ROD 17, the Mechanic's Lien Undertaking, is a Government of the District of Columbia form, published by the Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR), in which an owner and a surety undertake to the Recorder of Deeds to pay any judgment recovered to enforce a recorded mechanic's lien. It is listed among the OTR publications, the same site people visit with dc property tax questions. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the original is published by OTR at the link below.
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What is ROD 17?
ROD 17 - Mechanic's Lien Undertaking is a District of Columbia form in which the owner of a property and a surety, both of the District of Columbia, promise the Recorder of Deeds that they will pay any judgment recovered in a suit to enforce a named mechanic's lien, plus the costs of the proceeding.
The printed text is a single undertaking. The owner and the surety submit it to the Recorder of Deeds for themselves and for their heirs, executors, administrators or personal representatives, and they agree that a judgment may be pronounced against all of them.
The top of the form identifies the lien it concerns: the Square, Suffix and Lot of the property, the Mechanic's Lien number, the address, the recording date, the amount of the lien and the amount of the bond. The claimant and the owner are named in a caption ("Claimant vs. Owner").
The form closes with a witness clause, four lines marked (Seal), and a notary acknowledgment in which a Notary Public certifies that the parties personally appeared and executed the undertaking as their act and deed.
The form is issued under the Government of the District of Columbia, Office of Tax and Revenue, and is addressed to the Recorder of Deeds, 1101 4th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024.
Who needs to file ROD 17?
The form names three roles. The claimant is the party on whose side the mechanic's lien stands, the owner is the property owner against whom the lien is asserted, and the surety is the party that joins the owner in the undertaking. The owner and the surety are the parties who undertake to pay any judgment, and the form states that both are of the District of Columbia.
Because the undertaking is made for each party's heirs, executors, administrators or personal representatives, those representatives are bound as the text describes. The form prints four (Seal) lines but does not say which party signs on which line.
Each party who signs must appear before a Notary Public, because the acknowledgment certifies that the party or parties personally appeared and executed the document.
The form does not describe who is required to use it or in what circumstances a lien must be backed by a bond; it applies to a specific mechanic's lien identified by its number and recording date. For questions about whether it fits your situation, contact the Recorder of Deeds at (202)727-5374.
When to file ROD 17
The form is completed after a mechanic's lien exists, because it asks for the Mechanic's Lien number, the recording date and the amount of the lien. No separate due date is printed on it.
The signing date is entered in the witness clause ("this day of 20"), and the notary's certificate repeats the date on which the undertaking was executed and the date the notary signed. Fill in the parties' details first, then have the owner and surety sign before the notary on the same occasion so the dates agree.
For any deadline tied to the underlying lien or to a suit to enforce it, ask the Recorder of Deeds at (202)727-5374; the form itself sets none.
How to fill out ROD 17
Identify the property and lien
In the header, enter the Square, Suffix and Lot of the property, the Mechanic's Lien # and the property Address.
Enter recording date and amounts
Write the Recording Date of the lien, the Amount of Lien in dollars and the Amount of Bond in dollars.
Name the claimant and the owner
In the caption, enter the Claimant above "vs." and the Owner below it.
Name the owner and the surety
In the undertaking paragraph, enter the name of the owner and the name of the surety; the form describes both as of the District of Columbia.
Enter the date in the witness clause
Complete "Witness our hands and seals this day of 20" with the day, month and year of signing.
Sign on the seal lines
Each party signs next to a (Seal) line; four such lines are printed. Sign before the notary, since the acknowledgment says the parties personally appeared.
Complete the notary acknowledgment
The Notary Public enters their name, the jurisdiction they serve, the execution date, the date given under hand and seal, their signature and the "My commission expires" date.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check that the lien details, amounts, names and dates match and that every signature is in place. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and deliver it as described under How to submit.
How to submit ROD 17
The form is addressed to the Recorder of Deeds, and it prints no other channel, portal or fee information. Its header gives the office as: Recorder of Deeds, 1101 4th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024, phone (202)727-5374.
- Recorder of Deeds: the owner and surety submit the signed and notarized undertaking to this office, whose address is printed on the form. Call (202)727-5374 to confirm how and when the office accepts it.
- Before you submit: make sure every party has signed on the (Seal) lines and the Notary Public has completed the acknowledgment, including the commission expiration date.
OTR publishes the blank PDF on its website at the official link shown on this page. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving out the Square, Suffix, Lot or Mechanic's Lien # in the header, so the undertaking is not tied to a specific lien.
- Having the parties sign without a Notary Public: the acknowledgment certifies that the parties personally appeared before the notary.
- Omitting the surety, or naming a surety or owner who is not of the District of Columbia, when the text describes both as of the District of Columbia.
- Leaving the notary block incomplete, for example without the notary's name, the date or the "My commission expires" entry.
- Entering different dates in the witness clause and in the notary certificate for the day the undertaking was executed.
- Leaving the Amount of Lien or Amount of Bond blank instead of entering the dollar figures the header asks for.
- Sending the completed form somewhere other than the Recorder of Deeds, to whom the undertaking is addressed.
Frequently asked questions
What is ROD 17, the Mechanic's Lien Undertaking?
ROD 17 is a District of Columbia form in which an owner and a surety undertake to the Recorder of Deeds to pay any judgment recovered in a suit to enforce a named mechanic's lien, together with the costs of that proceeding.
Does the ROD 17 Mechanic's Lien Undertaking need to be notarized?
The form includes a notary acknowledgment in which a Notary Public certifies that the parties personally appeared and executed the undertaking. The parties therefore sign before the notary, who completes the certificate and the commission expiration line.
Where do I send the Mechanic's Lien Undertaking in DC?
The form is addressed to the Recorder of Deeds, 1101 4th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024, phone (202)727-5374. It prints no other channel, so call that number to confirm how the office accepts the signed undertaking.
Who has to sign ROD 17?
The undertaking is made by the owner and the surety, both of the District of Columbia, and the form prints four (Seal) lines. It does not say which party uses which line, so ask the Recorder of Deeds if you are unsure.
What information about the lien does ROD 17 ask for?
The header asks for the Square, Suffix, Lot, Mechanic's Lien #, address, recording date, amount of lien and amount of bond. It also asks for the names of the claimant and the owner.
Is there a filing deadline for ROD 17?
No due date is printed on the form. It refers to an existing lien by number and recording date, so it is completed after the lien is recorded. For deadlines connected to the lien itself, contact the Recorder of Deeds at (202)727-5374.
Can I fill out ROD 17 online on FillingPDF?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service, is not affiliated with OTR and does not file the undertaking; you deliver it to the Recorder of Deeds yourself.
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