A lien is a charge imposed upon specific property, by which it is made security for the performance of an act.
§422. Classes of liens.
Liens are either general or special.
§423. General lien.
A general lien is one which the holder thereof is entitled to enforce as a security for the performance of all the obligations, or all of a particular class of obligations, which exist in his favor against the owner of the property.
§424. Special lien Prior lien.
A special lien is one which the holder thereof can enforce only as a security for the performance of a particular act or obligation, and of such obligations as may be incidental thereto. Where the holder of a special lien is compelled to satisfy a prior lien for his own protection, he may enforce payment of the amount so paid by him, as a part of the claim for which his own lien exists.
§425. Law applies to what.
Contracts of mortgage and pledge, are subject to all the provisions of this chapter.
§426. Lien created, how.
A lien is created:
1. By contract of the parties; or,
2. By operation of law.
§427. Lien created by law.
No lien arises by mere operation of law until the time at which the act to be secured thereby ought to be performed.
§428. Lien on future interest.
An agreement may be made to create a lien upon property not yet acquired by the party agreeing to give the lien, or not yet in existence. In such case the lien agreed for attaches from the time when the party agreeing to give it acquires an interest in the thing to the extent of such interest.
§429. Lien to take immediate effect.
A lien may be created by contract, to take immediate effect, as security for the performance of obligations not then in existence.
§4210. Lien transfers no title.
Notwithstanding an agreement to the contrary, a lien or a contract for a lien transfers no title to the property subject to the lien.
§4211. Contracts for forfeiture of property and restraining redemption.
All contracts for the forfeiture of property subject to a lien, in satisfaction of the obligation secured thereby, and all contracts in restraint of the right of redemption from a lien, are void, except in the case specified in Section 1122.
§4212. Lien does not imply obligation.
The creation of a lien does not of itself imply that any person is bound to perform the act for which the lien is a security.
§4213. Extent of lien limited.
The existence of a lien upon property does not of itself entitle the person, in whose favor it exists, to a lien upon the same property for the performance of any other obligation than that which the lien originally secured.
§4214. Holder of lien not entitled to compensation.
One who holds property by virtue of a lien thereon, is not entitled to compensation from the owner thereof for any trouble or expense which he incurs respecting it, except to the same extent as a borrower, under Sections 1018 and 1019.
§4215. Priority of liens according to date.
Other things being equal, different liens upon the same property have priority according to the time of their creation, except in cases of bottomry and respondentia.
§4216. Priority of mortgage for price of realty.
A mortgage given for the price of real property, at the time of its conveyance, has priority over all other liens created against the purchaser, subject to the operation of the recording laws.
§4217. Order of resort for payment of prior liens.
Where one has a lien upon several things, and other persons have subordinate liens upon or interests in, some but not all of the same things, the person having the prior lien, if he can do so without the risk of loss to himself, or injustice to other persons, must resort to the property in the following order, on the demand of any party interested:
1. To the things upon which he has an exclusive lien.
2. To the things which are subject to the fewest subordinate liens.
3. In like manner inversely to the number of subordinate liens upon the same thing; and,
4. When several things are within one of the foregoing classes, and subject to the same number of liens, resort must be had,
(a) To the things which have not been transferred since the prior lien was created.
(b) To the things which have been so transferred without a valuable consideration; and,
(c) To the things which have been so transferred for a valuable consideration.
§4218. Persons entitled to redeem lien Federal right of first refusal Rule of construction.
Every person having an interest in property subject to a lien, has a right to redeem it from the lien, at any time after the claim is due, and before his right of redemption is foreclosed.
B. Neither this section nor any existing or future order or regulation of any entity of state government or case law or common law shall be construed as limiting or diminishing any federally guaranteed "right of first refusal" granted by the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 (P.L. 100233).
R.L. 1910, § 3839; Laws 1988, c. 100, § 1, emerg. eff. April 1, 1988.
§4219. Holder of inferior lien Redemption.
One who has a lien, inferior to another upon the same property, has a right:
1. To redeem the property in the same manner as its owner might, from the superior lien; and,
2. To be subrogated to all the benefits of the superior lien when necessary for the protection of his interests, upon satisfying the claim secured thereby.
§4220. Redemption How made.
Redemption from a lien is made by performing, or offering to perform, the act for the performance of which it is a security, and paying, or offering to pay, the damages, if any, to which the holder of the lien is entitled for delay.
§4221. Lien is an accessory obligation.
A lien is to be deemed accessory to the act for the performance of which it is a security, whether any person is bound for such performance or not, and is extinguishable in like manner with any other accessory obligation.
§4222. Sale or conversion of property extinguishes lien.
The sale of any property on which there is a lien, in satisfaction of the claim secured thereby, or, in case of personal property, its wrongful conversion by the person holding the lien, extinguishes the lien thereon.
§4223. Limitation of time.
A lien is extinguished by the mere lapse of the time within which, under the provisions of civil procedure, an action can be brought upon the principal obligation.
§4224. Partial performance as extinguishing lien.
The partial performance of an act secured by a lien does not extinguish the lien upon any part of the property subject thereto, even if it is divisible.
§4225. Voluntary restoration as extinguishing lien.
The voluntary restoration of property to its owner, by the holder of a lien thereon, dependent upon possession, extinguishes the lien as to such property, unless otherwise agreed by the parties, and extinguishes it, notwithstanding any such agreement, as to creditors of the owner and persons subsequently acquiring title to the property, or a lien thereon, in good faith and for a good consideration.
§4226. Vendor's lien for price of realty.
One who sells real property has a special or vendor's lien thereon, independent of possession, for so much of the price as remains unpaid and unsecured, otherwise than by the personal obligation of the buyer, subject to the rights of purchasers and encumbrancers, in good faith, without notice.
§4227. Waiver of vendor's lien.
Where the buyer of real property gives to the seller a written contract for payment of all or part of the price, an absolute transfer of such contract by the seller, waives his lien to the extent of the sum payable under the contract, but a transfer of such contract in trust to pay debts, and return the surplus, is not a waiver of the lien.
§4228. Validity of liens of vendors and purchasers.
The liens defined in Sections 3847 and 3851 are valid against everyone claiming under the debtor, except a purchaser or encumbrancer in good faith, and for value.
§42-29. Repealed by Laws 1961, p. 181, § 10-102 (Uniform Commercial Code, Title 12A, § 10-102).
§4230. Lien of purchaser of real property.
One who pays to the owner any part of the price of real property, under an agreement for the sale thereof, has a special lien upon the property, independent of possession, for such part of the amount paid as he may be entitled to recover back in case of a failure of consideration.
§4231. Lien of factor.
A factor has a general lien, dependent on possession, for all that is due to him as such, upon all articles of commercial value that are entrusted to him by the same principal.
§4232. Banker's lien.
A banker has a general lien, dependent on possession, upon all property in his hands belonging to a customer, for the balance due to him from such customer in the course of the business.
§4233. Special lien of officer levying attachment or execution.
An officer, who levies an attachment or execution upon personal property, acquires a special lien, dependent on possession, upon such property, which authorizes him to hold it until the process is discharged or satisfied, or a judicial sale of the property is had.
§4234. Other liens.
Innkeepers, boarding housekeepers, attorneysatlaw and others, have liens which are defined and regulated.
§4235. Judgment liens.
The lien of a judgment is regulated by civil procedure.
§42-36. Repealed by Laws 1961, p. 181, § 10-102 (Uniform Commercial Code, Title 12A, § 10-102).
§42-37. Repealed by Laws 1961, p. 181, § 10-102 (Uniform Commercial Code, Title 12A, § 10-102).
§42-38. Repealed by Laws 1961, p. 181, § 10-102 (Uniform Commercial Code, Title 12A, § 10-102).
§4239. Keeper of inn, hotel, boardinghouse, or rooming house Lien on baggage and other property Limitation Enforcement.
The keeper of any inn, hotel, boardinghouse, or rooming house, whether individual, partnership or corporation, shall have a lien on the baggage and other property in and about such inn, brought to the same by or under the control of his guest or boarders for the proper charges due him from such guests or boarders for accommodation, board and lodging, and for all money paid for or advanced to them, not to exceed the sum of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00), and for such other extras as are furnished at the request of such guests, and said innkeeper, hotelkeeper or rooming house keeper shall have the right to detain such baggage and other property until the amount of such charges are paid and such baggage and other property shall be exempt from attachment or execution until such innkeeper's lien and the cost of satisfying it are paid. The innkeeper, boardinghouse or hotelkeeper or rooming house keeper shall retain such baggage and other property upon which he has a lien for a period of ninety (90) days, at the expiration of which time, if the lien is not satisfied, he may sell such baggage and other property at public auction, first giving notice of the time and place of sale by posting at least three notices thereof in public places in the county where the inn or hotel is situated, and also by mailing a copy of such notice addressed to said guest or boarder at the place of residence designated by the register of such inn or hotel. And after satisfying the lien and any costs that may accrue, any residue remaining shall, on demand, within six (6) months, be paid to such guest or boarder, and if not so demanded within six (6) months from date of sale, such residue shall be deposited by such innkeeper with the treasurer of the county; said residue shall be retained by the county treasurer for a period of one (1) year, and if not claimed within that time by the owner thereof, it shall be placed to the credit of the school fund.
Laws 1915, c. 178, § 2.
§42-40. Repealed by Laws 1986, c. 292, § 160, eff. Nov. 1, 1986.
§42-41. Repealed by Laws 1986, c. 292, § 160, eff. Nov. 1, 1986.
§42-42. Repealed by Laws 1983, c. 72, § 1, emerg. eff. April 29, 1983.
§4243. Hospital liens in personal injury cases Priority Exception.
Every hospital in the State of Oklahoma, which shall furnish emergency medical or other service to any patient injured by reason of an accident not covered by the Workers' Compensation Act, shall, if such injured party shall assert or maintain a claim against another for damages on account of such injuries, have a lien upon that part going or belonging to such patient of any recovery or sum had or collected or to be collected by such patient, or by his heirs, personal representatives or next of kin in the case of his death, whether by judgment or by settlement or compromise to the amount of the reasonable and necessary charges of such hospital for the treatment, care and maintenance of such patient in such hospital up to the date of payment of such damages: Provided, however, that this lien shall be inferior to any lien or claim of any attorney or attorneys for handling the claim on behalf of such patient, his heirs or personal representatives; provided further, that the lien herein set forth shall not be applied or considered valid against any claim for amounts due under the Workers' Compensation Act in this state.
Laws 1969, c. 231, § 1, emerg. eff. April 21, 1969.
§42-44. Filing of notice of lien - Enforcement by civil action.
A. No such lien shall be effective unless a written notice containing an itemized statement of the amount claimed, the name and address of the injured person, the date of the accident, the name and location of the hospital, and the name of the person or persons, firm or firms, corporation or corporations alleged to be liable to the injured party for the injuries received, shall be filed in the office of the county clerk of the county in which such hospital is located, on the mechanic's and materialman's docket, prior to the payment of any monies to such injured person, his attorneys or legal representatives, as compensation for such injuries; nor unless the hospital shall also send, by registered or certified mail postage prepaid, a copy of such notice with a statement of the date of filing thereof to the person or persons, firm or firms, corporation or corporations alleged to be liable to the injured party for the injuries sustained prior to the payment of any monies to such injured person, his attorneys or legal representatives, as compensation for such injuries. Such hospital shall mail a copy of such notice to any insurance carrier which has insured such person, firm or corporation against such liability, if the name and address shall be known. Such hospital shall also send, by registered or certified mail, a copy of such notice to such patient upon whom emergency medical or other service has been performed, if the name and address of such patient shall be known to the hospital or can with reasonable diligence be ascertained. A copy of said notice shall be mailed to any attorney for the patient, provided that the hospital has notice of the name of such attorney.
B. The liens provided for in this section and Section 43 of this title may be enforced by civil action in the district court of the county where the lien was filed. Such an action shall be brought within one (1) year after the hospital becomes aware of final judgment, settlement or compromise of the claim asserted or maintained by or on behalf of the injured person. The practice, pleading and proceedings in the action shall conform to the rules prescribed by the Oklahoma Pleading Code to the extent applicable.
