The Lien & Privilege Certificate is a Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court form in which the Clerk, as Recorder of Mortgages, certifies that there are no uncancelled inscriptions of mechanic's liens and privileges for labor and material furnished on a building, filed in the exact name or names listed during a stated period. It comes from the Mortgage & Conveyance/UCC Department, and the Clerk's forms page lists it among the Search Requests. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the original PDF and the forms page stay with the Clerk of Court.
Last updated
What is Lien & Privilege Certificate – Jefferson Parish, LA?
The Lien & Privilege Certificate is the Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court certificate stating that no uncancelled inscriptions of mechanic's liens and privileges for labor and material furnished on building were filed in the exact names listed during a stated period.
The certification is made by the Clerk of Court and Recorder of Mortgages for the Parish of Jefferson, State of Louisiana, through the Mortgage & Conveyance/UCC Department, and the form closes with a date at 4:30 P.M. and a line for the Deputy Clerk of Court.
The form sets firm limits on what it covers:
- It is run exclusively in the name or names set forth, not in variations of them.
- Where a middle initial is given, identical names with no middle initial or a different one are not run unless specifically requested. Where none is given, identical names with middle initials are not run unless specifically requested.
- It does not reflect contracts, amendments or change orders filed in the record.
- The office takes no responsibility for any lien filed before or after the dates shown.
It also ties the search to a project: the blanks refer to the contract recorded in MOB and Folio, an Instrument No., and an acceptance, termination or default filed, with a space for exceptions. The Clerk's forms page lists it next to the General Mortgage Certificate, Mortgage Certificate, Conveyance Certificate and UCC Search, and asks that it be printed on legal size paper.
Who needs to file Lien & Privilege Certificate – Jefferson Parish, LA?
The Clerk's forms page offers this certificate under Search Requests in the Mortgage & Conveyance / UCC section. It states that the forms are samples intended for use by qualified notaries or attorneys only, and that Clerk of Court employees are prohibited from giving legal advice or helping complete any form.
In practice, the certificate is for a party who needs the Clerk to certify the mechanic's lien and privilege filings recorded against a named party for a building contract or project. The page also shows a related need: the Release of Building Contract must be submitted with lien & privilege certificates run in all names concerned covering the appropriate lien period.
Because the certificate is run only in the exact names written on it, anyone requesting it should supply every name concerned, with middle initials as they want them searched.
The form is not a general mortgage, conveyance or UCC search, which have their own forms in the same list, and it says nothing about property tax.
When to file Lien & Privilege Certificate – Jefferson Parish, LA
Request the certificate when you need the Clerk to certify the mechanic's lien and privilege filings for a stated period in specific names, for example to accompany a Release of Building Contract. The Clerk's forms page says a Release of Building Contract must be submitted with lien & privilege certificates run in all names concerned covering the appropriate lien period.
The form prints no due date of its own. It does fix the search period you enter, from one date to another, and the office states that it takes no responsibility for any lien filed prior or subsequent to the dates shown. Choose the dates with that limit in mind, because the certificate speaks only to that window. The certification line on the form carries a date and the time 4:30 P.M.
How to fill out Lien & Privilege Certificate – Jefferson Parish, LA
Use the legal size format
The Clerk's forms page asks that this certificate be printed on legal size paper, so set your printout to that size.
Enter the Mail to details
Complete Mail to, Address and City/State/ZIP Code with the name and address where the finished certificate should be sent.
List the exact names to search
Under "in the exact name or names of," enter each name as it should be run. Include a middle initial only if you want it searched, since names with different or missing initials are not run unless requested.
Enter the search period
Fill in the dates in "filed in our office from ____, 20 to ____, 20." The certificate covers only that window.
Identify the recorded contract
Enter the contract's MOB number, Folio and Instrument No., and the acceptance, termination or default filed, where the form refers to them.
Note any exceptions
Use the EXCEPT space for any exceptions that apply to the certification.
