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Washington DC Lien Waivers Guide & FAQs

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Washington DC Lien Waivers Overview

Washington D.C. Lien Waiver Rules


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

Washington DC does not require any specific or statutory lien waiver form. Any form may be used.


lien waivers do not need to be notarized
Notarization Not Required

Washington DC lien waivers are not required to be notarized, and should not be notarized.


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Can Waive Rights in Contract

There is no specific prohibition on waiving future lien rights through contract, provided that both parties have a clear intention that the lien rights be waived.


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Can Waive Rights Before Payment

There is no specific prohibition on waiving lien rights prior to payment, provided that both parties have a clear intention that the lien rights be waived.

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. Lien waivers can be regulated heavily, or not regulated at all. Nevertheless, they are almost always a source of confusion with lots of room for error.

Below are some frequently asked questions about the lien waiver laws and requirements in Washington D.C.

Free Washington DC Lien Waiver Template & Forms

The forms provided here for free by Levelset are compliant with the Washington DC rules. You can download them free, or use our free system to send or request your compliant Washington DC lien waiver form.

Free Washington DC Lien Waiver Forms

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

Washington DC Partial Unconditional Lien Waiver Form - free from

Washington DC Partial Unconditional Lien Waiver Form

This dc 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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Washington DC Partial Conditional Lien Waiver Form - free from

Washington DC Partial Conditional Lien Waiver Form

This dc 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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Washington DC Final Unconditional Lien Waiver Form - free from

Washington DC Final Unconditional Lien Waiver Form

This dc 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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Washington DC Final Conditional Lien Waiver Form - free from

Washington DC Final Conditional Lien Waiver Form

This dc 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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Washington D.C. Lien Waiver FAQs

Washington DC does not have any laws or requirements surrounding lien waivers, and in fact, the district is very liberal with respect to what the parties can agree to within a lien waiver. The following frequently asked questions address some common stuff that comes up with lien waivers on construction jobs in the District of Columbia.

Common Questions & Answers About The Washington D.C. Lien Waiver Process

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

No, Washington, DC does not require statutory forms for lien waivers.

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

The statute does not expressly lay out any specific waiver requirements.  It does allow a contractor to waive its rights to file a mechanics lien in its construction contract.  However, any such waiver of lien rights is not effective to limit the ability of subcontractors/suppliers to file liens.

Are Unconditional Lien Waivers Prohibited in Washington DC?

There are no specific statutory provisions or case law that prohibits unconditional lien waivers.

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

Yes. There is no statutory prohibition of advance lien waivers.

Must Washington DC lien waivers be notarized?

No. Washington DC statute does not require lien waivers to be notarized.

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How to file a lien in Washington DC

Need to file a Washington DC 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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