Laws 1969, c. 231, § 2, emerg. eff. April 21, 1969; Laws 1978, c. 68, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1978; Laws 1994, c. 202, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1994.
§4245. Insurance agent's lien.
A. Every insurance agent licensed as such under the laws of this state who shall pay the premium on any policy of insurance to an insurer for and on behalf of any person to whom such policy is issued shall have a lien upon all refunds, proceeds or other funds payable to the insured under the provisions of such policy for all sums due the agent for the premium on any policy of insurance procured by the agent for the insured.
B. No such lien shall be effective unless a written statement setting forth the amount claimed, identifying the insurance policy or policies against which the lien is asserted, and containing the name and address of the insured, the insurer, and the agent shall be filed in the office of the county clerk of the county in which the insured resides or has its principal place of business. The statement shall be signed by the insurance agent and verified by affidavit. The statement shall be recorded by the county clerk on the mechanics and materialman's lien docket.
C. Immediately upon filing the lien statement, the insurance agent shall mail, by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, a copy of such statement with a statement of the date of filing thereof to the insured and the insurer at the address indicated for each on the insurance policy or policies against which the lien is asserted or at their lastknown address if a later address is known.
D. Upon receipt of a copy of such lien statement the insurer or insurers named in the statement shall withhold from any sums thereafter payable to the insured under the provisions of any policy identified in the statement an amount equal to the claim of the insurance agent until the lien is released or otherwise discharged in proceedings to enforce the lien.
Added by Laws 1985, c. 136, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1985.
§4246. Physician's lien.
A. Every physician who performs medical services for any person injured as a result of the negligence or act of another, shall, if the injured person asserts or maintains a claim against such other person for damages on account of such injuries, have a lien for the amount due for such medical services upon that part going or belonging to the injured person of any recovery or sum had or collected or to be collected by the injured person, or by his heirs, personal representative, or next of kin in the event of his death, whether by judgment, settlement, or compromise. Such lien shall be inferior to any lien or claim of any attorney handling the claim for or on behalf of the injured person. The lien shall not be applied or considered valid against any claim for amounts due pursuant to the provisions of Title 85 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
B. In addition to the lien provided for in subsection A of this section, every physician who performs medical services for any person injured as a result of the negligence or act of another, shall have, if the injured person asserts or maintains a claim against an insurer, a lien for the amount due for such medical services upon any monies payable by the insurer to the injured person.
C. No lien which is provided for in this section shall be effective unless, before the payment of any monies to the injured person, his attorney, or legal representative as compensation for such injuries or death:
1. A written notice is sent setting forth an itemized statement of the amount claimed, identifying the insurance policy or policies against which the lien is asserted, if any, and containing the name and address of the physician claiming the lien, the injured person, and the person, firm, or corporation against whom the claim is made, is filed on the mechanic's and materialman's lien docket in the office of the county clerk of the county where the principal office of the physician is located; and
2. The physician sends, by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, a copy of such notice with a statement of the date of filing thereof to the person, firm, or corporation against whom the claim is made and to the injured person. The physician shall also send a copy of the notice to the attorney for the injured person, if the name and address of such attorney is known to the physician.
D. The liens provided for in this section may be enforced by civil action in the district court of the county where the lien was filed. Such an action shall be brought within one (1) year after the physician becomes aware of final judgment, settlement or compromise of the claim asserted or maintained by or on behalf of the injured person. The practice, pleading, and proceedings in the action shall conform to the rules prescribed by the Oklahoma Pleading Code to the extent applicable.
Added by Laws 1985, c. 136, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 1985. Amended by Laws 1994, c. 202, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1994.
§42-47. Provider of seed, chemicals, pesticides, herbicides or fertilizer - Agricultural lien.
A. Any person selling, furnishing, applying or providing to the owner of crops which are growing or to be grown, any seed, chemicals, pesticides, herbicides or fertilizer for the growing of the crops shall, upon filing, have a lien on the crops for the amount due for such seed, chemicals, pesticides, herbicides or fertilizer or for the application thereof. The lien provided for in this section shall be subject to all prior perfected liens.
B. The lien created by this section shall not be effective unless:
1. Filed as an agricultural lien pursuant to Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code; and
2. Notice is given to the owner of the land on which the crops are growing or to be grown at the time of filing by mailing a copy of the verified statement by certified mail, return receipt requested.
C. The lien created by this section may be foreclosed by the sale of the crops subject to the lien anytime within twelve (12) months after filing of the lien in accordance with the provisions of Title 12A of the Oklahoma Statutes.
Added by Laws 1992, c. 276, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1992. Amended by Laws 2000, c. 371, § 170, eff. July 1, 2001.
§42-48. Provider of seed, chemicals, pesticides, herbicides or fertilizer - General agriculture commodities lien.
Any person selling, furnishing, applying or providing to the owner of crops which are growing or to be grown any seed, chemical, pesticide, herbicide or fertilizer for the growing of said crop shall have a general lien upon all agricultural commodities except livestock in his possession belonging to the owner of the crops, for the balance due to him in the course of business. The lien provided for in this section shall be subject to all prior perfected liens.
Added by Laws 1992, c. 276, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1992.
§42-49. Ambulance service provider liens.
A. Every person, company, governmental entity, or trust authority operating an ambulance service within this state who or which performs ambulance services for any person injured as a result of the negligent or intentional act of another shall, if the injured person asserts or maintains a claim against another person for damages on account of the injuries, have a lien for the amount due for the ambulance services upon any recovery or sum had or collected or to be collected by the injured person or the estate of the injured person in the event of the injured person's death, whether by judgment, settlement, or compromise. The lien shall be inferior to any lien or claim of any attorney representing the injured person. The lien shall not be applied or considered valid against any claim for amounts due pursuant to the provisions of Title 85 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
B. In addition to the lien provided for in subsection A of this section, every person, company, governmental entity, or trust authority operating an ambulance service within this state who or which performs ambulance services for any person injured as a result of the negligent or intentional act of another shall have, if the injured person asserts or maintains a claim against an insurer, a lien for the amount due for the ambulance services upon any monies payable by the insurer to the injured person.
C. No lien which is provided for in this section shall be effective unless, before the payment of any monies to the injured person or the injured person's attorney or legal representative, as compensation for the injuries or death:
1. A written notice is sent setting forth an itemized statement of the amount claimed, identifying the insurance policy or policies against which the lien is asserted, if any, and containing the name and address of the person, company, governmental entity, or trust authority claiming the lien, the injured person, and the person, firm, or corporation against whom the claim is made, is filed on the mechanic's and materialman's lien docket in the office of the county clerk of the county where the principal office of the claimant is located; and
2. The claimant sends, by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, a copy of the notice with a statement of the date of filing thereof to the person, firm, or corporation against whom the claim is made and to the injured person. The claimant shall also send a copy of the notice to the attorney for the injured person, if the name and address of the attorney is known to the claimant.
D. A lien created pursuant to this section may be enforced in a civil action in the district court of the county where the lien was filed. An action shall be brought within one (1) year of a final judgment, settlement, or compromise of the claim asserted or maintained by or on behalf of the injured person. The practice, pleading, and proceedings in the action shall conform to the rules prescribed by the Oklahoma Pleading Code to the extent applicable.
Added by Laws 1995, c. 194, § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 1995. Amended by Laws 1999, c. 293, § 23, eff. Nov. 1, 1999.
§42-91. Lien on personal property for service thereon - Foreclosure - Notice - Purchaser - Unpaid checks.
A. 1. Any person who, while lawfully in possession of an article of personal property other than farm equipment as defined in Section 1 of Enrolled Senate Bill No. 419 of the 1st Session of the 50th Oklahoma Legislature, renders any service to the owner thereof by furnishing material, labor or skill for the protection, improvement, safekeeping, towing, storage or carriage thereof, has a special lien thereon, dependent on possession, for the compensation, if any, which is due to such person from the owner for such service.
2. This special lien shall be subordinate to any perfected security interest unless the claimant complies with the requirements of this section.
3. Any person claiming the special lien provided in paragraph 1 of subsection A of this section shall mail a notice of such lien, no later than thirty (30) days after the first services are rendered, by regular, first class United States mail, and by certified mail, to all interested parties who reside at separate locations. The notice shall be in writing and shall contain, but not be limited to, the following:
a. a statement that the notice is a notice of a possessory lien,
b. the complete legal name, physical and mailing address, and telephone number of the claimant,
c. the complete legal name, physical and mailing address of the person who requested that the claimant render service to the owner by furnishing material, labor or skill, or the date the property was abandoned if the claimant did not render any other service,
d. a description of the article of personal property and the complete physical and mailing address of the location of the article of personal property,
e. an itemized statement describing the date or dates the labor or services were performed and material furnished, and the amount of the compensation claimed,
f. a statement by the claimant that the materials, labor or skill furnished were authorized by the owner of the personal property and was in fact provided or performed, or that the property was abandoned by the owner if the claimant did not render any other service, and
g. the signature of the claimant which shall be notarized and, if applicable, the signature of the claimant's attorney.
4. No storage charges may be assessed until notice is properly given. The maximum allowable compensation for storage shall not exceed the fees specified pursuant to Section 953.2 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
5. The lien may be foreclosed by a sale of such personal property upon the notice and in the manner following: The notice of sale shall contain:
a. a statement that the notice is a Notice of Sale,
b. the names and addresses of all interested parties known to the claimant,
c. a description of the property to be sold,
d. a notarized statement of the nature of the work, labor or service performed, material furnished, and the date thereof, and the name of the person who authorized the work, labor or service performed, or that the property was abandoned if the claimant did not render any other service,
e. the date, time and exact physical location of sale, and
f. the name, complete physical address and telephone number of the party, agent or attorney foreclosing such lien.
6. Such notice of sale shall be posted in three public places in the county where the property is to be sold at least ten (10) days before the time therein specified for such sale, and a copy of the notice shall be mailed to all interested parties at their last-known post office address, by regular, first class United States mail and by certified mail on the day of posting.
7. Interested parties shall include all owners of the article of personal property and any person who has a perfected security interest, lien, chattel mortgage, conditional sales contract or any interest in the article of personal property as shown by the records of the county clerk, by any title document, and of whom the claimant has actual notice.
8. Any interested party shall be permitted to inspect and verify the services rendered by the claimant prior to the sale of the article of personal property during normal business hours, unless the property was abandoned and the claimant did not render any other service.
9. The claimant or any other person may in good faith become a purchaser of the property sold.
10. Proceedings for foreclosure under this act shall be commenced within thirty (30) days after the notice of lien time has expired. The sale shall be completed within sixty (60) days from the date of the Notice of Sale.
11. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, proceedings for foreclosures for the storage of junk vehicles towed and stored pursuant to Section 955 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes by Class AA wreckers listed with the Motor Vehicle Division of the Department of Public Safety, may be commenced five (5) days after the lien has accrued. For purposes of this paragraph, "junk vehicles" means any vehicle that is more than ten (10) years old and has a value of less than Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00) pursuant to the National Automobile Dealers Association Official Used Car Guide Company adjusting to the condition of the vehicle.
B. 1. a. Any person who is induced by means of a check or other form of written order for immediate payment of money to deliver up possession of an article of personal property on which the person has a special lien created by subsection A of this section, which check or other written order is dishonored, or is not paid when presented, shall have a lien for the amount thereof upon the personal property.
b. The person claiming such lien shall, within thirty (30) days from the date of dishonor of the check or other written order for payment of money, file in the office of the county clerk of the county in which the property is situated a sworn statement that:
(1) the check or other written order for immediate payment of money, copy thereof being attached, was received for labor, material or supplies for producing or repairing an article of personal property,
(2) the check or other written order was not paid, and
(3) the uttering of the check or other written order constituted the means for inducing the person, one possessed of a special lien created by subsection A of this section upon the described article of personal property, to deliver up the said article of personal property.