Leave the certification line to the Clerk
The closing line, with the date at 4:30 P.M. and the Deputy Clerk of Court, is the Clerk's certification; it is not yours to sign.
Review and download the PDF
Check that names, dates and the return address are correct, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and send it as described under How to submit.
How to submit Lien & Privilege Certificate – Jefferson Parish, LA
The form prints the contact details of the Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court, Mortgage & Conveyance/UCC Department, and the Clerk's forms page adds the rules on fees.
- Department address and phone: P.O. Box 10, Gretna LA 70054-0010, (504) 364-2954, as printed in the header of the form. Confirm with the department how a request for this certificate should be delivered, since the form itself names no other channel.
- Return address: the Mail to, Address and City/State/ZIP Code lines at the top tell the office where to send the finished certificate.
- Fees: the Clerk's forms page says all documents must be submitted with the appropriate fees and refers to its Fees page for the charges. The amount is not on the form.
- Related certificates: the forms page says that since April 7, 2017 the Clerk has contracted with Jefferson Certificate Corp., 217 Huey P. Long Ave., Gretna, LA 70053, to prepare mortgage and conveyance certificates; for ordinary acts of sale or mortgage it lists (504) 361-0206.
The Clerk's forms are at https://jeffparishclerk.gov/forms/. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the Clerk's channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Listing names in a different form than the one to be searched; the certificate is run exclusively in the exact names written on it, not in variations.
- Overlooking the middle-initial rule: names with no initial or a different initial are not run unless specifically requested.
- Expecting the certificate to show contracts, amendments or change orders filed in the record; the form says it does not reflect them.
- Relying on the certificate for liens filed before or after the dates entered; the office assumes no responsibility outside those dates.
- Submitting a Release of Building Contract without lien & privilege certificates run in all names concerned for the appropriate lien period.
- Printing the form on letter-size paper when the Clerk's forms page asks for legal size.
- Sending a request without the appropriate fees, which the Clerk's forms page says must accompany documents submitted.
- Asking Clerk of Court staff to help complete the form; employees are prohibited from giving legal advice or assistance with any form.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Lien & Privilege Certificate?
It is a Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court certificate stating that there are no uncancelled inscriptions of mechanic's liens and privileges for labor and material furnished on building, filed in the exact names listed during a stated period. It is issued through the Mortgage & Conveyance/UCC Department.
Is the Lien & Privilege Certificate a Jefferson Parish property tax form?
No. It is a Clerk of Court Mortgage & Conveyance/UCC certificate about mechanic's liens and privileges for labor and material furnished on buildings. Nothing on the form concerns property tax, so it does not answer Jefferson Parish property tax questions.
Can I fill out the Lien & Privilege Certificate online?
You can complete the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is independent of the Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court and does not file or deliver the form; you submit it through the Clerk's channels.
Does the certificate cover name variations or middle initials?
No. It is run exclusively in the names written on it. If you give a middle initial, names without one or with a different one are not run unless you request it. If you give none, names with initials are not run unless requested.
What does the certificate not show?
It does not reflect contracts, amendments or change orders filed in the record. It also covers only the dates shown, and the office takes no responsibility for any lien filed before or after those dates.
Do I need this certificate with a Release of Building Contract?
Yes, according to the Clerk's forms page: a Release of Building Contract must be submitted with lien & privilege certificates run in all names concerned covering the appropriate lien period.
Is there a fee for the Lien & Privilege Certificate?
The Clerk's forms page says all documents must be submitted with the appropriate fees and points to its Fees page for the charges. The form shows no amount, so check that page or call (504) 364-2954.
Can Clerk of Court staff help me complete the form?
No. The Clerk's forms page says the forms are samples for qualified notaries or attorneys only and that Clerk of Court employees are prohibited from giving legal advice or assistance with completing any form.
Ready to fill out Lien & Privilege Certificate – Jefferson Parish, LA?
Fill out Lien & Privilege Certificate – Jefferson Parish, LA now