CONSTRUCTION LAW
Ontario construction liens: our principal focus
Maki Law focuses on construction lien preservation, perfection, and enforcement for Ontario projects. We assist contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and other eligible project participants with unpaid-account concerns, while also advising owners and other parties responding to lien issues.
Preservation and perfection are different legal steps. A registered claim for lien does not by itself complete the process needed to maintain and enforce lien rights. The applicable requirements depend on the project, the claimant’s role, relevant events, and the legislation governing the contract.
Lien preservation and registration
Preserving a lien begins with reviewing the claim, project information, parties, property, and events relevant to the deadline. We assess the supporting records, obtain the relevant searches, and prepare the claim-for-lien documentation and preservation steps appropriate to the matter.
Standard and urgent instructions
If a deadline may be approaching, contact us immediately with the records available. Urgent requests are assessed against the time remaining and the information needed. Do not wait for payment negotiations to conclude before asking about preservation.
Lien perfection: statements of claim and certificates of action
Perfection commonly involves commencing a court action to enforce a preserved lien and registering a certificate of action where required. Maki Law assists with statements of claim, identifying the appropriate parties, court filing and service steps, and the related title-registration requirements.
Review what has already been done
If a lien has already been preserved, send the registered claim, title information, project records, and any correspondence or orders. We assess the perfection requirements and applicable timetable rather than assume that registration alone protects the claim indefinitely.
Searches, project information, and claim preparation
Accurate party and property information supports both filing and enforcement. Our work can include land-title, corporate, and relevant security searches, review of the contractual chain, and organization of the project’s payment and document history.
Records to assemble
Provide the contract, purchase orders, invoices, change orders, payment records, project address, scope of supply, key dates, and correspondence about completion or termination. Tell us about published certificates, notices, or other events that may affect the legal analysis.
Demand letters, notices, and payment negotiations
Our Ontario services include payment-demand correspondence, review and preparation of relevant notices, and construction-dispute negotiations. A demand or notice should be considered within the broader recovery strategy and does not replace a required preservation or perfection step.
A documented resolution
Where settlement is possible, we address payment terms, releases, the treatment of the lien, and the documents needed to implement the agreement. Negotiations should proceed with the applicable deadlines kept in view.
Lien litigation, security, settlement, and discharge
We assist with lien enforcement proceedings and related construction-payment disputes, including responding to claims, addressing security and vacating arrangements, and documenting settlements. The appropriate route depends on the claim, defences, project records, and available security.
Removing a lien requires the right documents
A settlement, discharge, release, or court order can have different consequences. We review the terms and required steps so the treatment of the claim, title registration, and any posted security is properly addressed.
Lienmaster.ca: owned by Maki Law
Maki Law owns Lienmaster.ca, our Ontario construction-lien service. The service supports lien inquiries, registration, payment-dispute negotiation, settlement and discharge, and further legal proceedings where required.
Our focus is Ontario. We offer project and search support, demand and notice services, lien preservation, perfection, and enforcement for Ontario matters. The legal work and scope are confirmed for each instruction; procedures used in other jurisdictions should not be assumed to apply.
Contract, trust, and project advice
Alongside lien work, we advise on construction contracts, payment obligations, change orders, trust issues, and dispute-related remedies. Owners, contractors, and developers can seek advice when a project is being structured or when payment and performance issues arise.
Discuss the next step
Send the project location, your role, the amount in dispute, relevant dates, and the documents available. Our office will discuss the immediate priorities, proposed scope, estimate, and further records needed. Strict legal time limits make early advice important.
Let’s discuss your next step
Contact Maki Law for practical guidance on your property transaction or construction matter.
416-991-4775 · contact@maki.law
136A Avenue Rd, Toronto, Ontario M5R 2H6
MAKI LAW
Address
136A Avenue Rd
Toronto, Ontario M5R 2H6
Contact
416-991-4775
Fax: 416-981-3420
contact@maki.law
Service Areas
© 2026 Maki Law Professional Corporation. All rights reserved.
General information only. Contact our office for advice about your circumstances.