2. a. Any person who renders service to the owner of an article of personal property by furnishing material, labor, or skill for the protection, improvement, safekeeping, towing, storage, or carriage to such property shall have a special lien on such property pursuant to this section if such property is removed from the person's possession, without such person's written consent or without payment for such service.
b. The person claiming such lien shall, within five (5) days of such nonauthorized removal, file in the office of the county clerk of the county in which the property is located, a sworn statement including:
(1) that services were rendered on the article of personal property by the person claiming such lien,
(2) that the property was in the possession of the person claiming the lien but such property was removed without his written consent,
(3) an identifying description of the article of personal property on which the service was rendered, and
(4) that the debt for the services rendered on the article of personal property was not paid. Provided, if the unpaid total amount of the debt for services rendered on the article of personal property is unknown, an approximated amount of the debt due and owing shall be included in the sworn statement but such approximated debt may be amended within thirty (30) days of such filing to reflect the actual amount of the debt due and owing.
3. The enforcement of the lien shall be within sixty (60) days after filing the lien in the manner provided by law for enforcing the lien of a security agreement and provided that the lien shall not affect the rights of innocent, intervening purchasers without notice.
4. If a person claiming a special lien pursuant to this section fails to substantially comply with any of the requirements of this section, any interested party may proceed against the person claiming such lien for all damages arising therefrom, including conversion, if the article of personal property has been sold. If the notice or notices required by this section shall be shown to be knowingly false or fraudulent, the interested party shall be entitled to treble damages. The prevailing party shall be entitled to all costs, including a reasonable attorney fee.
C. 1. This section applies only to vehicles required to be registered with the Oklahoma Tax Commission or with a federally recognized Indian tribe.
2. Salvage pools as defined in Section 591.2 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes and class AA licensed wrecker operators in their capacity as wrecker operators shall be exempt from the provisions of this section.
D. For purposes of this section:
1. "Possession" includes actual possession and constructive possession; and
2. "Constructive possession" means possession by a person who, although not in actual possession, does not have an intention to abandon property, knowingly has both power and the intention at a given time to exercise dominion or control over the property, and who holds claim to such thing by virtue of some legal right.
R.L.1910, § 3852. Amended by Laws 1955, p. 248, § 1; Laws 1973, c. 111, § 1, emerg. eff. May 4, 1973; Laws 1992, c. 309, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1992; Laws 2003, c. 214, § 1, eff. July 1, 2003; Laws 2005, c. 213, § 4, emerg. eff. May 9, 2005; Laws 2005, c. 477, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2005.
§42-91.1. Abandoned vehicle auctions - Exemption from fees.
Any abandoned vehicle auction performed by a class AA wrecker shall be exempt from all prior years' tag fees, title fees, stop flag fees, and any other fees imposed by the state from the prior ownership of the vehicle. The wrecker operator or buyer of the abandoned vehicle will be responsible only for fees incurred after the completion of the abandoned vehicle sale unless the buyer is the registered vehicle owner prior to the towing of the vehicle, in which case all fees will be due from the buyer.
Added by Laws 2004, c. 360, § 1, emerg. eff. May 27, 2004.
§42-91.2. Liens on farm equipment.
A. Any person who, at or with the owner's request or consent, performs work, or makes repairs or improvements on any farm equipment has a first and prior lien, subject to the restrictions set forth in subsections B and C of this section, on such equipment for the total value of the services performed, including the reasonable value of all material used in the performance of such services and the reasonable value of all equipment replaced, added or installed.
B. If the lien claimant is in possession of the farm equipment for the purpose of having the work, repairs or improvements made, or the equipment replaced, added or installed thereon, the lien shall be first and prior and valid as long as the lien claimant retains possession of the equipment. The lien claimant shall retain the lien after releasing the equipment by filing within ninety (90) days thereafter a statement, under oath, of the items of the account, a description of the equipment on which the lien is claimed and the legal name of the owner of the equipment, with the county clerk in the county in this state where the owner resides, or if the owner does not reside in this state, then with the county clerk in the county where the equipment is located. Provided, once the lien claimant has released possession of the equipment, the lien established by this section shall be subordinate to any prior lien or security interest of record.
C. If the lien claimant was never in possession of the farm equipment, the lien claimant shall retain the lien by filing with the county clerk in the county where the owner resides, or if the owner does not reside in this state, then with the county clerk in the county where the equipment is located, within ninety (90) days after the date work was last performed, material was last furnished in performing such work or making such repairs or improvements, equipment was last replaced, added or installed or the farm equipment was last towed or stored, a statement, under oath, of the items of the account, a description of the equipment on which the lien is claimed, the legal name of the owner of the equipment and the date upon which work was last performed, material was last furnished in performing such work or making such repairs or improvements, equipment was last replaced, added or installed, or the equipment was last towed or stored. Provided, if the lien claimant was never in possession of the equipment, the lien established by this section shall be subordinate to any prior lien or security interest.
D. For purposes of this section, "farm equipment" means equipment, as defined in paragraph (33) of subsection (a) of Section 1-9-102 of Title 12A of the Oklahoma Statutes, that is primarily used in connection with a farming operation, as defined in paragraph (35) of subsection (a) of Section 1-9-102 of Title 12A of the Oklahoma Statutes.
Added by Laws 2005, c. 213, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2005.
§42-91A. Lien on personal property for service thereon - Foreclosure - Notice - Purchaser - Unpaid checks - Definitions.
A. 1. Any person who, while lawfully in possession of an article of personal property other than farm equipment as defined in Section 1 of Enrolled Senate Bill No. 419 of the 1st Session of the 50th Oklahoma Legislature, renders any service to the owner thereof by furnishing material, labor or skill for the protection, improvement, safekeeping, towing, storage or carriage thereof, has a special lien thereon, dependent on possession, for the compensation, if any, which is due to such person from the owner for such service.
2. The lien may be foreclosed by a sale of such personal property upon the notice and in the manner following: The notice shall contain:
a. the names of the owner and any other party or parties who may claim any interest in the property,
b. a description of the property to be sold,
c. the nature of the work, labor or service performed, material furnished, and the date thereof,
d. the time and place of sale, and
e. the name of the party, agent or attorney foreclosing such lien.
3. Such notice shall be posted in three public places in the county where the property is to be sold at least ten (10) days before the time therein specified for such sale, and a copy of the notice shall be mailed to the owner and any other party claiming any interest in the property if known, at their last-known post office address, by registered mail on the day of posting. Any party who claims any interest in the property shall include owners of chattel mortgages and conditional sales contracts as shown by the records in the office of the county clerk in the county where the lien is foreclosed.
4. The lienor or any other person may in good faith become a purchaser of the property sold.
5. Proceedings for foreclosure under this act shall not be commenced until thirty (30) days after said lien has accrued.
6. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, proceedings for foreclosures for the storage of junk vehicles towed and stored pursuant to Section 955 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes by Class AA wreckers listed with the Motor Vehicle Division of the Department of Public Safety, may be commenced five (5) days after the lien has accrued. For purposes of this paragraph, "junk vehicles" means any vehicle that is more than ten (10) years old and has a value of less than Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00) pursuant to the National Automobile Dealers Association Official Used Car Guide Company adjusting to the condition of the vehicle.
B. 1. a. Any person who is induced by means of a check or other form of written order for immediate payment of money to deliver up possession of an article of personal property on which the person has a special lien created by subsection A of this section, which check or other written order is dishonored, or is not paid when presented, shall have a lien for the amount thereof upon the personal property.
b. The person claiming such lien shall, within thirty (30) days from the date of dishonor of the check or other written order for payment of money, file in the office of the county clerk of the county in which the property is situated a sworn statement that:
(1) the check or other written order for immediate payment of money, copy thereof being attached, was received for labor, material or supplies for producing or repairing an article of personal property,
(2) the check or other written order was not paid, and
(3) the uttering of the check or other written order constituted the means for inducing the person, one possessed of a special lien created by subsection A of this section upon the described article of personal property, to deliver up the said article of personal property.
2. a. Any person who renders service to the owner of an article of personal property by furnishing material, labor, or skill for the protection, improvement, safekeeping, towing, storage, or carriage to such property shall have a special lien on such property pursuant to this section if such property is removed from the person's possession, without such person's written consent or without payment for such service.
b. The person claiming such lien shall, within five (5) days of such nonauthorized removal, file in the office of the county clerk of the county in which the property is located, a sworn statement including:
(1) that services were rendered on the article of personal property by the person claiming such lien,
(2) that the property was in the possession of the person claiming the lien but such property was removed without his written consent,
(3) an identifying description of the article of personal property on which the service was rendered, and
(4) that the debt for the services rendered on the article of personal property was not paid. Provided, if the unpaid total amount of the debt for services rendered on the article of personal property is unknown, an approximated amount of the debt due and owing shall be included in the sworn statement but such approximated debt may be amended within thirty (30) days of such filing to reflect the actual amount of the debt due and owing.
3. The enforcement of the lien shall be within sixty (60) days after filing the lien in the manner provided by law for enforcing the lien of a security agreement and provided that the lien shall not affect the rights of innocent, intervening purchasers without notice.
C. 1. This section applies to vehicles not required to be registered with the Oklahoma Tax Commission or with a federally recognized Indian tribe.
2. This section applies to salvage pools as defined in Section 591.2 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes and class AA licensed wrecker operators in their capacity as wrecker operators with respect to all vehicles, regardless of whether the vehicle is required to be registered with the Oklahoma Tax Commission or with a federally recognized Indian tribe.
D. For purposes of this section:
1. "Possession" includes actual possession and constructive possession; and
2. "Constructive possession" means possession by a person who, although not in actual possession, does not have an intention to abandon property, knowingly has both power and the intention at a given time to exercise dominion or control over the property, and who holds claim to such thing by virtue of some legal right.
Added by Laws 2005, c. 477, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2005.
§4292. Laborer's lien on products of labor.
Laborers who perform work and labor for any person under a verbal or written contract, if unpaid for the same, shall have a lien on the production of their labor, for such work and labor; Provided, that such lien shall attach only while the title to the property remains in the original owner.
Laws 191011, c. 114, p. 254, § 1.
§4293. Enforcement of lien.
The lien provided for in this act may be enforced as in an ordinary action or by attachment proceeding as provided in the Code of Civil Procedure.
Laws 191011, c. 114, p. 254, § 2.
§4294. When lien attaches.
Liens under the provisions of this act are in full force and effect from and after the time the labor is performed.
Laws 191011, c. 114, p. 254, § 3.
§4295. Time for enforcement.
The proceedings under this act shall be commenced within eight (8) months after the work is done.
Laws 191011, c. 114, p. 254, § 4.
§4296. Priority of lien.
Liens created under this act shall take precedence over all other liens whether created prior or subsequent to the laborer's lien herein created and provided.
Laws 191011, c. 114, p. 254, § 5.
§4297. Lien for labor or materials for production, alteration or repair of personal property Commencement of lien.
Any person, firm or corporation who furnishes labor, money, material or supplies for the production of, altering or repairs of any personal property at the request of the owner of said property, shall have a lien for the value of his money, labor, material or supplies upon said personal property as provided for in Section 2 of this act. Lien to date from commencement of furnishing of labor, money, material or supplies.
Laws 1917, c. 187, p. 350, § 1.
§42-98. Filing of statement of lien with county clerk Innocent purchasers.
A. 1. Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, any person entitled to a lien pursuant to this chapter shall within one hundred twenty (120) days after last furnishing of labor, money, material or supplies for the production of, altering or repairing of said personal property, file in the office of the county clerk of the county in which the property is situated a statement in writing verified by oath, showing the amount of labor, money, material or supplies furnished for the producing of, altering or repairing of said personal property, the name of the person for, and by whom labor, money, material or supplies, was furnished.
2. If the person entitled to such lien does not file such statement within the time required by this chapter, such person shall be deemed to have waived his rights thereto.
