File, Enforce & Recover Construction Payments in Cook County
Chicago Mechanic Lien Attorney
We help Chicago contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers protect payment rights through mechanic liens, bond claims, and demand letters — with strict attention to the notice deadlines that Illinois law requires.
Construction Payment Disputes in Chicago
Chicago is the largest construction market in Illinois, generating billions of dollars in annual building activity across residential, commercial, institutional, and public infrastructure sectors. With that volume comes a disproportionate share of construction payment disputes. Contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers working on Chicago projects face unique challenges: multiple layers of contracting relationships, complex municipal permitting, prevailing wage requirements on public jobs, and aggressive payment timelines that make it easy to miss a critical statutory deadline under Illinois mechanic lien law.
As experienced Illinois mechanic lien attorneys, Emalfarb Law LLC represents construction industry participants across the City of Chicago — from the Loop and River North to the far South Side and the Northwest Side — in mechanic lien filings, payment bond claims, liens on public funds, demand letters, and lien enforcement litigation.
Whether your unpaid work involves a high-rise in the Loop, a gut rehab in Logan Square, or a CTA infrastructure project, the first step is confirming your deadlines and identifying the correct legal remedy. Review our guide to Illinois mechanic lien deadlines or use our mechanic lien deadline calculator to estimate key dates before we speak.
Mechanic Lien Filing Procedures in Chicago
All Chicago properties are located in Cook County, and mechanic liens must be recorded with the Cook County Recorder of Deeds at 118 N. Clark Street. The property's legal description — required for lien recording — can be obtained from the Cook County Assessor's office using the property's PIN (Property Index Number).
Under the Illinois Mechanic Lien Act (770 ILCS 60), the lien must be recorded within four months after the claimant's last date of furnishing labor or material. For subcontractors and suppliers without a direct contract with the owner, the Section 24 notice must be served on the owner within 90 days of first furnishing — a deadline that is frequently missed on large Chicago projects where multiple tiers of subcontracting are common.
Chicago's density and high property values mean that mechanic lien claims often involve significant dollar amounts and sophisticated property ownership structures. Identifying the correct legal owner — which may be an LLC, a land trust, or a condo association — is a critical first step that our firm handles before any filing.
For a detailed walkthrough of lien filing requirements, see our step-by-step Illinois mechanic lien filing guide. For deadlines specific to your situation, review our Illinois mechanic lien deadlines and notices page.
Common Chicago Construction Project Types
The payment remedy that applies to your unpaid work depends on whether the project is public or private, and on your contractual role.
High-Rise and Mid-Rise Construction
Chicago's skyline drives constant demand for structural steel, concrete, curtain wall, and mechanical contractors. Lien rights on these projects require strict compliance with the 90-day Section 24 notice for subcontractors and suppliers working below the general contractor.
Municipal and Public Works Projects
City of Chicago infrastructure projects — roads, bridges, water mains, CTA transit improvements — are public projects where mechanic liens do not apply. Contractors must instead pursue payment bond claims or liens on public funds under 770 ILCS 60/23.
Residential Renovation and Gut Rehabs
Chicago's bungalow belt, two-flat conversions, and historic graystone renovations generate frequent lien disputes. Residential projects carry additional notice requirements under Section 24.1 that commercial projects do not.
Commercial Tenant Build-Outs
Tenant improvements in Chicago's Loop, River North, and West Loop office corridors often involve disputes over who authorized the work. Identifying the correct owner and confirming consent to the improvement is critical for lien validity.
Not sure whether your project is public or private? Learn how to distinguish public vs. private construction claims in Illinois.
Public Construction Projects in Chicago
Chicago has one of the most active public construction programs in the country, including CTA transit infrastructure, Chicago Public Schools capital improvements, O'Hare and Midway airport expansions, Chicago Department of Transportation roadway projects, and Chicago Department of Water Management utility work. These are all public projects where mechanic liens cannot be recorded against the property.
Instead, unpaid contractors and suppliers on Chicago public projects must look to the project's payment bond claim or file a lien on public funds — the contract proceeds still held by the public body. Both remedies have their own notice requirements and deadlines that differ from private-project mechanic liens.
If you are working on a City of Chicago public project and have not been paid, contact us for a free deadline and options check. The earlier you act, the more remedies remain available.
Chicago Neighborhoods and Areas Served
We represent contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers on construction projects across all 77 Chicago community areas, including:
We also serve the surrounding suburban counties. See our location pages for Cook County, Lake County, and DuPage County.
Statewide Construction Law Services
While our Chicago-area practice handles a high volume of Cook County filings, the Illinois Mechanic Lien Act applies statewide. Our construction law services include:
- Illinois Mechanic Lien Law (770 ILCS 60)
- How to File a Mechanic Lien in Illinois
- Illinois Mechanic Lien Deadlines and Notices
- Subcontractor Lien Rights in Illinois
- Illinois Mechanic Lien Deadlines
- Section 24 Notice Requirements
- Section 34 Demand — Enforce or Forfeit
- Securing Construction Receivables
For a comprehensive overview of all construction payment remedies, visit our Illinois Construction Law pillar page.
Frequently Asked Questions — Chicago Mechanic Liens
Related Topics
For a comprehensive overview of payment remedies available on Chicago projects, visit our Illinois construction law guide. If you need legal representation, contact an experienced Illinois mechanic lien attorney.