accrued, then sue within six months after filing. The applicable prefiling step depends on original-contractor status and the residential category. Resolve accrual and calendar questions instead of assuming the last delivery is the trigger or a weekend grants more time.
Does Missouri require a preliminary notice from suppliers?
The answer depends on the contract and property. Original contractors have disclosure duties; indirect claims generally need ten days' notice before filing. Existing owner-occupied repairs may also require signed consent, while qualifying residential property under RSMo 429.016 follows its separate notice-of-rights provisions. Our guide to the notice of intent to lien explains how pre-lien notices fit a collections timeline.
How long do I have to enforce a Missouri lien?
6 months after filing the lien (RSMo 429.170). The filing deadline and the enforcement deadline are separate 6-month clocks, so calendar both.
Can I use my last delivery as the debt-accrual date?
Not automatically. The statute uses indebtedness accrual, which must be established for the particular claim. If that date is missing or disputed, obtain a Missouri construction attorney's review rather than calculating from a convenient delivery or invoice date.
Important note