3. The lien provided for in this chapter shall not attach to any personal property after it has been purchased by an innocent purchaser for value, and has passed into his possession unless the lien shall have been filed with the county clerk of the county before the property was purchased by such purchaser, or he shall have received written notice, from the party entitled to the lien, of his intention to file the same.
B. Immediately upon the receipt of such statement, the county clerk shall enter a record of the same in a book kept for that purpose, to be called the Personal Property Lien Journal, which shall be ruled off into separate columns, with headings as follows: "When filed", "Name of owner", "Name of claimant", "Amount claimed", and "Remarks", and the clerk shall make the proper entry in each column.
Added by Laws 1917, c. 187, p. 351, § 2. Amended by Laws 1992, c. 309, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1992; Laws 2003, c. 409, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2003.
§4299. Priority of mortgage liens.
The lien herein provided for shall be subject to prior mortgage liens, unless the holder thereof has received notice of the intention of the furnishing of said labor, money, material or supplies and consents thereto in writing after which the holder of such mortgage lien shall become jointly liable with the owner of said property for the expense of producing, altering or repairing of same.
Laws 1917, c. 187, p. 351, § 3.
§42100. Foreclosure of liens.
Said lien may be foreclosed by the sale of the property so covered any time within twelve (12) months in the same manner provided by law for the foreclosure of chattel mortgages.
Laws 1917, c. 187, p. 351, § 4.
§42-101. Sale, disposal or removal of property covered by lien - Punishment.
Any person convicted of selling, disposing of or removing property covered by a lien not subordinate to that person's interest, arising under Sections 91 through 102 of this title or Section 1 or 2 of this act without either obtaining the written consent of the owner of the lien or making provision adequate to satisfy the lien, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six (6) months or by a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00).
Laws 1917, c. 187, p. 351, § 5; Laws 1992, c. 309, § 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1992; Laws 2005, c. 213, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2005.
§42102. Discharge of lien when satisfied.
It shall be the duty of the holder of the lien under this act when the same is satisfied to immediately file a notice of discharge thereof with the county clerk of the county wherein the lien is filed. Failure to do so shall subject the holder of the lien to a fine of not less than Twentyfive Dollars ($25.00) nor more than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00).
Laws 1917, c. 187, p. 352, § 6.
§42-104. Enforcement and foreclosure of liens on farm equipment.
A lien granted under Section 1 of this act with respect to farm equipment may be enforced and foreclosed in the same manner as security agreements pursuant to the Uniform Commercial Code. Any legal action taken by or on behalf of a lien claimant to enforce or foreclose any such lien filed in the office of the county clerk shall be commenced within one (1) year of the date the lien was filed or the lien shall be void. For purposes of this section, publication or delivery of a notice of sale under the Uniform Commercial Code shall constitute the commencement of legal action to enforce or foreclose a lien granted under Section 1 of this act. Reasonable attorney fees and legal expenses incurred by the lien claimant to claim, enforce and foreclose the lien granted under Section 1 of this act shall be included in the amount secured by such lien. After five (5) years from the date the lien was filed, the county clerk of the county where the lien is filed shall remove the lien from the records.
Added by Laws 2005, c. 213, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2005.
§42111. Persons entitled to liens Commencement of lien.
Any person, firm or corporation, who shall thresh or combine grain or seed for another shall have a lien for the value of his services upon the grain or seed threshed or combined as provided for in Section 2 of this act, (10989) lien to date from the commencement of threshing.
Laws 1913, c. 38, p. 74, § 1; Laws 1935, p. 224, § 1.
§42112. Filing statement of lien in office of county clerk Right to lien as against purchaser.
Any person entitled to a lien under this act shall, within thirty (30) days after the threshing or combining is completed, file in the office of the county clerk of the county in which the grain or seed was grown, or threshing or combining done, a statement in writing, verified by oath, showing the amount, quantity and kind of grain or seed threshed or combined, the price agreed upon for the threshing or combining the same, the name of the person for whom the threshing or combining was done, and a description of the land on which the grain or seed was grown or threshing or combining done; unless the person entitled to the lien shall file such statement within the time aforesaid, he shall be deemed to have waived his rights thereto; provided, that the lien provided for in this act shall not attach to any seed or grain after it has been purchased by a grain dealer and has passed into his possession unless the lien shall have been filed with the county clerk of the county before the seed or grain was purchased by such dealer, or he shall have received written notice from the party entitled to the lien, of his intention to file the same.
Laws 1913, c. 38, p. 74, § 2; Laws 1935, p. 224, § 2.
§42113. Priority of mortgage liens Liability of mortgagee consenting in writing.
The lien herein provided for shall be subject to prior mortgage liens, unless the holder thereof has received notice of the intention of the threshing or combining of the grain or seed and consented thereto in writing, after which the holder of such mortgage lien shall become jointly liable with the owner of the grain or seed for the expenses of threshing or combining of the same.
Laws 1913, c. 38, p. 75, § 3; Laws 1935, p. 225, § 3.
§42114. Statement furnished owner by thresher Forfeiture on failure to comply.
Any person operating a threshing or combining machine, shall furnish the owner of the crop a statement showing the number of bushels of each kind of grain or seed and/or the number of acres threshed or combined, price per bushel and/or the price per acre and credits due; provided, that any person operating a threshing or combining machine who fails or refuses to comply with the provisions of this section, shall forfeit his right to the lien herein provided for.
Laws 1913, c. 38, p. 75, § 4; Laws 1935, p. 225, § 4.
§42-115. Enforcement of lien.
The lien created by Section 111 of this title may be enforced in the same manner as provided by law for the enforcement of an agricultural lien pursuant to Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code.
Added by Laws 1913, c. 38, p. 75, § 5. Amended by Laws 1994, c. 202, § 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1994; Laws 2000, c. 371, § 171, eff. July 1, 2001.
§42116. Sale for purpose of paying threshing or combining bill.
The owner, when said seed or grain is not mortgaged, and the owner with the written consent of the mortgagee, when said seed or grain is mortgaged, may sell or dispose of not to exceed twenty percent (20%) of said grain or seed for the purpose of paying the threshing or combining bill.
Laws 1913, c. 38, p. 75, § 6; Laws 1935, p. 225, § 5.
§42117. Selling in violation of lien.
Any person selling or disposing of property covered by such lien, except as provided in Section 6 of this act, without the written consent of the owner of such lien, shall be guilty of misdemeanor.
Laws 1913, c. 38, p. 76, § 7.
§42118. Satisfaction of lien Discharge Record Duty of holders.
It shall be the duty of the holder of the lien under this act when same is satisfied to immediately file a notice of discharge thereof with the register of deeds of the county wherein the lien is filed.
Failure to do so shall subject the holder of the lien to a fine of not less than Twentyfive Dollars ($25.00), nor more than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00).
Laws 1913, c. 38, p. 76, § 8.
§42119. Right to lien Persons liable for threshing bills Enforcement of lien by attachment Persons against whom valid.
Any person, firm or corporation, threshing or combining grain or seed for another shall have a lien for the value of such service upon such grain or seed so threshed or combined. Further, any person, firm or corporation, holding a lien or mortgage on any unthreshed or uncombined grain or seed, shall be held equally responsible with the owner for the threshing or combining bill. Provided, however, that the lien or mortgage holder shall be held responsible for the threshing or combining bill only for such grain or seed as they take or receive possession of. Such lien may be enforced by action and attachment as provided by law for the enforcement of a landlord's lien. Such lien shall be a valid and binding lien on such grain and seed against all persons holding or owning such grain with notice of the lien thereon to the extent of the amount due thereon for threshing or combining.
Laws 1921, c. 65, p. 86, § 1; Laws 1935, p. 225, § 6.
§42120. Statement to be furnished owner or person in charge False statements as to law.
Any person, firm or corporation, operating a threshing or combining machine within this state shall furnish the owner or person in charge of the crop within fortyeight (48) hours after the threshing or combining is completed, a statement in writing of the number of bushels of grain or seed and/or number of acres so threshed or combined and the price per bushel and/or the price per acre and credits if any. Provided, that any person operating a threshing or combining machine who fails or refuses to comply with this section shall forfeit his right to the lien herein provided. Making false statements willfully as to the provision of this act shall constitute a misdemeanor and any one violating this act shall be subject to punishment by fine of not more than Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) , or imprisonment for not more than thirty (30) days in the county jail, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
Laws 1921, c. 65, p. 86, § 2; Laws 1935, p. 226, § 7.
§42121. Removal of grain or seed with fraudulent intent Fraudulent appropriation.
Any person, firm or corporation, removing, or causing to be removed, any threshed or combined grain or seed from the premises where same were threshed or combined, with the intent to deprive the owner or operator of the threshing or combining machine, or person interested in same, of any sum or sums of money due for such threshing or combining, or who shall fraudulently appropriate such grain or seed to himself or any other person not entitled thereto for such threshing or combining, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined a sum of not less than Fifty Dollars ($50.00), and not more than Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00), or not more than thirty (30) days in the county jail, or both such fine and imprisonment.
Laws 1921, c. 65, p. 86, § 3; Laws 1935, p. 226, § 8.
§42131. Lien provided for work.
Blacksmiths, wheelwrights and horseshoers who perform work and labor for any person, if unpaid for same, shall have an absolute lien, subject to all prior liens, on the product of their labor and upon all wagons, carriages, automobiles, implements and other articles repaired, or horses, or other animals shod by them, for all sums of money due for such work or labor and for any material furnished by them and used in such product, repairs or shoeing.
Laws 1913, c. 82, p. 132, § 1.
§42132. Procedure to perfect lien.
Any person having a lien under this act and desiring to avail himself of its provisions shall, within sixty (60) days after such work or labor is done or performed, or materials furnished, file with the county clerk of the county in which the debtor resides, a just and true account of the demand due, or becoming due, allowing all credits, and containing a description of the property to be charged with said lien, verified by affidavit; provided, that said lien must in either event, be so filed with the county clerk of the county in which the debtor resides, before the title to the property described therein, has passed from the original owner.
Laws 1913, c. 82, p. 132, § 2, emerg. eff. March 22, 1913; Laws 1986, c. 135, § 6, emerg. eff. April 17, 1986.
§42141. Right to lien Priority Enforceablility against property Constructive notice.
Any person who shall, under oral or written contract with the owner of any tract or piece of land, perform labor, furnish material or lease or rent equipment used on said land for the erection, alteration or repair of any building, improvement or structure thereon or perform labor in putting up any fixtures, machinery in, or attachment to, any such building, structure or improvements; or who shall plant any tree, vines, plants or hedge in or upon such land; or who shall build, alter, repair or furnish labor, material or lease or rent equipment used on said land for buildings, altering, or repairing any fence or footwalk in or upon said land, or any sidewalk in any street abutting such land, shall have a lien upon the whole of said tract or piece of land, the buildings and appurtenances. If the title to the land is not in the person with whom such contract was made, the lien shall be allowed on the buildings and improvements on such land separately from the real estate. Such liens shall be preferred to all other liens or encumbrances which may attach to or upon such land, buildings or improvements or either of them subsequent to the commencement of such building, the furnishing or putting up of such fixtures or machinery, the planting of such trees, vines, plants or hedges, the building of such fence, footwalk or sidewalks, or the making of any such repairs or improvements; and such lien shall follow said property and each and every part thereof, and be enforceable against the said property wherever the same may be found, and compliance with the provisions of this act shall constitute constructive notice of the claimant's lien to all purchasers and encumbrancers of said property or any part thereof, subsequent to the date of the furnishing of the first item of material or the date of the performance of the first labor or the first use of the rental equipment on said land.
R.L. 1910, § 3862; Laws 1919, c. 258, p. 367, § 1; Laws 1923, c. 54, p. 97, § 1; Laws 1977, c. 207, § 6, eff. Oct. 1, 1977; Laws 1980, c. 216, § 1, emerg. eff. May 30, 1980.
§42141.1. Transfer of records, funds, and powers and duties to county clerk.
On the effective date of this act, the records, funds and powers and duties relating to the filing of mechanics' and materialmen's liens in the office of the court clerk in each county of this state shall be transferred to the office of the county clerk. The county clerk shall thereafter exercise all such powers and duties formerly performed by the court clerk relating to such liens.
