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How does filing a Notice of Contest of Lien change the deadline in Florida?

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What a Notice of Contest of Lien actually does

Under Florida's Construction Lien Law (Fla. Stat. ch. 713 Part I), a recorded claim of lien normally stays valid for 1 year. During that year, the lienor can sue to enforce it. Recording a Notice of Contest of Lien changes that clock: it shortens the lienor's time to file suit down to 60 days (Fla. Stat. 713.22). It does not erase the lien, and it does not decide who is right. It forces the other side to act — or lose the right to sue on that lien.

Why the deadline matters to you

• A lien sitting on your title for a full year can complicate a sale or refinance.
• Filing the Notice of Contest can push the dispute to a decision point in 60 days instead of a year.
• If the lienor does not sue within that 60-day window, the statute says their time to enforce the lien is cut off — but confirm the recorded dates and outcome with a construction attorney before assuming anything about your specific lien.

Before you file — check the basics first

A claim of lien must be recorded within 90 days of the lienor's last furnishing to be valid. Before deciding whether to file a Notice of Contest, it's worth checking:

• Whether the lien was recorded within that 90-day window.
• Whether a Notice to Owner was required and served properly.
• Whether you have already sent, or should send, a written request under Fla. Stat. 713.16 for a sworn statement of account — the lienor must answer within 30 days or risk losing the lien.

Never assume a lien is invalid or expired on your own — verify the recorded dates and the statute's requirements with a Florida construction attorney.

Other tools besides the Notice of Contest

• A "show cause" action can require the lienor to sue within 20 days (Fla. Stat. 713.21(4)).
• Transferring the lien to a bond (Fla. Stat. 713.24) removes it from your title — useful if you need to sell or refinance while the dispute continues.
• A fraudulent lien is a felony and can expose the lienor to damages (Fla. Stat. 713.31) — but that is a serious accusation to make, and it should go through an attorney, not a guess.

What to do next

Get the recorded lien document and check the dates against the 90-day and 1-year rules. Then paste the notice, the lien, or describe the job into the free tool below. It reads your own document and numbers — the dates, the amounts, who sent what — and explains what Florida's lien law requires next, in plain language, in English or Spanish. Nothing is saved. This is not legal advice; confirm every deadline and every filing with a Florida construction attorney before you record or pay anything.

Owner Lien Shield FL explains Florida's Construction Lien Law from the homeowner's side in plain language; it can be wrong, and it is not legal advice. Deadlines and forms under Fla. Stat. ch. 713 are strict — confirm with a Florida construction attorney or legal aid. Nothing you paste is stored.