Smith County Final Lien Waiver Form

Additional Tennessee and Smith County documents included at no extra charge:

Where to Record Your Documents

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Cities and Jurisdictions in Smith County

Properties in any of these areas use Smith County forms:

• Brush Creek
• Carthage
• Chestnut Mound
• Dixon Springs
• Elmwood
• Gordonsville
• Hickman
• Lancaster
• Pleasant Shade
• Riddleton

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Executing a Final Lien Waiver in Tennessee

"Waiver" is a legal term which means giving up a right. A waiver can be written or oral. It can also be expressed by a formal agreement or implied through conduct of the parties. When discussing mechanic's liens, a waiver refers to a written document granted by a lien claimant to a property owner. This document usually confirms a partial or final payment and states that the lien claimant is waiving a right to claim a lien for the partial or full amount. Waivers help ease feelings of distrust between parties dealing at arms-length and give peace of mind for the laborer that he or she will get paid and for the property owner that his or her property won't be burdened by any mechanic's liens.

In Tennessee, lien waivers are governed under 66-11-124 of the Tennessee Property Code. Lien waivers in Tennessee must be explicit and are never implied. The acceptance by the lienor of a note or notes for all or any part of the amount of the lienor's claim shall not constitute a waiver of the lienor's lien, unless expressly so agreed in writing, nor shall it in any way affect the period for serving or recording the notice of lien under this chapter. Tenn. Prop. Code 66-11-124(a). Further, any contract term that purports to waive any right of lien under this chapter is void and unenforceable as against the public policy of this state. Tenn. Prop. Code 66-11-124(b). In fact, if a contractor solicits any person to sign a contract requiring the person to waive a right of lien, the person shall notify the state board for licensing contractors of that fact. Tenn. Prop. Code 66-11-124(b)(2)(A). Upon receiving the information, the executive director of the board shall notify the contractor within a reasonable time after receiving the information that the contract is against the public policy of the state and in violation of this section.

Use a final lien waiver only when the responsible party makes full payment on the balance due. For instance, if the entire contract is for $100,000 and the owner makes a $10,000 progress payment, a partial waiver is appropriate because it allows the contractor to retain lien rights for the remaining amount owed. If a full and final payment of the entire $100,000 or the final $10,000 payment is tendered, then a final lien waiver is appropriate.

A valid waiver is in the form of an affidavit (sworn statement). It identifies the parties, the location of the work, relevant dates and amounts paid, and any other information necessary for the specific situation. Record the completed and notarized document in the records of the county where the property is situated.

This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice or relied upon as any substitute for speaking with an attorney. Please consult a Tennessee attorney familiar with construction law for any issues regarding mechanic's liens.

Important: Your property must be located in Smith County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the county recording office listed above.

This Final Lien Waiver meets all recording requirements specific to Smith County.

Our Promise

The documents you receive here are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable Smith County recording format requirements. If there is a rejection caused by our formatting, we will correct the issue or refund your payment. This guarantee applies to document formatting only and does not extend to information entered by the user, the selection of the form, or the legal effect of the completed document.

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