Laws 1977, c. 207, § 3, eff. Oct. 1, 1977.
§42142. Statement to be filed.
Any person claiming a lien as aforesaid shall file in the office of the county clerk of the county in which the land is situated a statement setting forth the amount claimed and the items thereof as nearly as practicable, the names of the owner, the contractor, the claimant, and a legal description of the property subject to the lien, verified by affidavit. Such statement shall be filed within four (4) months after the date upon which material or equipment used on said land was last furnished or labor last performed under contract as aforesaid; and if the claim be for the planting of any trees, vines, plants, or hedge, such statement shall be filed within four (4) months from such planting. Immediately upon the receipt of such statement the county clerk shall enter a record of the same against the tract index and in a book kept for that purpose, to be called the mechanics' lien journal, which shall be ruled off into separate columns, with headings as follows: "When filed", "Name of owner", "Name of claimant", "Amount claimed", "Legal description of property", and "Remarks", and the clerk shall make the proper entry in each column.
R.L. 1910, § 3863; Laws 1977, c. 207, § 7, eff. Oct 1, 1977; Laws 1978, c. 133, § 3, eff. Oct. 1, 1978; Laws 1980, c. 216, § 2, emerg. eff. May 30, 1980.
§42142.1. Enforcement of lien against owneroccupied dwelling Notice to owner.
No lien arising under the provisions of Sections 141 through 153 of this title which affects property presently occupied as a dwelling by an owner shall be enforceable unless, prior to the first performance of labor or the first furnishing of materials by the lien claimant, the original contractor, subcontractor, laborer, or materialman shall have provided to one of the owners a written notice which shall include substantially the following language:
NOTICE TO OWNER
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT ANY PERSON PERFORMING LABOR ON YOUR PROPERTY OR FURNISHING MATERIALS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, REPAIR, OR IMPROVEMENT OF YOUR PROPERTY WILL BE ENTITLED TO A LIEN AGAINST YOUR PROPERTY IF HE IS NOT PAID IN FULL, EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY HAVE PAID THE FULL CONTRACT PRICE TO YOUR CONTRACTOR. THIS COULD RESULT IN YOUR PAYING FOR LABOR AND MATERIALS TWICE. THIS LIEN CAN BE ENFORCED BY THE SALE OF YOUR PROPERTY. TO AVOID THIS RESULT, YOU MAY DEMAND FROM YOUR CONTRACTOR LIEN WAIVERS FROM ALL PERSONS PERFORMING LABOR OR FURNISHING MATERIALS FOR THE WORK ON YOUR PROPERTY. YOU MAY WITHHOLD PAYMENT TO THE CONTRACTOR IN THE AMOUNT OF ANY UNPAID CLAIMS FOR LABOR OR MATERIALS. YOU ALSO HAVE THE RIGHT TO DEMAND FROM YOUR CONTRACTOR A COMPLETE LIST OF ALL LABORERS AND MATERIAL SUPPLIERS UNDER YOUR CONTRACT, AND THE RIGHT TO DETERMINE FROM THEM IF THEY HAVE BEEN PAID FOR LABOR PERFORMED AND MATERIALS FURNISHED.
Laws 1980, c. 359, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1980; Laws 1982, c. 247, § 1, operative Oct. 1, 1982.
§42-142.2. Repealed by Laws 2005, c. 477, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2005.
§42-142.3. Person deemed not to be original contractor, laborer or materialman.
Any person who performs labor directly for or furnishes material directly to an owner of property used by the owner or a co-owner as a dwelling, under circumstances which an owner is liable directly to a laborer or supplier, shall not be deemed an original contractor, laborer or materialman for purposes of Sections 142.1 through 142.5 of this title.
Added by Laws 1980, c. 359, § 3, eff. Oct. 1, 1980. Amended by Laws 1995, c. 160, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1995.
§42-142.4. Fraudulent statement - Felony.
Any original contractor who falsifies any statement regarding liens on labor or material to any owner of a dwelling, upon conviction, shall be guilty of a felony.
Added by Laws 1980, c. 359, § 4, eff. Oct. 1, 1980. Amended by Laws 1997, c. 133, § 458, eff. July 1, 1999.
NOTE: Laws 1998, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 23 amended the effective date of Laws 1997, c. 133, § 458 from July 1, 1998, to July 1, 1999.
§42142.5. Satisfaction of notice.
The written notice required in Section 1 of this act shall be satisfied by furnishing one notice during the course of construction or during the course of the business transaction in which the labor or materials are furnished.
Laws 1980, c. 359, § 5, eff. Oct. 1, 1980.
§42-142.6. Pre-lien notice - Requirements - Affidavit - Penalties.
A. For the purposes of this section:
1. "Claimant" means a person, other than an original contractor, that is entitled or may be entitled to a lien pursuant to Section 141 of Title 42 of the Oklahoma Statutes; and
2. "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association, or other entity.
B. 1. Prior to the filing of a lien statement pursuant to Section 143.1 of Title 42 of the Oklahoma Statutes, but no later than seventy-five (75) days after the date of supply of material, services, labor, or equipment in which the claimant is entitled or may be entitled to lien rights, the claimant shall send to the last-known address of the original contractor and owner of the property a pre-lien notice pursuant to the provisions of this section.
2. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to require:
a. a pre-lien notice with respect to any retainage held by agreement between an owner, contractor, or subcontractor, or
b. more than one pre-lien notice during the course of a construction project in which material, services, labor, or equipment is furnished.
A pre-lien notice sent in compliance with this section for the supply of material, services, labor, or equipment that entitles or may entitle a claimant to lien rights shall protect the claimant's lien rights for any subsequent supply of material, services, labor, or equipment furnished during the course of a construction project.
3. The pre-lien notice requirements shall not apply to a claimant:
a. whose claim relates to the supply of material, services, labor, or equipment furnished in connection with a residential project. For the purposes of this subparagraph, the term "residential" shall mean a single family or multifamily project of four or fewer dwelling units, or
b. whose aggregate claim is less than Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00).
4. The pre-lien notice shall be in writing and shall contain, but not be limited to, the following:
a. a statement that the notice is a pre-lien notice,
b. the complete name, address, and telephone number of the claimant, or the claimant's representative,
c. the date of supply of material, services, labor, or equipment,
d. a description of the material, services, labor, or equipment,
e. the name and last-known address of the person who requested that the claimant provide the material, services, labor, or equipment,
f. the address, legal description, or location of the property to which the material, services, labor, or equipment has been supplied,
g. a statement that the dollar amount of the material, services, labor, or equipment furnished or to be furnished exceeds Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00), and
h. the signature of the claimant, or the claimant's representative.
5. A rebuttable presumption of compliance with paragraph 1 of this subsection shall be created if the pre-lien notice is sent as follows:
a. hand delivery supported by a delivery confirmation receipt,
b. automated transaction pursuant to Section 15-115 of Title 12A of the Oklahoma Statutes, or
c. certified mail, return receipt requested. Notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, shall be effective on the date mailed.
6. The claimant may request in writing, the request to be sent in the manner as provided in paragraph 5 of this subsection, that the original contractor provide to the claimant the name and last-known address of the owner of the property. Failure of the original contractor to provide the claimant with the information requested within five (5) days from the date of receipt of the request shall render the pre-lien notice requirement to the owner of the property unenforceable.
C. At the time of the filing of the lien statement, the claimant shall furnish to the county clerk a notarized affidavit verifying compliance with the pre-lien notice requirements of this section. Any claimant who falsifies the affidavit shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof may be punished by a fine of not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than thirty (30) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
D. Failure of the claimant to comply with the pre-lien notice requirements of this section shall render that portion of the lien claim for which no notice was sent invalid and unenforceable.
Added by Laws 2001, c. 21, § 1, eff. July 1, 2001.
§42143. Lien by or through subcontractor.
Any person who shall furnish any such material or lease or rent equipment used on said land or perform such labor as a subcontractor, or as an artisan or day laborer in the employ of the contractor, may obtain a lien upon such land, or improvements, or both, from the same time, in the same manner, and to the same extent as the original contractor, for the amount due him for such material, equipment and labor; and any artisan or day laborer in the employ of, and any person furnishing material or equipment used on said land to, such subcontractor may obtain a lien upon such land, or improvements, or both, for the same time, in the same manner, and to the same extent as the subcontractor, for the amount due him for such material, equipment used on said land and labor, by filing with the county clerk of the county in which the land is situated, within ninety (90) days after the date upon which material or equipment used on said land was last furnished or labor last performed under such subcontract, a statement, verified by affidavit, setting forth the amount due from the contractor to the claimant, and the items thereof, as nearly as practicable, the name of the owner, the name of the contractor, the name of the claimant, and a legal description of the property upon which a lien is claimed. Immediately upon the filing of such statement the county clerk shall enter a record of the same against the tract index and in the journal provided for in the preceding section, and in the manner therein specified. Provided further, that the owner of any land affected by such lien shall not thereby become liable to any claimant for any greater amount than he contracted to pay the original contractor. The risk of all payments made to the original contractor shall be upon such owner until the expiration of the ninety (90) days herein specified, and no owner shall be liable to an action by such contractor until the expiration of said ninety (90) days, and such owner may pay such subcontractor the amount due him from such contractor for such labor, equipment used on said land and material, and the amount so paid shall be held and deemed a payment of said amount to the original contractor.
R.L. 1910, § 3864; Laws 1957, p. 417, § 1; Laws 1977, c. 207, § 8, eff. Oct. 1, 1977; Laws 1978, c. 133, § 4, eff. Oct. 1, 1978; Laws 1980, c. 216, § 3, emerg. eff. May 30, 1980.
§42-143.1. Notice - Filing of lien statement - Fees.
A. Within one (1) business day after the date of the filing of the lien statement provided for in Sections 142 and 143 of this title, a notice of the lien shall be mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the owner of the property on which the lien attaches. The claimant shall furnish to the county clerk the lastknown mailing address of the person or persons against whom the claim is made and the owner of the property. The notice shall be mailed by the county clerk. The fee for preparing and mailing the notice of mechanics' and materialmen's lien and costs for each additional page or exhibit shall be as provided for in Section 32 of Title 28 of the Oklahoma Statutes and shall be paid by the person filing the lien. The fee shall be deposited into the County Clerk's Lien Fee Account, created pursuant to the provisions of Section 265 of Title 19 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
B. The notice shall contain the date of filing; the name and address of the following: The person claiming the lien; the person against whom the claim is made and the owner of the property; a legal description of the property; and the amount claimed. Provided that, if with due diligence the person against whom the claim is made or the owner of the property cannot be found, the claimant after filing an affidavit setting forth such facts may, within sixty (60) days of the filing of the lien statement, serve a copy of the notice upon the occupant of the property or the occupant of the improvements, as the case may be, in a like manner as is provided for service upon the owner thereof, or, if the same be unoccupied, the claimant may post a copy in a conspicuous place upon the property or any improvements thereon.
Added by Laws 1977, c. 207, § 9, eff. Oct. 1, 1977. Amended by Laws 1979, c. 251, § 1, emerg. eff. June 5, 1979; Laws 1983, c. 51, § 1, emerg. eff. April 26, 1983; Laws 1984, c. 268, § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 1984; Laws 1985, c. 166, § 4, operative July 1, 1985; Laws 1989, c. 366, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 1989; Laws 2000, c. 363, § 23, emerg. eff. June 6, 2000; Laws 2001, c. 21, § 2, emerg. eff. April 3, 2001.
§42-143.2. Repealed by Laws 2005, c. 31, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2005.
§42143.3. Leased or rented equipment Exemption from act.
The provisions of this act as relating to leased or rented equipment shall not apply to real property qualified for homestead exemption or real property used for agricultural purposes or real property used for the production of or growing of agricultural products.
Laws 1980, c. 216, § 5, emerg. eff. May 30, 1980; Laws 1984, c. 9, § 1, emerg. eff. March 12, 1984.
