Mechanics lien: action to enforce (foreclose) lien within 90 days after recording claim of lien

90 days after date the claim of lien was recorded, under Cal. Civ. Code 8460(a).

Rule text

(a) The claimant shall commence an action to enforce a lien within 90 days after recordation of the claim of lien. If the claimant does not commence an action to enforce the lien within that time, the claim of lien expires and is unenforceable.

Cal. Civ. Code 8460(a), official source

Calculate this deadline

Deadline
Thursday, February 4, 2027
  1. Trigger (Date the claim of lien was recorded): Friday, November 6, 2026.
  2. Exclude the trigger day and count 90 calendar days: Thursday, February 4, 2027.
Rules applied
Cal. Civ. Code 8460(a)
(a) The claimant shall commence an action to enforce a lien within 90 days after recordation of the claim of lien. If the claimant does not commence an action to enforce the lien within that time, the claim of lien expires and is unenforceable.
Official source
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b; Cal. Gov. Code 6800, 6707 (state agency filings); Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(a) (federal statutes and federal court filings)
CCP 12: "The time in which any act provided by law is to be done is computed by excluding the first day, and including the last, unless the last day is a holiday, and then it is also excluded." CCP 12a(a): "If the last day for the performance of any act provided or required by law to be performed within a specified period of time is a holiday, then that period is hereby extended to and including the next day that is not a holiday. For purposes of this section, “holiday” means all day on Saturdays, all holidays specified in Section 135 and, to the extent provided in Section 12b, all days that by terms of Section 12b are required to be considered as holidays." Gov. Code 6707: "When the last day for filing any instrument or other document with a state agency falls upon a Saturday or holiday, such act may be performed upon the next business day with the same effect as if it had been performed upon the day appointed." FRCP 6(a): "The following rules apply in computing any time period specified in these rules, in any local rule or court order, or in any statute that does not specify a method of computing time. (1) ... (A) exclude the day of the event that triggers the period; (B) count every day, including intermediate Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays; and (C) include the last day of the period, but if the last day is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the period continues to run until the end of the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday."
Official source
  • Roll: CCP 12a presumptively extends a weekend/holiday last day; to be safe file by the unrolled 90th day. Also record a lis pendens (not modeled). Credit-extension exception: ml_foreclosure_credit_extension_outer_1yr.
  • If the clerk's office is closed or inaccessible on the last day (weather, emergency or local closure orders), the deadline may be extended. Check local orders.

This calculator applies the cited rules to the dates you enter. It is not legal advice. Court orders, local rules, and case-specific facts can change a deadline; verify before relying on it. Rule set pending attorney review.

Worked example

Date the claim of lien was recorded on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Monday, June 14, 2027.

  1. Trigger (Date the claim of lien was recorded): Monday, March 15, 2027.
  2. Exclude the trigger day and count 90 calendar days: Sunday, June 13, 2027.
  3. That day is a Sunday, so the deadline moves to the next court day: Monday, June 14, 2027 (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b; Cal. Gov. Code 6800, 6707 (state agency filings); Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(a) (federal statutes and federal court filings)).

Notes

Roll: CCP 12a presumptively extends a weekend/holiday last day; to be safe file by the unrolled 90th day. Also record a lis pendens (not modeled). Credit-extension exception: ml_foreclosure_credit_extension_outer_1yr.

Related deadlines

All California pre-suit, housing and employment deadlines

Rules current as of 2026-10-27. Confirm against the official source and any local rule or court order before relying on a date. Rules changelog.