Updated August 2025 | All statutory references in this article reflect the Connecticut General Statutes—Chapter 847 (Mechanic’s Liens)
A Notice of Intent to Lien is a document that warns a property owner of a lien claimant’s intention to record a mechanics lien. In most states, serving a Notice of Intent to Lien is not required. However, it is one of the important pre-lien notices in Connecticut to ensure that certain parties preserve their lien rights.
In Connecticut, serving the property owner with a Notice of Intent is not only done to fulfill a state requirement and protect one’s lien rights. It is also done to give a property owner the chance to settle outstanding debts before a mechanics lien is recorded. In most cases, serving a Notice of Intent is enough to get the property owner to pay up.
This guide discusses the process for preparing and serving a Connecticut Notice of Intent to Lien.
Who Must Serve a Notice of Intent in Connecticut?
Parties who have no direct contract with the property owner are required to serve the owner a Notice of Intent to Lien. These parties include subcontractors and material suppliers. General contractors do not have to serve a Notice of Intent to Lien, but they may file an optional affidavit that affects who claimants must serve.
What If the Gc Files an Affidavit?
In Connecticut, only general contractors can file the optional “General Contractor Affidavit,” and they must do so within 15 days of starting work. If this happens, subcontractors and suppliers must serve their Notice of Intent to Lien on both the property owner and the GC. The affidavit does not change your 90-day service deadline or the information required in your notice — it only adds the GC as another recipient. If no affidavit is filed, you only serve the property owner.
When Do You Serve a Connecticut Notice of Intent?
The deadline for serving a Notice of Intent to Lien in Connecticut is on the 90th day after ceasing work on a project and at least 15 days before you intend to record the lien. The Notice of Intent must be served on the owner within this 90-day period and before recording a Connecticut mechanics lien.
What Happens If You Fail to Serve a Connecticut Notice of Intent?
If you are required to serve a Notice of Intent to Lien and you fail to do so, you will not be allowed to record a valid mechanics lien in Connecticut. Note that subcontractors and materialmen must take note of this requirement to ensure that their lien rights are protected.
How to Serve a Connecticut Notice of Intent?
1. Prepare the Connecticut Notice of Intent Form
Connecticut laws do not provide a specific template for the Notice of Intent to Lien form, although the code states that the notice must clearly mention that you have furnished services to a project and that you intend to record a mechanics lien.
The Notice of Intent to Lien may also include the following information to provide more details in your claim:
- Your name and address
- The name and address of the property owner
- A description of the property location sufficient for identification
- A description of the labor and materials you provided to the project
- The unpaid amount to be claimed in a mechanics lien
Note that if there are multiple property owners, you must prepare multiple copies of your Connecticut Notice of Intent to Lien and serve a copy on each property owner.
2. Serve the Notice of Intent
After preparing your Notice of Intent to Lien, you must serve it on the property owner. If the general contractor filed an affidavit within the first 15 days of work, you must also serve the GC.
The proper method of service depends on where the recipient lives:
- Same town as the project – Service must be made in person by an “indifferent person,” such as a state marshal or other proper officer, at the owner’s or GC’s usual place of abode.
- Different town (with a local agent) – The notice may be served on that local agent.
- Different town (no local agent) – The notice may be served by registered or certified mail.
- If mail is unclaimed/returned – Service must be completed by publication in a weekly newspaper with substantial circulation in the town where the owner or GC resides.
Remember: the Notice of Intent must be served no later than 90 days after you last furnished labor or materials on the project. This deadline is strictly enforced, so it’s best to serve early to leave time for any backup service methods.
Best Practices for Serving a Connecticut Notice of Intent
1. Serve a Connecticut Notice of Intent to Lien Early
Serving a Notice of Intent in Connecticut must be done within 90 days of ceasing work on a project. In other states, serving this notice is as easy as mailing the notice of intent form, but Connecticut requires different service methods depending on where the property owners reside. If a notice of intent is returned unclaimed, you will be required to have the notice published in a weekly newspaper.
It is, therefore, best practice to serve the Notice of Intent to Lien early so you have enough time to make sure that your notice indeed gets served on the property owner in a timely manner.
2. Serve a Connecticut Notice of Intent on Every Property Owner
Connecticut requires you to serve the notice of intent on every property owner. This rule applies even when the listed property owners reside in the same address. For example, if a property is owned by a married couple, you must serve two separate notices even if the couple resides in the same place. Keep this in mind to avoid potentially breaking the rules and invalidating your mechanics lien claim.
3. File a Connecticut Mechanics Lien If Payment Disputes Ensue
A Notice of Intent to Lien is only a pre-lien notice that expresses your intention to record a mechanics lien. Even though it can potentially prompt a property owner to release your payment, it is still not the same as a mechanics lien. If payment disputes ensue and you want to have stronger leverage during payment negotiations, be prepared to record a Connecticut mechanics lien.