§42143.4. Leased or rented equipment Property used for production of oil or gas.
The provisions of this act relating to leased or rented equipment shall not apply to such equipment used for the development or production of oil or gas, except insofar as is specifically allowed by Section 144 of Title 42.
Laws 1980, c. 216, § 6, emerg. eff. May 30, 1980.
§42144. Oil and gas well liens.
Any person, corporation, or copartnership who shall, under contract, expressed or implied, with the owner of any leasehold for oil and gas purposes, or the owner of any gas pipeline or oil pipeline, or with the trustee or agent of such owner, perform labor or services, including written contracts for the services of a geologist or petroleum engineer, or furnish material, machinery, and oil well supplies used in the digging, drilling, torpedoing, completing, operating, or repairing of any oil or gas well, or who shall furnish any oil or gas well supplies, or perform any labor in constructing or putting together any of the machinery used in drilling, torpedoing, operating, completing, or repairing of any gas well, or perform any labor upon any oil well supplies, tools, and other articles used in digging, drilling, torpedoing, operating, completing, or repairing any oil or gas well, shall have a lien upon the whole of such leasehold or oil pipeline, or gas pipeline, or lease for oil and gas purposes, the buildings and appurtenances, the proceeds from the sale of oil or gas produced therefrom inuring to the working interest, exempting, however, any valid, bona fide reservations of oil or gas payments or overriding royalty interests executed in good faith and payable out of such working interest, and upon the material and supplies so furnished, and upon any oil well supplies, tools, and other articles used in digging, drilling, torpedoing, operating, completing, or repairing any oil or gas well, and upon the oil or gas well for which they were furnished, and upon all the other oil or gas well fixtures and appliances used in the operating for oil and gas purposes upon the leasehold for which said material and supplies were furnished or labor or services performed. Such lien shall be preferred to all other liens or encumbrances which may attach to or upon said leasehold for gas and oil purposes and upon any oil or gas pipeline, or such oil and gas wells and the material and machinery so furnished and the leasehold for oil and gas purposes and the fixtures and appliances thereon subsequent to the commencement of or the furnishing or putting up of any such machinery or supplies; and such lien shall follow said property and each and every part thereof, and be enforceable against the said property wherever the same may be found; and compliance with the provisions of this article shall constitute constructive notice of the lien claimant's lien to all purchasers and encumbrancers of said property or any part thereof, subsequent to the date of the furnishing of the first item of material or the date of the performance of the first labor or services.
R.L. 1910, § 3865; Laws 1919, c. 258, p. 367, § 2; Laws 1927, c. 42, p. 64, § 1; Laws 1963, c. 226, § 1.
§42144.1. Effectiveness of lien against purchaser Delivery of copy of statement of lien.
No lien claimed by virtue of this act, insofar as it may extend to the proceeds from the sale of oil or gas produced from such lease, shall be effective against any purchaser of such oil or gas until a copy of the statement of lien claim required to be filed by the provisions of this chapter has been delivered to such purchaser by registered or certified mail.
Laws 1963, c. 226, § 2.
§42-144.2. Trust funds for payment of lienable claims.
A. Except as provided by subsection D of this section, the amount payable under any oil and gas well drilling contract, reworking contract, operating agreement, or monies payable as a condition of participation in the drilling of an oil and gas well under the terms of a pooling order issued by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission shall, upon receipt by any oil and gas well operator, contractor or subcontractor, be held by such operator as trust funds for the payment of all lienable claims due and owing by such operator, contractor or subcontractor by reason of such drilling contract, reworking contract, operating agreement, or force pooling order.
B. The trust funds created under subsection A of this section shall be applied to the payment of said valid lienable claims and no portion thereof shall be used for any other purpose until all lienable claims due and owing or to become due and owing shall have been paid.
C. The existence of such trust funds shall not prohibit the filing or enforcement of any labor, mechanic or materialmen's lien against the affected real property by any lien claimant, nor shall the filing of such a lien release the holder of such funds from the obligations created under this section.
D. The provisions of this section shall not be applicable or affect payments owed to royalty owners by the operator of an oil or gas well and shall not affect or alter the terms or provisions of Section 87.1 of Title 52 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
Added by Laws 1986, c. 176, § 11, emerg. eff. May 15, 1986. Amended by Laws 1997, c. 133, § 459, eff. July 1, 1999; Laws 2002, c. 460, § 30, eff. Nov. 1, 2002.
NOTE: Laws 1998, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 23 amended the effective date of Laws 1997, c. 133, § 459 from July 1, 1998, to July 1, 1999.
§42145. Oil and gas well lien by or through subcontractor.
Any person, copartnership or corporation who shall furnish such machinery or supplies to a subcontractor under a contractor, or any person who shall perform such labor under a subcontract with a contractor, or who, as an artisan or day laborer in the employ of such contractor, shall perform any such labor, may obtain a lien upon said leasehold for oil and gas purposes or any gas pipeline or any oil pipeline from the same tank and in the same manner and to the same extent as the original contractor for the amount due him for such labor, as provided in the preceding section.
§42-146. Enforcement of lien on oil and gas wells.
The liens created by Sections 144 and 145 of this title shall be enforced pursuant to the provisions of Sections 171 through 178 of this title. Notice of the lien shall be given and the materialman's statement or the lien of any laborer shall be filed, in the same manner as is provided for in Sections 141 through 143.4 of this title, except that Section 142.6 of this title shall not apply to liens created pursuant to Sections 144 and 145 of this title and the statement required to be filed in the office of the county clerk pursuant to Section 143 of this title as to liens created pursuant to Sections 144 and 145 of this title shall be filed within one hundred eighty (180) days after the date upon which material, machinery or supplies were last furnished or labor or services last performed under the relevant contract or subcontract, whichever the case may be. A lien created pursuant to Sections 144 and 145 of this title shall affect only the oil and gas leasehold estate and shall not constitute a lien against or otherwise affect any other interest in the real property involved, except if the owner of an oil, gas or other mineral interest therein shall also own a working interest in a well located thereon, such lien shall attach to said working interest.
R.L.1910, § 3867. Amended by Laws 1983, c. 57, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1983; Laws 1985, c. 136, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 1985; Laws 1990, c. 99, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1990; Laws 2002, c. 460, § 31, eff. Nov. 1, 2002.
§42-147. Repealed by Laws 1982, c. 332, § 3.
§42-147.1. Discharge of lien.
Any property owner or other interested party, including but not limited to mortgagees, contractors, subcontractors and others against whom a lien claim is filed under the provisions of the law relating to mechanics' and materialmen's liens, may at any time discharge the lien by depositing with the county clerk in whose office the lien claim has been filed either: An amount of money equal to one hundred twentyfive percent (125%) of the lien claim amount; or a corporate surety bond with a penal amount equal to one hundred twentyfive percent (125%) of the lien claim amount. Within three (3) business days after the deposit of money or bond is made, the county clerk shall serve upon the lien claimant, at the address shown on the lien claim, written notice setting forth: The number of the lien claim; the name of the lien claimant; the name of the property owner; the name of the alleged debtor, if someone other than the property owner; the property description shown on the lien claim; and the amount of cash deposited or, if a bond is filed, the names of the principal and surety and the bond penalty. The party seeking to discharge the lien shall prepare and deliver the notice to the county clerk and pay a fee of Five Dollars ($5.00) to cover the cost of filing and mailing. An abbreviated notice may be used if the same refers to and encloses a copy of the lien claim and either a copy of the cash receipt issued by the county clerk or a copy of the bond with the clerk's filing stamp thereon. The notice shall be mailed by registered or certified mail at the option of the county clerk.
If cash is deposited, the county clerk shall immediately show the lien released of record. If a bond is deposited, the lien claimant shall have ten (10) days after the notice is mailed within which to file a written objection with the county clerk. If a written objection is not timely filed the county clerk shall immediately show the lien released of record. If an objection is timely made, the county clerk shall set a hearing within ten (10) days thereafter and notify by ordinary mail both the lien claimant and the party making the deposit of the date and time thereof. The only grounds for objection shall be that: The surety is not authorized to transact business in this state; the bond is not properly signed; the penal amount is less than one hundred twentyfive percent (125%) of the claim; the power of attorney of the surety's attorneyinfact does not authorize the execution; there is no power of attorney attached if the bond is executed by anyone other than the surety's president and attested by its secretary; or a cease and desist order has been issued against the surety either by the Insurance Commissioner or a court of competent jurisdiction. Within two (2) business days following the hearing the county clerk shall either sustain or overrule the objections and notify the parties of the county clerk's ruling by ordinary mail. If the objections are sustained, the ruling of the county clerk shall be conclusive for lien release purposes unless appealed within ten (10) days to the district court. If the objections are overruled, the county clerk shall immediately show the lien released of record.
The bond shall: Name the lien claimant as obligee and the party seeking the release as principal; be executed by both the principal and the surety; have a proper power of attorney attached if executed by an attorneyinfact; be executed by a corporate surety authorized to transact business in this state; and be conditioned that the principal and surety will pay the full amount of the claim as established in any appropriate court proceeding, plus any court costs and attorney's fees awarded the lien claimant, but in no event shall the liability of the principal or surety under the bond exceed the bond penalty. The preceding clause shall not limit the common law liability of the party who created the indebtedness upon which the lien claim is based. The conditions of any bond filed pursuant to this section shall be deemed to comply with the requirements hereof, regardless of the language or limitations set forth therein, if both the principal and surety intend that the bond be filed to secure a lien release under this section.
The cash deposit or bond, as the case may be, shall stand in lieu of the released lien, and the lien claimant must proceed against the substituted security in the same time and manner as is required for foreclosure of a lien claim. The cash deposit or bond shall stand liable for such principal, interest, court costs and attorney's fees to the extent they could be awarded in a lien foreclosure proceeding.
The only proper parties to an action against the substituted security are: The party making the cash deposit; the bond principal and surety; the party primarily liable for the indebtedness giving rise to the lien claim; and anyone else who may be liable to the lien claimant for the same indebtedness. The party making the cash deposit and the bond principal and surety are necessary parties to an action against the substituted security, and by making a deposit or filing a bond the parties subject themselves to personal jurisdiction in the court where the action is properly filed and may be served with process as in other cases.
If the lien claimant fails to timely file a foreclosure action, upon application of the party making the deposit or filing the bond and the payment of a fee of Ten Dollars ($10.00), the county clerk shall return the cash to the party making the deposit or appropriately note on the bond that the same has been released. The clerk shall not incur liability to any lien claimant for an inadvertent release of cash or bond. At the end of ten (10) years and after the county clerk has attempted written notification to the lien claimant at the address shown on the lien claim, if no foreclosure has been commenced by the lien claimant or such money has not been withdrawn upon application of the depositing party, the cash deposit plus all accrued interest shall be forfeited to the county general fund.
Nothing contained in this section shall preclude the lien claimant and other interested parties from entering into agreements for the substitution of a different form of security in lieu of the lien claim.
The county clerk shall invest the deposited cash in the manner provided for county treasurers in Section 348.1 of Title 62 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Any interest earned thereon shall become a part of the deposit and be either returned to the party making the deposit, if no action is filed, or paid in accordance with any final judgment rendered by the court in the action against the substituted security. If a district court judgment adverse to the depositing party is entered, in setting the amount of supersedeas bond the court shall take into consideration the existing cash deposit or bond.
Added by Laws 1982, c. 332, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1982. Amended by Laws 2003, c. 184, § 4, eff. Nov. 1, 2003.
§42148. Lien on mining property for work thereon.
All miners and other employees engaged in the work of developing and opening up coal mines, sinking of shafts, or construction of slopes or drifts, the driving of entries, mining in coal, and every mechanic, builder, artisan, workman, laborer or other person who performs any work or labor in and about such mines, shall have as security for such work and labor performed, a lien therefor upon the buildings, machinery, equipment, inside or outside, income, franchises, leases or subleases and all other appurtenances and all property of the person, owner, agent, firm or corporation owning, constructing or operating such mine or mines, and all property in their possession or under their control, or permitted by the owner to be used in the construction or operation thereof, superior or paramount, whether prior in time or not, to that of all persons interested in such mines as managers, lessees, sublessees, operators, mortgagees, trustees and beneficiaries under trust, or owners.
