Guide to filing a mechanics lien in Manatee County

Although Florida’s lien laws can be confusing, filing your mechanics line in Manatee County is a straightforward process if you format your claim correctly and include all the required information. Below, you’ll find a few key areas of Florida’s lien laws as well as useful information about how to record a mechanics lien with the Manatee County Clerk.

  1. Submitting a notice to owner is mandatory for preserving your lien rights in Florida. In other states, this document is referred to as a preliminary notice. Florida NTOs must be sent to the property owner shortly after work begins on the construction project.
  2. In most cases, the deadline to file a lien claim in Florida is determined by the last day work was performed on a construction project. In other states, it may be determined by the official end of the construction project, but not in Florida.
  3. Some participants can’t file a lien claim. This includes sub-sub-subcontractors, suppliers to suppliers, suppliers to sub-sub-subcontractors, maintenance workers, and unlicensed contractors.
  4. Exaggerating the lien amount in Florida is a felony. The best way to avoid this is to only factor in the cost of labor and materials that you provided for the construction project.

For a breakdown of Florida’s lien law and the necessary lien documents, refer to our Florida Lien Laws Frequently Asked Questions page.

This page compiles information regarding the Manatee County Clerk of Court, including Manatee County Clerk’s recording requirements, page size and margin requirements, and recording fees, as well as information on how to eRecord your lien in Manatee County or file your lien electronically with Levelset.

When it comes to filing a mechanics lien in Florida, there’s no such thing as too much research. Visit our step-by-step guide to filing a mechanics lien in Florida for a complete explanation of the Florida mechanics lien process and other legal advice.

Where is the Manatee County Clerk of Court that files mechanics liens?

You can file your mechanics liens at the Manatee County Clerk’s office in person located at the following address:

1115 Manatee Avenue West
Bradenton, FL 34205

Business Hours:
Monday – Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm

You can also submit your documents electronically through an e-recording vendor.

If you are interested in E-Recording documents in Manatee County, you will need to contact one of the vendors listed below:

Simplifile
Phone: (800) 460-5657
Website: www.simplifile.com

EPN
Phone: (888) 325-3365
Website: www.goepn.com

What is Manatee County's Recording Backlog?

The Manatee County Clerk does not publicly disclose information on recording backlog.

Should I file my mechanics lien in Manatee County, or some other county?

If the project is located in Manatee county, then yes, you will want to record your lien with the Manatee County Clerk’s Office.

What are Manatee County's requirements for filing a mechanics lien?

You can file your mechanics liens at the Manatee County Clerk’s office in person located at the following address:

1115 Manatee Avenue West
Bradenton, FL 34205

Business Hours:
Monday – Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm

You can also submit your documents electronically through an e-recording vendor.

If you are interested in E-Recording documents in Manatee County, you will need to contact one of the vendors listed below:

Simplifile
Phone: (800) 460-5657
Website: www.simplifile.com

EPN
Phone: (888) 325-3365
Website: www.goepn.com

What are the margin and page size requirements to file a lien in Manatee County?

The margin and page size requirements to file a lien in Manatee are: All documents must comply with the 8 1/2″ x 11″ standard page size and must be no larger than 8 1/2″ x 14″. The top margin of the first page should be 3 inches with all other margins as 1 inch. Not meeting these margin and page size requirements may result in additional fees.

How can I make payment to the Manatee County Clerk?

You can make payment to the Manatee County Clerk when submitting your lien claim. The Manatee Clerk accepts most major forms of payment including cash, check, and major credit cards.

What are the filing fees to record a mechanics lien in Manatee County?

The Manatee County Clerk’s recording fee is $10.00 for the first page and $8.50 each additional page or fraction thereof.

Additional Recording Fees

Indexing instruments recorded in official records containing more than four names: $1.00 per additional name

Copy Fees

Recording Copy Fee: $1.00 per page
Certifying copies of any instrument in public records: $2.00

 

How do I get a recorded copy of my lien from the Manatee County Clerk's Office?

You can obtain a recorded copy of your lien from the Manatee County Clerk’s office in person located at the following address:

1115 Manatee Avenue West
Bradenton, FL 34205

Business Hours:
Monday – Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm

Official Records are stored in indexes in a database. The database covers all official records from January 3, 1978 to the present. Online images begin at August 12, 1981 (Book 1012). Note that Official Records filed prior to January 3, 1978 are indexed and stored at the clerk’s office and can be obtained through the Public Access Department.

You can access the County Clerk’s Official Records Index online at:

https://records.manateeclerk.com/OfficialRecords/Search

If you need more information, you can send your inquiries to:

Copies and General Information:
clerkscopycenter@manateeclerk.com

Websites and Online Records:
servicedesk@manateeclerk.com

Do I have the right to file a mechanics lien in Manatee Florida?

Determining whether you have the right to file a mechanics lien in Manatee, FL depends on your situation. Generally speaking, every state gives those who have furnished labor and/or materials to a construction project the right to file a mechanics lien if unpaid for the furnishing. The same is true in Florida. However, there are some state-specific limitations as to who is qualified to file a mechanics lien that is important when considering whether you have the right to file a mechanics lien in Manatee County, FL.

You can read more about lien rights and if you have the right to file a lien on our Florida Mechanics Lien Resources page.

What is the fee to file a Florida preliminary notice in Manatee County?

The fee to file a Florida Preliminary Notice in Manatee is $10.