When is a release used?

A release is issued after the claimant's lien rights are satisfied by payment, settlement, or written agreement. Filing a release removes the cloud on title and is typically required by owners, lenders, or title companies before closing or refinancing.

The original lien claimant or an authorized representative must sign the release. If the claimant is an entity, a person with authority per corporate resolution or power of attorney should sign. State law may require notarization or witness signatures to validate the document.

Is notarization required?

Notarization requirements vary by state. Some jurisdictions require a notary for deeds and lien releases; others accept a signed release without notarization. When in doubt, follow the county recording office rules or consult counsel to ensure the release is recordable.

Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under ESIGN (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA, but county recorder practices and state notarization laws vary. Confirm acceptance of e-recordings and whether witness or notary requirements apply in your jurisdiction.

Record the release at the county recorder or land records office where the original lien was recorded. Some counties have electronic recording portals and specific formatting rules; follow local recording requirements to ensure the release is indexed correctly.

How to correct errors?

If the release contains errors, prepare and record a corrected release or an affidavit of correction referencing the original filing. Minor clerical mistakes can sometimes be cured by joint affidavit from parties; substantive errors may require new instruments or court action.

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Release of Materialman's Lien

Release of Materialman's Lien

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RELEASE OF MATERIALMAN'S LIEN

STATE OF ALABAMA

COUNTY OF

the claimant of a materialman's lien, as evidenced by the

Materialman's Lien Verified Statement which was previously filed for record in the Office of the Probate

Judge of County, Alabama, on and recorded in Book

Page hereby verifies that the indebtedness which was secured by said lien has been satisfied and

that the lien is due to be released, discharged, and cancelled.

WHEREFORE, hereby releases, discharges, and cancels the

said lien and also releases any and all claims against the subject real property described in the

Materialman's Lien Verified Statement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument on this

day of

By:

Its: President

STATE OF ALABAMA

COUNTY OF BUTLER

I, the undersigned authority, a Notary Public in and for said County, in said State, do hereby

certify that whose name as President of is signed to

the foregoing Release of Materialman's Lien, and who is known to me, acknowledged before me on this

day, that, being informed of the contents of the document, he/she/they as such officer and with full

authority, executed the same voluntarily for and as the act of said corporation.

Given under my hand and seal, this day of

Notary Public

(NOTARIAL SEAL AFFIXED)

My Commission Expires:

This Instrument was Prepared By:

Telephone:

What a Release of Materialman's Lien Is

A Release of Materialman's Lien is a legal document executed by a claimant (typically a contractor, subcontractor, or supplier) that formally relinquishes a previously recorded or asserted materialman's lien on real property. It records that the claimant no longer claims a security interest for labor, materials, or services furnished to a construction project, either because the debt was paid, settled, or released by agreement. The release should identify the lien instrument, the property, the parties, and the effective date; when properly completed, it clears title and enables owners or lenders to move forward with conveyances or financing.

Why a Clear Release Matters

A Release of Materialman's Lien restores clear title, enables property transfers or refinancing, and documents that construction-related claims were resolved. It reduces legal exposure for owners and lenders and provides public record evidence that labor and material obligations tied to the property have been satisfied.

Who typically prepares or requests a release

Typical users who prepare or request a Release of Materialman's Lien include owners, lenders, and contractors involved in closing or financing.

Property owners seeking clear title before sale, mortgage closing, or refinancing.
Lenders requiring release as condition for loan disbursement or reconveyance.
Contractors or suppliers issuing releases after payment or settlement of claims.

Step-by-step: complete and record the release

Follow these steps to complete a Release of Materialman's Lien accurately and reduce processing delays.

01

Identify Lien: Reference recorded lien number, instrument, county, and original filing date.
02

Confirm Payment: Document proof of payment or settlement that justifies release.
03

Describe Property: Provide legal description or parcel number used in the lien filing.
04

Sign and Notarize: Authorized claimant signs; notarization or witnesses as state law requires.

Overview: drafting to recording workflow

Typical process from drafting to recording a Release of Materialman's Lien and notifying stakeholders timely.

Draft: Prepare release with exact lien and property references.
Authorize: Signer confirms authority and signs in required format.
Notarize: Notary or RON session performed if state requires.
Record: Submit to county recorder and obtain recording number.

Configuring an online workflow for releases

Configure your online workflow to collect signatures, authentication, and record-keeping for the release efficiently and compliantly.

Field	Configuration
Signature Type	Simple e-signature or PKI digital signature option
Authentication	Email link, SMS code, or KBA verification
Notary	Support for remote online notarization sessions
Storage	Encrypted cloud storage with searchable audit trail

Security and compliance highlights

In Transit: TLS 1.2/1.3 encryption in transit

At Rest: AES-256 encryption at rest

Certifications: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001

HIPAA: BAA available for covered entities

ESIGN/UETA: Compliant with ESIGN and UETA

Audit Trail: Complete timestamps, IP, action history

Risks of incomplete or incorrect releases

Title Cloud: Owner cannot transfer clear title

Recording Rejection: County may refuse to accept

Reinstated Lien: Creditor may reassert lien rights

Delay Costs: Closing or loan funding delayed

Legal Fees: Legal fees and litigation risk

Criminal Liability: Fraudulent release may incur penalties

Common preparation mistakes to avoid

Using informal property descriptions or street addresses only, which recording offices may reject; always copy the legal description from the original lien or deed.
Signing by an unauthorized representative without proof of authority causes rejection or later disputes; attach corporate resolutions or powers of attorney when applicable.
Failing to reference the original lien document number, recording date, and county, making it difficult to link the release to the proper public record.
Assuming e-signature acceptance; some county recording offices or states require wet signature, notarization, or RON with identity proofing for recordable releases.

