A mechanic’s lien is a privilege authorized by state law that permits contractors, suppliers, and certain qualifying construction professionals who have provided labor or materials to improve real property to publicly record the value of the unpaid improvements against the property owner’s title.
A stop notice is a separate statutory privilege available in a limited number of states that allows a privately issued document to stop unpaid payments. Mechanic’s liens exist in all fifty states, allowing eligible claimants to record the value of unpaid contract work, while stop notices represent a more limited right used to divert unpaid payments in certain scenarios.