Laws 1925, c. 108, p. 156, § 1; Laws 1939, p. 344, § 1.
§42149. Suit within one year.
The lien provided for in the preceding section shall not be effective unless suit shall be brought within one (1) year after it accrued.
Laws 1925, c. 108, p. 156, § 2.
§42150. Filing statement.
Any person claiming a lien as aforesaid shall file in the office of the county clerk of the county in which the land or property is situated, a statement setting forth the amount claimed and the items thereof, as nearly as practicable, the names of the managers, lessees, sublessees, operators, mortgagees, trustees and beneficiaries under trusts, or owners, the contractor, the claimant and the legal description of the property, subject to such lien and verified by affidavit. Such statement shall be filed within fortyfive (45) days after the date upon which such labor was last performed. Upon receipt of such lien statement, the clerk shall enter same against the tract index and in a record kept for that purpose, to be called the mechanics' lien journal. Except as provided herein, the provisions of Sections 92 through 96 and 141 through 147 of this title shall apply with reference to the liens herein created.
Laws 1925, c. 108, p. 156, § 3; Laws 1977, c. 207, § 11, eff. Oct. 1, 1977; Laws 1978, c. 133, § 5, eff. Oct. 1, 1978.
§42151. Lightning rods not included herein.
The erecting and constructing of a lightning rod or rods on any buildings shall not be considered such an improvement fixture or attachment, as to come under the provisions of this chapter.
§42152. Proceeds of building or remodeling contracts, mortgages or warranty deeds as trust funds for payment of lienable claims.
(1) The amount payable under any building or remodeling contract shall, upon receipt by any contractor or subcontractor, be held as trust funds for the payment of all lienable claims due and owing or to become due and owing by such contractors or subcontractors by reason of such building or remodeling contract.
(2) The monies received under any mortgage given for the purpose of construction or remodeling any structure shall upon receipt by the mortgagor be held as trust funds for the payment of all valid lienable claims due and owing or to become due and owing by such mortgagor by reason of such building or remodeling contract.
(3) The amount received by any vendor of real property under a warranty deed shall, upon receipt by the vendor, be held as trust funds for the payment of all valid lienable claims due and owing or to become due and owing by such vendor or his predecessors in title by reason of any improvements made upon such property within four (4) months prior to the delivery of said deed.
Laws 1965, c. 58, § 1; Laws 1968, c. 174, § 1, emerg. eff. April 15, 1968.
§42-153. Payment of lienable claims.
(1) The trust funds created under Section 152 of this title shall be applied to the payment of said valid lienable claims and no portion thereof shall be used for any other purpose until all lienable claims due and owing or to become due and owing shall have been paid.
(2) If the party receiving any money under Section 152 of this title is an entity having the characteristics of limited liability pursuant to law, such entity and the natural persons having the legally enforceable duty for the management of the entity shall be liable for the proper application of such trust funds and subject to punishment under Section 1451 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes. For purposes of this section, the natural persons subject to punishment shall be the managing officers of a corporation and the managers of a limited liability company.
(3) The existence of such trust funds shall not prohibit the filing or enforcement of a labor, mechanic or materialmen's lien against the affected real property by any lien claimant, nor shall the filing of such a lien release the holder of such funds from the obligations created under this section or Section 152 of this title.
Added by Laws 1965, c. 58, § 2. Amended by Laws 1968, c. 174, § 2, emerg. eff. April 15, 1968; Laws 1983, c. 111, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1983; Laws 1985, c. 191, § 1, emerg. eff. June 24, 1985; Laws 1997, c. 133, § 460, eff. July 1, 1999; Laws 1999, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 5, § 334, eff. July 1, 1999; Laws 2000, c. 6, § 9, emerg. eff. March 20, 2000; Laws 2002, c. 460, § 32, eff. Nov. 1, 2002.
NOTE: Laws 1999, c. 212, § 5 repealed by Laws 2000, c. 6, § 33, emerg. eff. March 20, 2000.
NOTE: Laws 1998, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 23 amended the effective date of Laws 1997, c. 133, § 460 from July 1, 1998, to July 1, 1999.
§42154. Corporations Execution, attestation, seal or acknowledgment of lien statement Release of lien.
Any lien statement authorized by the provisions of Sections 141 through 164 of Title 42 of the Oklahoma Statutes when executed on behalf of a corporation may be signed and verified by any officer or agent of said corporation without the necessity of attestation, seal, or acknowledgment and any release of such lien when executed on behalf of a corporation may be signed by any officer or agent of such corporation without the necessity of attestation, seal, or acknowledgment.
With respect to the execution and release of lien statements in accordance with this section the provisions of Sections 15, 93, 94 and 95 of Title 16 of the Oklahoma Statutes shall not apply.
Added by Laws 1984, c. 257, § 1, emerg. eff. May 30, 1984.
§42161. Right to lien against railroads.
Every mechanic, builder, artisan, workman, laborer, or other person, who shall do or perform any work or labor upon, or furnish any materials, machinery, fixtures or other thing towards the equipment, or to facilitate the operation of any railroad, shall have a lien therefor upon the roadbed, buildings, equipments, income, franchises, and all other appurtenances of said railroad, superior and paramount, whether prior in time or not, to that of all persons interested in said railroad as managers, lessees, mortgagees, trustees beneficiaries under trusts or owners.
The lien mentioned in the preceding section shall not be effectual unless suit shall be brought upon the claim within one (1) year after it accrued.
§42163. How enforced.
The said lien shall be mentioned in the judgment rendered for the claimant in an ordinary suit for the claim, and may be enforced by ordinary levy and sale under final or other process at law or equity.
A notice of ten (10) days shall be given to the railroad of the existence of a claim or the intended lien which is contemplated under this article.
§42171. Assignment of liens.
All claims for liens and rights of action to recover therefor hereunder shall be assignable so as to vest in the assignee all rights and remedies herein given, subject to all defenses thereto that might be made if such assignment had not been made. Where a statement has been filed and recorded as provided in Section 142 of this title, such assignment may be made by an entry, on the same page of the mechanics' lien journal containing the record of the lien, signed by the claimant or his lawful representative, and attested by the county clerk; or such assignment may be made by a separate instrument in writing.
R.L. 1910, § 3872; Laws 1977, c. 207, § 12, eff. Oct. 1, 1977.
§42172. Enforcement by civil actions Limitations Practice, pleading and proceeding Amendment of lien statement.
Any lien provided for by this chapter may be enforced by civil action in the district court of the county in which the land is situated, and such action shall be brought within one (1) year from the time of the filing of said lien with the county clerk. The practice, pleading and proceedings in such action shall conform to the rules prescribed by the code of civil procedure as far as the same may be applicable; and in case of action brought, any lien statement may be amended by leave of court in furtherance of justice as pleadings may be in any matter, except as to the amount claimed.
R.L. 1910, § 3873; Laws 1935, p. 226, § 1; Laws 1977, c. 207, § 13, eff. Oct. 1, 1977.
In such actions all persons whose liens are filed as herein provided shall be made parties, and issues shall be made and trials had as in other cases. Where such action is brought by a subcontractor, or other person not the original contractor, such original contractor shall be made a party defendant, and shall at his own expense defend against the claim of every subcontractor, or other person claiming a lien under this chapter, and if he fails to make such defense the owner may make the same at the expense of such contractor; and until all such claims, costs and expenses are finally adjudicated, and defeated or satisfied, the owner shall be entitled to retain from the contractor the amount thereof, and such costs and expenses as he may be required to pay: Provided, that if the sheriff of the county in which such action is pending shall make return that he is unable to find such original contractor, the court may proceed to adjudicate the liens upon the land and render judgment to enforce the same with costs.
R.L. 1910, § 3874; Laws 1977, c. 207, § 14, eff. Oct. 1, 1977.
§42174. Consolidation of actions and stay of trial.
If several actions brought to enforce the liens herein provided for are pending at the time, the court may order them to be consolidated; and in any action brought to enforce a lien, if the building or other improvement is still in course of construction, the court, on application of any party engaged in furnishing labor or materials for such building or improvement, may stay the trial thereof for a reasonable time to permit the filing of a lien statement by such party as herein provided.
§42175. Sale of property after judgment.
In all cases where judgment may be rendered in favor of any person or persons to enforce a lien under the provisions of this chapter, the real estate or other property shall be ordered to be sold as in other cases of sales of real estate, such sales to be without prejudice to the rights of any prior encumbrancer, owner or other person not a party to the action.
§42176. Attorney's fees.
In an action brought to enforce any lien the party for whom judgment is rendered shall be entitled to recover a reasonable attorney's fee, to be fixed by the court, which shall be taxed as costs in the action.
§42177. Suit by owner to determine lien and cancellation of lien on docket.
If any lien shall be filed under the provisions of this chapter, and no action to foreclose such lien shall have been commenced, the owner of the land may file his petition in the district court of the county in which said land is situated, making said lien claimants defendants therein, and praying for an adjudication of said lien so claimed, and if such lien claimant shall fail to establish his lien, the court may tax against said claimant the whole, or such portion of the costs of such action as may be just. Provided, that if no action to foreclose or adjudicate any lien filed under the provisions of this chapter shall be instituted within one (1) year from the filing of said lien, the lien is canceled by limitation of law. If a lien is canceled by limitation of law, the owner of the land may file an affidavit attesting to the cancellation with the county clerk of the county in which the land is located. Upon receipt of the affidavit, the county clerk shall attach the affidavit to the original lien document in the lien docket file and enter a notation of the filing in the mechanics' lien journal. The affidavit shall be on a form prescribed by the Office of the Administrative Director of the Courts.
R.L. 1910, § 3878. Amended by Laws 1977, c. 207, § 15, eff. Oct. 1, 1977; Laws 1995, c. 338, § 21, eff. Nov. 1, 1995.
§42178. Proceeds insufficient.
If the proceeds of the sale be insufficient to pay all the claimants, then the court shall order them to be paid in proportion to the amount due each.
§42-180. Lien or charge against manufactured home for storage - Priority.
A. The owner of real property upon which a manufactured home is located shall have a possessory lien to secure accrued storage or rental charges pursuant to a contract with the owner of the real property and the consumer.
B. Except as provided in this section, any lien or charge against a manufactured home for accrued storage or rental charges on the manufactured home upon the real property on which the manufactured home is or has been located is subordinate to the rights of a creditor with a perfected security interest or lien which is recorded on the document of title issued on the manufactured home.
C. The maximum storage charge which is not subordinated, and which is secured by the possessory lien, is a daily rate equal to onethirtieth (1/30) of the amount of the monthly payment last paid by the consumer, or if no payment has been made, the payment required pursuant to contract between the owner of the real property and the consumer, beginning on the date determined by this subsection, not to exceed thirty (30) days.
D. That portion of the possessory lien of the owner of the real property occurring after notice under this section shall have priority over a creditor with a perfected security interest fifteen (15) days from and after the date the owner of the real property or his agent shall have given the secured creditor notice that the manufactured home is abandoned or voluntarily surrendered by the consumer.
E. For the purposes of this section, a consumer abandons or voluntarily surrenders a manufactured home by:
1. The owner of the real property discovering or being notified of the intention to abandon or surrender; or
2. Failure to pay storage or rental charges when due.
F. Notice required by this section shall be mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested to the secured creditor of record on the document of title and to the mailing address listed therein. Notice by mail shall be effective on the date mailed.
G. Unless the owner of the real property has a possessory lien which has priority pursuant to this section, it shall be unlawful for the owner of the real property to refuse to allow the creditor to repossess and move the manufactured home. In the event that the owner of the real property refuses to allow the creditor to repossess and move the home, then the owner of the real property shall be liable to the creditor for each day that the owner of the real property unlawfully maintains possession of the home, at a daily rate equal to onethirtieth (1/30) of the monthly payment last paid by the consumer, or if no payment has been made, the payment required pursuant to the contract between the secured creditor and the consumer. The prevailing party shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys fees and costs.
