Short Answer: No. In a minority of states (like New York), parties can file a mechanic’s lien extension. The majority of states, however, allow no extensions, and the lien will expire when the statutory period runs.
Long Answer: A few weeks ago we published a FAQ that addresses this issue just a bit: Does A Mechanic’s Lien Cloud Title Forever? You wouldn’t believe how many people contact me thinking that their mechanic’s lien will tie up the project property forever and ever, until paid. When I explain that liens expire after a certain amount of time (depending on your state, could be anywhere from 90 days to 6 years), their next thought is always that they can either file an extension or just file the document again.
First, in regards to extension, we have a specific post on this topic: Can I File An Extension To A Mechanic’s Lien? The reader’s digest version of this post is that lien extensions are only available in a minority of states, and they sometimes require agreement from the property owner. Also, its typical that lien extensions can only be filed once or twice.
Second, in regards to whether a claimant can simply re-file their mechanic’s lien, there is an absolute answer to this question: NO. Once a lien expires, it is gone forever, and the only way you could possibly re-file your lien is if you were still within in the original lien period. This is possible, but I wouldn’t rely on it…because even then, some courts may conclude that you’ve already forfeited the right by letting your previous lien expire.