How to File a Mechanics Lien in Wyoming
Step 1 — Confirm you have lien rights in Wyoming
Wyoming's recorded rules cover general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers (Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 29-2-109). Each of those roles has its own filing window — see Step 3. Wyoming rule detail: File claim of lien within 150 days of last furnishing of labor or materials. No preliminary notice required.
Step 2 — Wyoming requires no preliminary notice
Wyoming does not condition lien rights on an early notice. That removes the most common way claims are lost, but it also means the Step 3 filing date is your only checkpoint. Wyoming rule detail: File claim of lien within 150 days of last furnishing.
Step 3 — Your Wyoming filing deadline
Wyoming sets the window by claimant role: • General contractors: within 150 days of your last day of work or materials. • Subcontractors and suppliers: within 150 days of your last day of work or materials. The clock runs from last date of furnishing — not your invoice date. Punch-list and warranty callbacks generally do not restart it. Wyoming rule detail: File suit to enforce lien within 180 days of recording.
Step 4 — Prepare and record the lien in Wyoming
Record in the county where the property sits, under Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 16-6-113. The document must identify the property, the owner of record, the amount actually owed, and what you furnished. Overstating the amount can void the claim outright. Wyoming rule detail: Written notice within 90 days of last furnishing on public works projects.
Step 5 — Serve the recorded Wyoming lien
Wyoming requires service on County Clerk and Prime Contractor and Surety and Prime Contractor. Use Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested and keep the receipt. In many states an unserved lien is unenforceable even though it appears on title. Wyoming rule detail: File suit on payment bond within 1 year of last furnishing.
Step 6 — Enforce before the Wyoming deadline expires
You must sue to foreclose within 180 days (filing) (40 U.S.C. § 3133(b)(2)). Miss it and the lien expires and title clears, leaving only a contract claim. Wyoming rule detail: Second-tier claimants only. No notice = no bond claim.
Retainage rules that affect your Wyoming claim
Wyoming treats retainage on its own schedule (Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 16-6-601), so money still held back may have a different due date than your progress billings. Wyoming rule detail: File no sooner than 90 days AND no later than 1 year.
Other Wyoming requirements that void liens
• Public: prime must pay sub within 30 days of receiving payment. Interest accrues on late public payments. • Retainage released within 45 days of substantial completion. 10% maximum retainage. • Public prompt payment: prime must pay sub within 30 days of receiving payment from public owner. Interest accrues on late public payments.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a mechanics lien in Wyoming?
Wyoming requires the lien to be recorded within 120 days, measured from last date of furnishing. The exact window depends on your role — general contractors: within 150 days of your last day of work or materials.
Do I need to send a preliminary notice before filing in Wyoming?
No. Wyoming does not require a preliminary notice as a precondition to filing, which is unusual. Your filing deadline is therefore the only checkpoint protecting your lien rights.
Where do I file a mechanics lien in Wyoming?
File with the county recorder's office in the county where the property is located. Filing in the wrong county does not preserve your deadline, and re-filing in the correct county after the deadline will not save the claim.
What happens if I miss the Wyoming filing deadline?
Your lien rights are extinguished. Wyoming courts do not grant extensions for missed mechanics lien deadlines. You would be left with a breach-of-contract claim against whoever hired you, which carries no security interest in the property and is far harder to collect.
How long does a mechanics lien last in Wyoming?
Once recorded, you must file suit to enforce within 180 days (filing). If you do not, the lien expires automatically and no longer clouds the property's title.