The Mechanics' Lien (Claim of Lien) is a sample document that the Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder publishes among its Recorder Sample Documents. A claimant uses it to state a claim for labor, services, equipment and/or materials furnished for a work of improvement on real property in California, and to verify that claim under penalty of perjury. On FillingPDF you can fill out the form online and download or print the completed PDF; the original is published by the county at rivcoacr.org, and the completed form must be delivered to the county office by mail or in person.
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What is Mechanics' Lien (Claim of Lien) – Riverside County, CA?
The Mechanics' Lien (Claim of Lien) is a one-document claim in which a person or firm, called the Claimant, states that it furnished labor, services, equipment and/or materials for a work of improvement on described real property in California and is owed money for them.
The form is built around a short set of statements. It names the Claimant and the property, gives the amount due and unpaid after deducting all just credits and offsets, and states the interest rate and the date the amount became due. It then gives a general description of the work or materials, the name of the person or company that hired or contracted with the Claimant, and the name(s) and address(es) of the owner(s) or reputed owner(s) of the property. The Claimant, or an authorized agent, signs the claim, and a separate Verification is signed under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California.
The top of the page carries a block headed Recording requested by and when recorded mail to and a space marked for the Recorder's use only.
The Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder lists this form as a Recorder Sample Document. The office states that it makes no representation about whether these samples suit your purposes, and that its employees cannot give legal advice or help prepare legal documents.
Who needs to file Mechanics' Lien (Claim of Lien) – Riverside County, CA?
The form is for a person or firm that claims a mechanics' lien for labor, services, equipment and/or materials it furnished for a work of improvement on real property, and that wants to complete the claim on a Riverside County Recorder sample document.
- The Claimant: the person or firm named in the first statement of the form, whose full name is entered at the top.
- An authorized agent: the claim may be signed by the Claimant or an authorized agent, who adds their title.
- The person who verifies: the Verification is signed by an individual who states their title with the Claimant, that they are authorized to make the verification for the Claimant, and that they have read the claim and know its contents.
The form does not say who is entitled to a lien. The county's forms page says that its employees cannot provide legal advice and that questions about which document is appropriate for your transaction should go to an attorney or another professional adviser.
When to file Mechanics' Lien (Claim of Lien) – Riverside County, CA
You complete this claim when you are the Claimant and an amount for labor, services, equipment and/or materials is due and unpaid, because the form states the sum due after all just credits and offsets and the date that sum became due. No deadline for recording the claim is printed on the form. For timing questions, the county's forms page directs you to an attorney or other professional adviser, since county staff cannot give legal advice.
How to fill out Mechanics' Lien (Claim of Lien) – Riverside County, CA
Enter the recording and return details
In the block headed Recording requested by and when recorded mail to, enter the name, street address, and city, state and ZIP code to which the recorded document should be returned. Leave the space marked for the Recorder's use only untouched.
Name the Claimant
In the first statement, enter the full name of the person or firm claiming the mechanics' lien. This is the Claimant referred to throughout the form.
Identify the county and the property
Enter the County in California and describe the real property where the work or materials were furnished. A street address is sufficient, but the form advises giving both the street address and the legal description.
Enter the amount due and unpaid
Write the sum due after deducting all just credits and offsets. Then enter the interest rate in percent per annum and the date the amount became due.
Describe the work or materials
Give a general description of the labor, services, equipment and/or materials the Claimant furnished.
Name who hired the Claimant
Enter the person or company by whom the Claimant was employed, or to whom it furnished the labor, services, equipment and/or materials. This is usually the person or firm that ordered from or contracted with the Claimant.
List the property owners
Enter the name(s) and address(es) of the owner(s) or reputed owner(s) of the real property. The form notes this information can be obtained from the County Assessor's office where the property is located.
Sign as Claimant or authorized agent
Enter the name of the Claimant, then sign on the By line as the Claimant or an authorized agent and add the title.
Complete the Verification
Enter your title and the name of the Claimant in the Verification paragraph. Then enter the date of signature and sign as the individual who verifies that the contents of the claim are true.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check every entry against your records, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF in black ink on 8 1/2" x 11" white paper, and deliver it as described under How to submit.
How to submit Mechanics' Lien (Claim of Lien) – Riverside County, CA
The county's forms page says its forms do not allow online submission. The completed Mechanics' Lien (Claim of Lien) must be delivered by mail or in person to your local Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder office.
- By mail: send the signed and verified original to your local Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder office. Enter the name and address for return of the recorded document in the block at the top of the form headed Recording requested by and when recorded mail to.
- In person: take the signed and verified original to your local Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder office.
The county requires all of its forms to be printed in black ink on 8 1/2" x 11" white paper. The form prints no mailing address, fee or appointment rule of its own, so check the county's forms page at https://www.rivcoacr.org/-forms for office information. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Printing the form on colored paper or in a color other than black ink; the county requires all forms in black ink on 8 1/2" x 11" white paper.
- Trying to submit the form online; the county says its forms do not allow online submission and must be delivered by mail or in person.
- Entering the full contract price instead of the sum due and unpaid after deducting all just credits and offsets.
- Describing the property only vaguely; the street address is sufficient, but the form advises giving both the street address and the legal description.
- Leaving the owner line blank; the form notes that owner information can be obtained from the County Assessor's office where the property is located.
- Signing the claim but skipping the Verification, which must be signed under penalty of perjury by someone authorized to verify for the Claimant.
- Filling in the space marked for the Recorder's use only.
- Assuming the sample fits your situation; the county makes no representation that its sample documents suit your purposes.
Frequently asked questions
What is a mechanics' lien (claim of lien) form?
It is a document in which a Claimant states that it furnished labor, services, equipment and/or materials for a work of improvement on real property in California and is owed an unpaid sum. The Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder publishes it as a Recorder Sample Document.
Can I file a mechanics lien in Riverside County online?
No. The county says its forms do not allow online submission and must be delivered by mail or in person to your local Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder office. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF, but the completed form still goes to the county through those channels.
Who signs the mechanics' lien form?
The Claimant or an authorized agent signs the claim and adds their title. A separate Verification is signed by an individual who states their title with the Claimant, confirms they are authorized to verify for it, and declares under penalty of perjury under California law that the claim is true.
Do I need the legal description of the property?
The form says the street address is sufficient, but it is advisable to give both the street address and the legal description of the property where the work or materials were furnished.
Where do I find the property owner's name for the lien?
The form notes that the owner or reputed owner information can be obtained from the County Assessor's office where the real property is located. Enter the name(s) and address(es) in the owner statement.
Can Riverside County staff help me complete the form?
Not with legal questions. The county states that its employees cannot provide legal advice or assist with preparing legal documents, and it makes no representation that its sample documents suit your purposes. Consult an attorney or other professional adviser.
What paper and ink does the county require?
All of the county's forms must be printed in black ink on 8 1/2" x 11" white paper. Use these when you print the completed Mechanics' Lien (Claim of Lien) before signing and delivering it.
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