In all of the states where they are used, filing a notice of completion is voluntary. This means that the property owner is not required to file the notice at the end of the project.

Should the owner choose not to file this notice, the deadline for any unpaid contractors to file a mechanics lien in Alaska stays at 120 days (6 months).

When a notice of completion is filed on a project in Alaska, the deadline for some potential claimants to file a mechanics lien is reduced from 120 days to just 15 days from the date the notice was filed.

If a contractor sends a preliminary notice (also known as a notice of right to lien), Alaska statute requires the property owner to give the contractor 5 days’ notice before they can file the notice of completion.

However, if the contractor files a notice of right to lien with the recorder’s office previous to the filing of the notice of completion, or within the 15-day window immediately following the notice of completion filing, the deadline remains at the 120-day mark.

Essentially, filing a notice of right to lien protects the unpaid contractor, sub, or suppliers from the 15-day window. Even if they haven’t filed the notice of right to lien prior to the filing of the Notice of Completion, they have 15 days to do so to revert the deadline back to the original 120 days.

However, if a contractor, sub, or supplier simply serves a notice of right to lien on a property owner, they have no protection against the notice of completion other than the fact that the project owner must send 5 days’ notice before filing the notice of completion.

Generally, only the owner or owner’s agent can file a notice of completion. The notice itself must be signed and verified by the property owner in order to be valid.

Property owners must file an Alaska notice of completion in the office of the recorder of the district in which the real property is situated.

View all borough recording offices in Alaska

Because documents filed with the recording office are public record, anyone can request whether a notice of completion was filed on a project. But that would require you to visit or call the office ever day to check. There’s an easier way to find out.

Alaska’s notice of completion laws require property owners to give anyone who sent a preliminary notice 5 days’ warning before filing the notice of completion.

And if you file a notice of lien rights with the recording office within the deadline, your original 120-day lien deadline is not affected by a notice of completion.