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Connecticut Lien Waivers Guide and FAQs

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Connecticut Lien Waiver FAQs

Connecticut Lien Waivers Overview

Connecticut Lien Waiver Rules


  • Rules At A Glance
  • Top Links
lien waivers not regulated
No Specific Form

Connecticut does not require any specific or statutory lien waiver form. Parties are free to use any form they wish.


lien waivers do not need to be notarized
Notarization Not Required

Connecticut lien waivers are not required to be notarized, and gain no benefit from notarization.


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Cannot Waive Rights in Contract

Connecticut statute does not allow lien waivers in advance of furnishing of materials and/or performance of services. However, lien rights may be subordinated under a mortgage or other security interest by contract.


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Can Waive Rights Before Payment

Connecticut statute forbids lien waivers prior to payment. However, lien rights may be subordinated under a mortgage or other security interest by contract.

Lien waivers are pretty complex documents. But they are also unassuming because of how frequently they get exchanged on construction jobs across the country, and in Connecticut. A lien waiver is basically a receipt that payment has been made for work or materials on a job. These documents are exchanged at the time of payment, and commonly attached to subcontractor pay applications or vendor invoices.

There are different types of lien releases for different types of situations. And these documents have significant consequences for everyone on a job — as it connects directly to everyone’s right to cash! Also, one pesky aspect of lien waivers is that the process of sending, requesting, tracking, and collecting lien waivers is an administrative pain that slows down the payment on a project.

Knowing everything you can about lien waivers will allow you to make your process faster. And if your process is faster, your cash will move faster; and that’s good news for everyone on the project!

Connecticut lien waiver laws

Connecticut lien waivers are unregulated.  There are no specific forms to use, and the state does not have specific laws regulating the lien waiver exchange process. As a result, contractors, suppliers, vendors, lenders, and other project participants must manage the lien waiver process closely to avoid costly errors.

Whenever payment exchanges hands in the construction industry, parties typically exchange lien waivers to document the receipt of funds and the waiver of any mechanics lien rights. Many state laws set out the actual lien waiver form template that construction job participants must use. Connecticut is not one of those states.

The lack of regulation actually makes exchanging lien waivers more difficult in Colorado, and riskier. This slows down the construction payment process. Plus, lien waivers can be a source of confusion with lots of room for error. Below are some frequently asked questions about the lien waiver laws and requirements in Connecticut.

Free Connecticut Lien Waiver Template & Forms

Connecticut does not have regulated lien waiver forms. However, the free lien waiver templates provided here can be used on any project in Connecticut, and should be easily agreed upon by the parties. The forms provided here for free by Levelset are compliant with the Connecticut rules. You can download them free, or use our free system to send or request your compliant Connecticut lien waiver form.

Free Connecticut Lien Waiver Forms

These Connecticut lien waiver forms are compliant with the state's requirements. Make it easy, and use forms from the source you can trust.

Connecticut Final Conditional Lien Waiver Form - free from

Connecticut Final Conditional Lien Waiver Form

This ct final conditional waiver (also called a final conditional lien release) should be used when the final payment for a project is expected but...

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Connecticut Final Unconditional Lien Waiver Form - free from

Connecticut Final Unconditional Lien Waiver Form

This ct final unconditional waiver (also called a final unconditional lien release) should be used when the final payment for a project has been made...

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Connecticut Partial Conditional Lien Waiver Form - free from

Connecticut Partial Conditional Lien Waiver Form

This ct partial conditional waiver (also called a partial conditional lien release) should be used when a progress payment on the project is expected. There...

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Connecticut Partial Unconditional Lien Waiver Form - free from

Connecticut Partial Unconditional Lien Waiver Form

This ct partial unconditional waiver (also called a partial unconditional lien release) should be used when a progress payment on the project has been received....

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Connecticut Lien Waiver FAQs

Lien waiver laws vary from state to state and so it's important to pay close attention to how lien waivers are regulated in your project's state. Connecticut is not one of the states with regulated lien waiver forms and specific lien waiver rules (see those regulated states here). However, this doesn't make the Connecticut lien waiver process easy. To the contrary, it may make it more difficult.

In Connecticut, contractors, suppliers, lenders, and other construction job participants exchange lien waivers every day on thousands of construction jobs across the state. Along the way, there are questions and situations that arise. The below guide provides some frequently asked questions about how lien waivers work in Connecticut.

Connecticut Lien Waiver FAQs

Do I need to use a specific lien waiver form in Connecticut?

No, Connecticut does not require statutory forms for lien waivers. Because the form and content of lien waivers aren’t related under Connecticut’s lien laws, careful attention should be given to the actual terms of the waiver to ensure you’re not waiving more than intended.

• See: Should I Sign That Lien Waiver? – Checklist & FAQs

What are the requirements for an Connecticut lien waiver? What makes a lien waiver binding?

The statute is not specific on the requirements of the form itself, so presumably, as long as the waiver expresses a specific intent to waive rights it will be enforceable.

However, Connecticut courts have previously held that according to the statute, a waiver is only enforceable if it applies to work already performed and for which payment has been made. (Milone MacBroom v. Winchester)

Are Unconditional Lien Waivers Prohibited in Connecticut?

No, unconditional waivers are not prohibited in Connecticut. However, they will not be enforceable if they were executed prior to performance or if payment is never received.

Can a contractor or supplier waive their lien rights in their contract?

No, the ability to waive lien rights by contract prior to performance (a so-called “no lien clause“) is strictly prohibited under Conn. Gen. Stat. §42-158l:

Any provision in a construction contract… that purports to waive or release the right… to claim a mechanic’s lien… for services, labor or materials which have not yet been performed and paid for shall be void and of no effect.

However, the statutes do specifically state that lien rights may be subordinated to the lien of a mortgage or security interest.

Must a Connecticut lien waiver be notarized?

No. There are no requirements for a Connecticut lien waiver to be notarized in order to be effective.

It’s a best practice to not notarize your lien waiver in Connecticut, as it will not provide any more protection than a simple signature.  See more in: Do Lien Waivers Need To Be Notarized?

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How to file a lien in Connecticut

Need to file a Connecticut mechanics lien? File your mechanics lien with Levelset, the lien experts quickly and easily. Or you can follow the 3 steps below to file a lien yourself with Levelset's free information.
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