Subchapter I. General Provisions
TITLE 25
Property
Mortgages and Other Liens
CHAPTER 27. MECHANICS' LIENS
Subchapter I. General Provisions
§ 2701. Definitions.
As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning.
(1) "Construction management services" includes services performed pursuant to a contract with an owner of a structure, or with the agent of such owner, for the management of the erection, alteration or repair of such structure, where the person or entity providing such services does not perform or furnish labor or material for such erection, alteration or repair.
(2) "Labor" includes work.
(3) "Structure" includes a building or house.
25 Del. C. 1953, § 2701; 72 Del. C. 203, § 1.;
§ 2702. Persons entitled to obtain lien.
(a) It shall be lawful for any person having performed or furnished labor or material, or both, to an amount exceeding $25 in or for the erection, alteration or repair of any structure, in pursuance of any contract, express or implied, with the owners of such structure or with the agent of such owner or with any contractor who has contracted for the erection, alteration or repair of the same and for the furnishing of the whole or any part of the materials therefor, including any person who has performed or furnished labor or material, or both, for or at such structure under a contract with or order from any subcontractor to obtain a lien upon such structure and upon the ground upon which the same may be situated or erected.
(b) Liens may also be obtained in connection with: labor performed and materials furnished in plumbing, gas fitting, paper hanging, paving, placing iron works and machinery of every kind in mills and factories, bridge building, the erection, construction and filling in of wharves, piers and docks and all improvements to land by drainage, dredging, filling in, irrigating and erecting banks and the services rendered and labor performed and materials furnished by architects.
16 Del. Laws, c. 145, §§ 1, 4; 18 Del. Laws, c. 679; Code 1915, §§ 2843, 2846; 29 Del. Laws, c. 225; 29 Del. Laws, c. 226; Code 1935, §§ 3324, 3327; 25 Del. C. 1953, § 2702.;
§ 2703. Contract requirements to obtain lien based solely on improvement to land.
No lien shall attach in case the improvements are to the land alone, unless a contract in writing, signed by the owner or owners thereof, setting forth the names of all parties to the contract and containing a description by the metes and bounds of the land to be affected and by a statement of the general character of the work to be done, and of the total amount to be paid thereunder, and the amounts of the partial payments, together with the time when such payments shall be due and payable.
16 Del. Laws, c. 145, § 4; Code 1915, § 2846; 29 Del. Laws, c. 226; Code 1935, § 3327; 25 Del. C. 1953, § 2703.;
§ 2704. Liens effective for or against corporations.
Liens may be filed for or against corporations or individuals.
16 Del. Laws, c. 145, § 4; Code 1915, § 2846; 29 Del. Laws, c. 226; Code 1935, § 3327; 25 Del. C. 1953, § 2704.;
§ 2705. Duty of contractor to provide list of persons furnishing labor and material; effect of failure to provide list.
The owner of any structure built, repaired or altered by any contractor or subcontractor may require such contractor or subcontractor from time to time to furnish and submit to the owner complete and accurate list in writing of all persons who have furnished labor or material, or both, in connection therewith, and who may be entitled to avail themselves of the provisions of this chapter. Should any such contractor or subcontractor fail to furnish such list for 10 days after demand made therefor by such owner, the contractor or subcontractor shall be entitled to receive no further payments from the owner until such list be furnished and shall not be entitled to avail himself or herself of any of the provisions of this chapter.
16 Del. Laws, c. 145, § 1; Code 1915, § 2843; 29 Del. Laws, c. 225; Code 1935, § 3324; 25 Del. C. 1953, § 2705; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.;
§ 2706. Waiver of lien.
(a) Persons entitled to avail themselves of the lien provided for in this chapter shall not be considered as waiving the same by granting a credit or receiving notes or other securities, unless the same be received as payment or the lien expressly waived, but the sole effect thereof shall be to prevent such persons from availing themselves of the liens provided for in this chapter until the expiration of the time agreed upon.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, except as provided in this subsection: Any contract, any agreement or understanding whereby the right to file or enforce any lien created under this chapter is waived, shall be void as against public policy and wholly unenforceable. This section shall not preclude a requirement for a written waiver of the right to file a mechanics' lien executed and delivered by a contractor, subcontractor, material supplier or laborer simultaneously with or after payment for the labor performed or the materials supplied has been made to such contractor, subcontractor, material supplier or laborer nor shall this section be applicable to a written agreement to subordinate, release or satisfy all or part of such lien made after a statement of claim has been filed under this chapter. Nothing in this subsection shall amend, exempt, limit or qualify the provisions of § 2707 of this title.
16 Del. Laws, c. 145, § 1; Code 1915, § 2843; 29 Del. Laws, c. 225; Code 1935, § 3324; 25 Del. C. 1953, § 2706; 68 Del. Laws, c. 302, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.;
§ 2707. Payment of contractor by owner of residence as a defense; certification of payment for labor and materials or release of liens by contractor.
No lien shall be obtained under this chapter upon the lands, structure, or both, of any owner which is used solely as a residence of said owner when the owner has made either full or final payment to the contractor, in good faith, with whom he contracted for the construction, erection, building, improvement, alteration or repair thereof. Prior to or simultaneous with the receipt of any full or final payment by the contractor, the contractor must provide the owner either:
(1) A notarized, verified written certification that the contractor has paid in full for all labor performed and materials furnished to the date of such full or final payment in or for such construction, erection, building, improvement, alteration or repair or
(2) A written release of mechanics' liens signed by all persons who would otherwise be entitled to avail themselves of the provisions of this chapter, containing a notarized, verified certification signed by the contractor that all of the persons signing the release constitute all of the persons who have furnished materials and performed labor in and for the construction, erection, building, improvement, alteration and repair to the date of the release and who would be entitled otherwise to file mechanics' liens claims.
Failure of the contractor to provide the owner a written certification or a release of mechanics' liens at such time shall constitute sufficient cause for the immediate suspension, revocation or cancellation of the contractor's occupational and business licenses. If the owner has not made full payment in good faith to such contractor, the lien may be obtained in accordance with this chapter, but it shall be a lien only to the extent of the balance of the payment due such contractor, which balance or portion shall be payable pro rata among the claimants who perfect liens. Payments made to the contractor by the owner after service of process, as provided in § 2715 of this title, shall not be deemed to be "in good faith."
25 Del. C. 1953, § 2707; 57 Del. Laws, c. 498; 58 Del. Laws, c. 274, § 1.;
§ 2708. Fringe benefits.
A mechanics' lien may be used to secure payment of any unpaid amounts due under contract from the contractor arising from a subcontractor's labor including payment of fringe benefit items. As used in this section, the phrase "fringe benefit items" shall have the same meaning as the phrase "benefits or wage supplements" defined in § 1109(b) of Title 19.
65 Del. Laws, c. 467, § 1.;