I'm a GC that had a direct contract with the owner of this home. We filed a lien through LevelSet but I still haven't been paid since owner decided to rent out house and not sell it. Please tell me what I need to do to get paid my 62k.
Illinois mechanics liens have a relatively long shelf-life compared to other states. A filed mechanics lien is valid for a period of 2 years after the completion of the work. An enforcement action (lawsuit) must be initiated within that timeframe, or the claim will expire and no longer be enforceable. This is a hard deadline, and cannot be extended. You may want to reach out to an Illinois construction attorney personally to help guide you through the process. Lastly, if you still have time before your deadline passes, you may want to consider sending a Notice of Intent to Foreclose to the owner. This isn't a required document in the IL lien process, but it is an effective "final warning" letter that if you aren't paid, you are ready to enforce your rights in court. Good luck!
Here are some extra resources that may prove useful: