The Mechanic’s Lien is the form a claimant uses to record a claim of lien for labor, services, equipment or materials furnished for a work of improvement on California real property. It is published by the San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk as a Recorder document, so it is not one of the forms for San Bernardino County property tax matters, even though it sits on the same county forms list. The PDF holds the lien claim and verification, a Notice of Mechanics Lien to the owner, and two proof of service affidavits. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the original is published by the county.
Last updated
What is Mechanic’s Lien – San Bernardino County, CA?
The Mechanic’s Lien is a California claim of lien, in which the claimant states that it furnished labor, services, equipment and/or materials for a work of improvement on described real property and is owed a stated sum after all just credits and offsets.
The San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk publishes this version, and the county's forms list files it under the Recorder. The PDF has four parts:
- The claim of lien: claimant, property (county, street address, legal description), amount due with interest, the labor or materials furnished, who employed the claimant, and the owner or reputed owner.
- A VERIFICATION signed under penalty of perjury under California law.
- A NOTICE OF MECHANICS LIEN addressed to the property owner. It warns that after the lien is recorded, a legal action seeking a court-ordered foreclosure sale may be filed, and that the action must be filed no later than 90 days after the recording date.
- A PROOF OF SERVICE AFFIDAVIT under California Civil Code section 8416, with a version for service on the owner and an alternate version for service on the lender or direct contractor.
The form notes that the Proof of Service Affidavit and Notice of Mechanic’s Lien Claim must be attached. The county's forms list also shows a separate Release of Mechanic’s Lien, which is a different document from this claim.
Who needs to file Mechanic’s Lien – San Bernardino County, CA?
The claimant, meaning the person or firm claiming a mechanic’s lien for labor, services, equipment and/or materials furnished for a work of improvement on real property in California, uses this form. The claim has a blank for the county where the property is located.
- Claimant's signer: the VERIFICATION is completed by someone who states a title with the claimant and says they are authorized to make the verification for the claimant.
- Person serving the lien: the Proof of Service Affidavit must be completed and signed by the person who serves the lien and the notice, not necessarily the claimant.
- Owner or reputed owner: receives the lien and the Notice of Mechanics Lien. The notice suggests the owner may wish to speak with the contractor, contact an attorney, or visit the Contractors State License Board web site at www.cslb.ca.gov.
- Lender or direct contractor: served instead of the owner only when the owner or reputed owner cannot be served; the alternate affidavit is used then.
The form prints no eligibility test beyond the claim itself, so questions about who may claim a lien go to an attorney or the Contractors State License Board.
When to file Mechanic’s Lien – San Bernardino County, CA
You complete this form when you are claiming a mechanic’s lien for labor, services, equipment or materials furnished for a work of improvement and a sum remains due after credits and offsets. The form prints no deadline for recording the lien itself.
Timing printed on the form runs from recording. The Notice of Mechanics Lien states that a legal action seeking a court-ordered foreclosure sale must be filed no later than 90 days after the date the lien is recorded. The lien and notice must also be served on the owner, or on the lender or direct contractor if the owner cannot be served, and the proof of service page is recorded with the lien and notice. Failure to serve makes the lien unenforceable as a matter of law under Civil Code Section 8024(d). Check the dates that apply to your project with an attorney or the Contractors State License Board.
Documents you need
- Notice of Mechanic’s Lien Claim: the NOTICE OF MECHANICS LIEN page in this PDF, which the form says must be attached to the lien.
- Proof of Service Affidavit (on owner): completed and signed by the person who served the lien and notice on the owner or reputed owner, and recorded with them.
- Alternate Proof of Service Affidavit (on lender or direct contractor): used instead only when the owner or reputed owner cannot be served; completed and signed by the person who served the construction lender or direct contractor.
How to fill out Mechanic’s Lien – San Bernardino County, CA
Enter the recording and return address
In the top block, RECORDING REQUESTED BY AND WHEN RECORDED MAIL DOCUMENT TO, enter the name, street address, city, state and ZIP code where the recorded document should be mailed. Leave the space above the line to the Recorder.
Name the claimant
Under the title, enter the full name of the person or firm claiming the mechanic’s lien on the line labeled for the claimant.
Identify the property
Enter the County and the Street Address of the real property, then the Legal Description. The state is printed as California.
State the amount and interest
In the sentence beginning After deducting all just credits and offsets, enter the sum due, the interest rate in percent per annum, and the date interest runs from.
Describe the work furnished
List the labor, services, equipment and/or materials for which the sum is claimed.
