A Lien On Your House
Va. Code 43-4 — a memorandum of lien within 90 days, and six months to sue
In Virginia, a general contractor or other lien claimant perfects the lien by filing a memorandum of lien in the clerk's office where the building is. It names the owner and the claimant, states the amount, is verified by oath, and carries the claimant's contractor license number, if any.
| The step | The statute's answer |
|---|---|
| The stepFiling the memorandum | The statute's answerNot later than 90 days from the last day of the month the claimant last performs labor or furnishes material, and no later than 90 days after the building is completed or the work ends |
| The stepSuing to enforce it | The statute's answerNot after six months from recording the memorandum, or sixty days after completion, whichever is later |
Whether a particular lien is valid, and how to contest or discharge one, are questions for a licensed Virginia attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- Va. Code 43-4 — Perfection of lien by general contractor; recordation and notice
- Va. Code 43-17 — Limitation on suit to enforce lien
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Virginia attorney.