mechanics lein

[wendesigns]

I live in Florida and am a Residential Drafter/Designer. Under the Florida Statutes, I am exempt (fl statute 481) from needing a Professional Architectural Liscense. My question is? Can I put a Mechanics Lein on a Builder/Owner for failure to pay for my professional services? Does being exempt from liscensure empower me to have the right to still file a lein? Do I have to file a lein under Professional Services rather than statute 481? Am I considered a materialman or laborer then?
If I have no right to file a lein, the how does one in my field go about collecting payments due? Do you know who or where to go to find case law relating to my field? I have been to the law library in my county, but do not know how to search? I always get info on Architects and not designers?

Please, any info would greatly be apprreciated and accepted?
The name of a good laywer, also.....

Thanks so much in advance,
Wendy C. Brown

 

[QwikDra727]

wendy,
I cant offer you any legal advice, I'm not a lawyer....I'm a designer like you......
File the lien....it they owe they owe...your intent is to recover monies owed to you by the property owner for work related to the property. If for some reason being unlicensed prohibits you from recovering through a lien I expect you wont get past the filing process.

just my feeling
qwikdra727

 

[tamwham2]

internet

search under florida' construction law(s) there should be a chapter there re liens

good luck

i have place liens on properties, they seem to want to pay you when this happens, thought it's only after i do put an affidavidt of lien on the property that they seem to know that i was serious

 

[Tracy_Schofield]

Whether or not you are required by the state to carry a professional license will not matter in filing a lien for monies owed to you - anyone that is owed money may do so. You just need to make sure that you fill out the paperwork exactly - here in AZ if your lien has any errors it becomes null and void.

Florida Statutes Chapter 713 under Real Property goes into all the details regarding liens.Florida Statutes Chapter 713

Good luck -

Tracy Schofield
HADD - Homeowners Against Deficient Dwellings, Arizona Chapter