H. The owner of the real property, pursuant to a possessory lien which has priority pursuant to this section, is entitled to recover the storage charges as set forth in this section. If the owner of the real property is required to retain legal counsel to recover the amounts subject to the possessory lien, such owner is entitled to recover reasonable attorneys fees and court costs incurred.
I. Upon receipt of notice of bankruptcy, the secured creditor shall, within five (5) days after receipt thereof, notify the owner of the real estate by certified mail, return receipt requested, of said bankruptcy. Failure of the secured creditor to notify said owner of the real estate will cause said creditor to be held liable for any storage charges not paid by the trustee in bankruptcy.
Added by Laws 1988, c. 226, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1988. Amended by Laws 1989, c. 366, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1989; Laws 2003, c. 409, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2003.
§42-191. Short title.
Sections 1 through 9 of this act shall be known and may be cited as the "Self-Service Storage Facility Lien Act".
Added by Laws 1998, c. 306, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1998.
As used in this act, unless the context otherwise requires:
1. "Default" means the failure to perform in a timely manner any obligation or duty set forth in this act or the rental agreement;
2. "Last-known address" means that address provided by the occupant in the latest rental agreement or the address provided by the occupant in a subsequent written notice of a change of address;
3. "Occupant" means a person, or his sublessee, successor, or assign, entitled to the use of the storage space at a self-service storage facility under a rental agreement, to the exclusion of others;
4. "Owner" means the owner, operator, lessor, or sublessor of a self-service storage facility, his agent, or any other person authorized by him to manage the facility or to receive rent from an occupant under a rental agreement;
5. "Personal property" means movable property not affixed to land and includes, but is not limited to, goods, merchandise, and household items;
6. "Rental agreement" means any written agreement or lease which establishes or modifies the terms, conditions, rules, or any other provisions concerning the use and occupancy at a self-service storage facility and which contains a notice stating that all articles stored under the terms of such agreement will be sold or otherwise disposed of if no payment has been received for a continuous thirty-day period; and
7. "Self-service storage facility" means any real property designed and used for the purpose of renting or leasing individual storage space to occupants who are to have access to such facility for the purpose of storing and removing personal property.
Added by Laws 1998, c. 306, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 1998.
§42-193. Applicability of Article 7 of Commercial Code.
If an owner issues any warehouse receipt, bill of lading, or other document of title for the personal property stored, the owner and the occupant are subject to the provisions of Article 7 of Title 12A of the Oklahoma Statutes, and the provisions of this act are not applicable.
Added by Laws 1998, c. 306, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 1998.
§42-194. Duty of care - Disclosure.
A. The duty of care an owner must exercise with respect to personal property located in a self-service storage facility is ordinary care only.
B. Each owner of a self-service storage facility shall provide a disclosure in the rental agreement, in conspicuous terms and in a conspicuous manner, that the occupant has a duty to safeguard the personal property located in a self-service storage facility from losses and that the owner has no legal obligation to provide insurance to protect the personal property from loss.
C. No owner of a self-service storage facility shall be liable for loss sustained by an occupant as a result of theft committed by a third party provided that ordinary care was exercised.
Added by Laws 1998, c. 306, § 4, eff. Nov. 1, 1998.
§42-195. Default by occupant - Prevention of access - Liability for damage to property.
A. An owner shall have the right to take such action as may be required to prevent an occupant who has committed an act of default pursuant to the rental agreement from gaining access to the self-service storage facility or any specific location at which personal property is stored by an occupant. The owner of a self-service storage facility shall not be liable for damages sustained by an occupant, if any, alleged to result from action taken by the owner to prevent access to the self-service storage facility after the occupant has committed an act of default pursuant to the rental agreement.
B. If an occupant damages any real or personal property of the owner in order to attempt to regain access to a self-service storage facility, or any component of a self-service storage facility, including but not limited to the destruction of a padlock or similar device, in addition to criminal liability, the occupant shall be liable for the damage caused and the owner of the self-service storage facility may add the damages or expenses incurred as a result of the action taken by the occupant to the amount of unpaid storage charges for purposes of enforcing the lien authorized by Section 6 of this act.
Added by Laws 1998, c. 306, § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 1998.
§42-196. Lien - Date of attachment - Disclosure of other lienholders.
A. Where a rental agreement, as defined in Section 2 of this act, is entered into between the owner and the occupant, the owner of a self-service storage facility and his heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns have a lien upon all personal property located at the self-service storage facility for rent, labor, or other charges, present or future, in relation to the personal property and for expenses necessary for its preservation or expenses reasonably incurred in its sale or other disposition pursuant to this act.
B. The lien attaches as of the date the personal property is brought to the self-service storage facility and continues so long as the owner retains possession and until the default is corrected, or a sale is conducted, or the property is otherwise disposed of to satisfy the lien.
C. The rental agreement shall contain a provision directing the occupant to disclose any lienholders with an interest in property that is or will be stored in a self-service storage facility.
Added by Laws 1998, c. 306, § 6, eff. Nov. 1, 1998.
§42-197. Priority - Enforcement - Notice - Sale of property.
A. An owner's lien as provided for a claim which has become due may be satisfied as provided by this section. The possessory lien authorized by this section shall be prior to any previously perfected security interest in the personal property pursuant to Section 19333 of Title 12A of the Oklahoma Statutes.
B. No enforcement action shall be taken by the owner until the occupant has been in default continuously for a period of thirty (30) days. As used in this subsection, "enforcement action" shall not include actions of the owner taken pursuant to Section 5 of this act.
C. After the occupant has been in default continuously for a period of thirty (30) days, the owner may begin enforcement action if the occupant has been notified in writing. Said notice shall be delivered in person or sent by certified mail return receipt requested to the last-known address of the occupant. Any lienholder with an interest in the property to be sold or otherwise disposed of, of whom the owner has actual knowledge, shall be included in the notice process as provided in this section.
D. The notice shall include:
1. An itemized statement of the owner's claim showing the sum due at the time of the notice and the date when the sum became due;
2. A brief and general description of the personal property subject to the lien. The description shall be reasonably adequate to permit the person notified to identify such property, except that any container including, but not limited to, a trunk, valise, or box that is locked, fastened, sealed, or tied in a manner which deters immediate access to its contents may be described as such without describing its contents;
3. A notification of denial of access to the personal property, if such denial is permitted under the terms of the rental agreement, which notification shall provide the name, street address, and telephone number of the owner or his designated agent whom the occupant may contact to respond to such notification;
4. A demand for payment within a specified time not less than fifteen (15) days after delivery of the notice; and
5. A conspicuous statement that, unless the claim is paid within the time stated in the notice, the personal property will be advertised for sale or other disposition and will be sold or otherwise disposed of at a specified time and place.
E. Any notice made pursuant to this section shall be presumed delivered when it is deposited with the United States Postal Service and properly addressed with postage prepaid.
F. After the expiration of the time given in the notice, an advertisement of the sale or other disposition shall be published once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the self-service storage facility is located.
G. The advertisement prescribed by subsection F of this section shall include:
1. A brief and general description of the personal property reasonably adequate to permit its identification as provided in paragraph 2 of subsection D of this section, the address of the self-service storage facility and the number, if any, of the space where the personal property is located, and the name of the occupant and his last-known address;
2. The time, place, and manner of the sale or other disposition. The sale or other disposition shall take place not sooner than fifteen (15) days after the first publication; or
3. If there is no newspaper of general circulation in the county where the self-service storage facility is located, the advertisement shall be posted at least ten (10) days before the date of the sale or other disposition in not less than six conspicuous places in the neighborhood where the self-service storage facility is located.
H. Any sale or other disposition of the personal property shall conform to the terms of the notification as provided for in this section.
I. Any sale or other disposition of the personal property shall be held at the self-service storage facility or at the nearest suitable place to where the personal property is held or stored.
J. Before any sale or other disposition of personal property pursuant to this section, the occupant may pay the amount necessary to satisfy the lien and the reasonable expenses incurred under this section and thereby redeem the personal property. Upon receipt of such payment, the owner shall return the personal property, and thereafter the owner shall have no liability to any person with respect to such personal property.
K. A purchaser in good faith of the personal property sold to satisfy a lien as provided in this act takes the property free of any rights of persons against whom the lien was valid and free of any rights of a secured creditor, despite noncompliance by the owner with the requirements of this section.
L. In the event of a sale under this section, the owner may satisfy his lien from the proceeds of the sale.
M. If the proceeds from sale of the property are less than the amount required to pay the obligation secured by the lien, the owner may pursue a deficiency against the tenant. If the proceeds from sale of the property are more than the amount required to pay the obligation secured by the owner's lien, the owner shall hold the excess proceeds for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of the sale. During this period, any persons, including the tenant, claiming an interest in the excess proceeds from the sale of the property shall present adequate proof of their claim to the owner. After the expiration of the ninety-day period, the owner shall make such distribution of the excess proceeds as is required based upon the claims presented. If after making distribution of the proceeds as prescribed by this subsection there are any remaining proceeds, the proceeds shall become the property of the owner without further recourse by the occupant, any lienholder or other person in interest.
N. If the requirements of this act are not satisfied, if the sale of the personal property is not in conformity with the notice of sale, or if there is a willful violation of this act, nothing in this section affects the rights and liabilities of the owner, the occupant, or any other person.
O. Any purchaser of personal property sold pursuant to this section for which a certificate of title has been issued by the Oklahoma Tax Commission shall obtain a certificate of title to be issued in the purchaser's name in the same manner as provided by law for the issuance of a certificate of title for property requiring a certificate of title sold pursuant to the provisions of Sections 91 through 102 of Title 42 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
Added by Laws 1998, c. 306, § 7, eff. Nov. 1, 1998. Amended by Laws 1999, c. 212, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 1999; Laws 2000, c. 371, § 172, eff. July 1, 2001.
§42-197.1. Abandonment or surrender - Possession - Disposal - Notice.
A. If the occupant abandons or surrenders possession of the self-service storage facility and leaves household goods, furnishings, fixtures, or any other personal property in the self-service storage facility, the owner may take possession of the property, and if, in the judgment of the owner, the property has no ascertainable or apparent value, the owner may dispose of the property without any duty of accounting or any liability to any party.
B. If the occupant abandons or surrenders possession of the self-service storage facility and leaves household goods, furnishings, fixtures, or any other personal property in the self-service storage facility, the owner may take possession of the property, and if, in the judgment of the owner the property has an ascertainable or apparent value, such property left with the owner for a period of thirty (30) days or longer shall be conclusively determined to be abandoned and as such the owner may dispose of said property in any manner which he deems reasonable and proper without liability to the occupant or any other interested party; however, before the property is disposed of, the owner shall provide written notice to the occupant, by certified mail with return receipt requested, and the owner may dispose of the property fifteen (15) days after the owner receives the return receipt document or fifteen (15) days after the owner receives a communication from the United States Post Office that the written notice was not claimed by the addressee, whichever period occurs first.
Added by Laws 1999, c. 212, § 4, eff. Nov. 1, 1999.
§42-198. Residential use prohibited.
No occupant shall use a self-service storage facility for residential purposes.
Added by Laws 1998, c. 306, § 8, eff. Nov. 1, 1998.
§42-199. Other rights not impaired or affected.
Nothing in this act shall be construed as in any manner impairing or affecting the right of parties to create liens by special contract or agreement, nor shall it in any manner affect or impair other liens arising at common law in equity, or by any statute of this state.
Added by Laws 1998, c. 306, § 9, eff. Nov. 1, 1998.
§42-200. Publication of act.
The Oklahoma Real Estate Commission shall cause the "Self-Service Storage Facility Lien Act" to be reproduced in a publication together with other statutes of the State of Oklahoma as are ordinarily reproduced by the Commission for distribution to the public.
Added by Laws 1998, c. 306, § 10, eff. Nov. 1, 1998.
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