Name who hired the claimant
Enter the name of the person or company by whom the claimant was employed, or to whom the claimant furnished the labor, services, equipment and/or materials.
List the owners
Enter the name(s) and address(es) of the owner(s) or reputed owner(s) of the real property.
Sign for the claimant
Enter the Name of Claimant and have the claimant sign on the line marked By (Signature of claimant).
Complete the verification
Enter your title and the claimant's name, then the date and city of execution (California). Sign; the verification is made under penalty of perjury under California law.
Complete one proof of service
After serving the lien and notice, the person who served them fills in only one section: the affidavit on the owner, or the alternate affidavit on the lender or direct contractor if the owner cannot be served. Enter name, person served, capacity, service address, date, city and county, and sign.
Review, download and assemble
Check that every claim line is complete, the verification is signed and one proof of service is signed. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and assemble the package described under How to submit.
How to submit Mechanic’s Lien – San Bernardino County, CA
The lien is submitted by recording it with the county recorder's office of the county where the property is located; the county forms list files this form under the Recorder. It is also served by mail on the owner.
- Recording: record the Mechanic’s Lien, the Notice of Mechanics Lien and the completed proof of service page together with the County Recorder. The form prints no address, portal or appointment rule, so confirm how to record with the Recorder through https://arc.sbcounty.gov/forms-fees/, where the agency also lists a Fee Schedule (Recorder-County Clerk).
- Return address: use the RECORDING REQUESTED BY AND WHEN RECORDED MAIL DOCUMENT TO block at the top to say where the recorded document should be mailed.
- Service on the owner: the form requires registered mail, certified mail, or first-class mail evidenced by a certificate of mailing, postage prepaid, to a residence or business address of the owner, lender or contractor.
FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Recording the lien without serving it and the Notice of Mechanics Lien on the owner, which the form says makes the lien unenforceable as a matter of law (Civil Code Section 8024(d)).
- Serving by ordinary mail with no certificate of mailing; the form allows only registered mail, certified mail, or first-class mail evidenced by a certificate of mailing, postage prepaid.
- Sending service to an address that is not a residence or business address for the owner, lender or contractor.
- Using the alternate affidavit for the lender or direct contractor when the owner could be served; it applies only when the owner cannot be served.
- Leaving the Proof of Service Affidavit unsigned by the person who actually made the service.
- Recording the lien without the completed proof of service page and the Notice of Mechanics Lien; the form says the page is recorded with both.
- Leaving the title or claimant name blank in the VERIFICATION, which states the signer is authorized to verify the claim for the claimant.
- Leaving the legal description or the interest rate and start date blank in the claim paragraph about the sum due.
Frequently asked questions
What is the San Bernardino County Mechanic’s Lien form?
It is a California claim of lien published by the San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk and filed under the Recorder. It states the amount claimed for labor, services, equipment or materials furnished for a work of improvement, and includes a verification, a notice to the owner and proof of service affidavits.
Is the Mechanic’s Lien a San Bernardino County property tax form?
No. The county lists it as a Recorder document. It is a claim for unpaid labor or materials recorded against real property, while the county's Assessor forms (exemptions, base year value claims and similar) are listed separately on the same forms page.
Do I have to serve the owner with the mechanic’s lien?
Yes. The form says that failing to serve the lien and the Notice of Mechanic’s Lien on the owner makes the lien unenforceable as a matter of law. If the owner cannot be served, service on the construction lender or direct contractor is the alternative.
How must the lien and notice be served?
By registered mail, certified mail, or first-class mail evidenced by a certificate of mailing, postage prepaid. The address must be a residence or business address for the owner, lender or contractor. The person who serves it completes and signs the Proof of Service Affidavit.
What must be attached to the Mechanic’s Lien?
The form says the Proof of Service Affidavit and the Notice of Mechanic’s Lien Claim must be attached. The proof of service page, with either the owner section or the alternate section completed, is recorded with the County Recorder along with the lien and notice.
How long does the owner have before a foreclosure action is filed?
The notice printed on the form says a legal action seeking a court-ordered foreclosure sale must be filed no later than 90 days after the date the lien is recorded. For legal advice on your situation, the notice points to an attorney or the Contractors State License Board.
Can I fill out the Mechanic’s Lien online?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not record, serve or file the lien; you record it with the County Recorder and serve it by mail as the form requires.
Ready to fill out Mechanic’s Lien – San Bernardino County, CA?
Fill out Mechanic’s Lien – San Bernardino County, CA now