In 2002, under the leadership of Chairman Stan DeGroot, CCE, NACM began serious consider­ation of a construction-focused division. In 2006, the National Board’s Products and Services Work Group, led by Phyllis Truitt, CCE, confirmed the existence of a large number of construction-oriented members seeking a national lien service alternative. In early 2007, the Board, under Mark Tuni­ewicz, CCE’s leadership, approved the formation of the Mechanic’s Lien & Bond Services division of NACM. This new NACM division focuses on providing products and services to meet the needs of construction-oriented credit professionals across the country. In April 2007, MLBS released the Lien Navigator, a credit professional’s guide to notice, lien, payment bond and suit time requirements.

In addition to the Navigator, MLBS will offer two NTO services, a lien and bond claim filing program and a suit against bond and foreclosure service.

In NACM’s (National Association of Credit Men’s) 1910 Credit Man’s Diary – the precursor to today’s Manual of Credit and Commercial Laws – NACM published its first state-by-state lien and bond time requirement guide. “A mechanic’s lien is a special statutory lien on buildings and other improve­ments upon realty and the land on which they are situated, in favor of certain designated classes of persons, to secure to them compensation for the work and labor which they have performed in, or the material they have furnished for, the construction, and, in many jurisdictions, the repair or alter­nation of such building or improvements,” began the chapter on “The Mechanic’s Lien Law”.

The 1910 guide tells us the time frame for a notice in Texas is 90 days after the indebtedness becomes due. We believe this information is out of date. And by the way, where are the Alaska requirements?

The rationale behind providing the Navigator is to provide a quick, convenient on-line guide to the state-by-state lien and bond time requirements at a reasonable cost. Equally impor­tantly, we wanted the information to be current. The Lien Navigator will be updated as statutes change. In addition, if you have questions, call us. We’ll use all the resources at our disposal to answer your questions and provide practical solutions to managing the entire lien process.

In addition to The Navigator, MLBS will offer two NTO services: a lien and bond claim filing program and a suit against bond and foreclosure service.

NACM has provided lien information to the credit community for almost 100 years, we’re proud to take what we do to the next level.