Core elements every professional release should include

Essential elements in a professional Release of Materialman's Lien ensure it is recordable, unambiguous, and accepted by title companies and county recorders.

Parties

Identify the releasing claimant and the property owner clearly, including full legal names, business entity types, and mailing addresses, so public records link the release to the correct parties and contact points.

Lien Reference

Cite the original lien instrument number, recording date, recording jurisdiction, and county clerk's reference so the release attaches to the exact recorded instrument without ambiguity.

Property

Include full legal description or assessor parcel number copied from the original filing; avoid relying solely on street addresses to prevent recorder office rejection.

Consideration

State the reason for release—full payment, partial payment with lien satisfaction, or settlement—and specify any limitations or retained claims if applicable, in writing.

Signatures

Provide the claimant's signature, printed name, title, date, and any corporate authorization documentation; include notary block or witness lines required by state law.

Recording Block

Leave space or attach a recorder's certificate for the county clerk to stamp with recording information, including document number, recording date, and return address.

Download formats and supporting documents

Download options and supporting documents that typically accompany a Release of Materialman's Lien for recording and verification by title companies and county recorders.

PDF/A

Save the executed release as a PDF/A to preserve formatting and ensure long-term archival compatibility with county recorders and legal archives.

DOCX

Keep an editable DOCX copy during review and redlining but record only the final signed PDF version to meet recorder requirements.

Record Copy

Provide a signed original or certified copy for recording; some counties accept e-recorded PDFs while others require wet-ink originals.

Supporting Docs

Attach payment receipt, lien waiver, corporate resolution, or power of attorney as evidence when the recorder or title company requests proof.

Technology considerations for e-submission and storage

Digital workflows for releases require attention to e-signature acceptance, notarization options, and secure storage to support recording and compliance.

Formats: PDF, PDF/A, DOCX supported
Integrations: Title, ERP, and cloud storage
Authenticators: Email, SMS, KBA, SSO

Practical checks to reduce rejection and delay

Practical steps and checks that reduce rejection risk and speed recording of a Release of Materialman's Lien.

Verify name and authority

Confirm the claimant's legal name matches the lien filing and that the signer has express authority. Attach corporate resolutions, power of attorney, or an affidavit proving signing authority to avoid recorder or title objections.

Use exact lien references

Reference the original lien document number, recording date, and county. Precise citations let clerks and title examiners link records quickly and prevent misfiling that could leave encumbrances on title.

Follow county recording formats

Each county has formatting and margin requirements; consult local recorder checklists or e-recording vendors. Improper formatting can cause rejection or surcharge fees and add days to the clearing process.

Retain supporting proof

Keep receipts, payment records, waiver letters, and signed copies stored securely. Title companies and lenders often request documentary proof when a release is recorded or when a prior lien is disputed.

Timing expectations and processing windows

Typical timing expectations and deadlines related to preparing, signing, and recording a release to support closings and financing.

Record Promptly:

File the release as soon as payment is settled to avoid title holds.

County Processing:

Recording may take 1–10 business days depending on county workload.

RON Records Retention:

Audio-video notarization records often retained 5–10 years by notaries.

Title Clearance:

Title companies typically request releases before closing; timing affects funding.

Dispute Window:

Keep records during statute of limitations for payment claims per state laws.

How a release differs from related documents

Compare a Release of Materialman's Lien with related instruments so users choose the correct document for clearing title.

Document Type	Purpose	Typical Signer
Release of Materialman's Lien	relinquishes lien claim	contractor or supplier
Lien Waiver	prevents future lien for payment period	contractor or supplier
Satisfaction of Mortgage	releases mortgage lien after payoff	mortgagee/lender
Affidavit of Correction	fixes recording errors	filing party or attorney

E-signature vendor comparison for executing releases

Vendor pricing and feature comparison for eSignature solutions commonly used to execute and manage Release of Materialman's Lien documents.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Frequently asked questions about releases

Answers to common questions about preparing, signing, and filing a Release of Materialman's Lien documents.

Need help? Contact support

When is a release used?
A release is issued after the claimant's lien rights are satisfied by payment, settlement, or written agreement. Filing a release removes the cloud on title and is typically required by owners, lenders, or title companies before closing or refinancing.
Who must sign it?
The original lien claimant or an authorized representative must sign the release. If the claimant is an entity, a person with authority per corporate resolution or power of attorney should sign. State law may require notarization or witness signatures to validate the document.
Is notarization required?
Notarization requirements vary by state. Some jurisdictions require a notary for deeds and lien releases; others accept a signed release without notarization. When in doubt, follow the county recording office rules or consult counsel to ensure the release is recordable.
Can it be e-signed?
Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under ESIGN (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA, but county recorder practices and state notarization laws vary. Confirm acceptance of e-recordings and whether witness or notary requirements apply in your jurisdiction.
Where is it filed?
Record the release at the county recorder or land records office where the original lien was recorded. Some counties have electronic recording portals and specific formatting rules; follow local recording requirements to ensure the release is indexed correctly.
How to correct errors?
If the release contains errors, prepare and record a corrected release or an affidavit of correction referencing the original filing. Minor clerical mistakes can sometimes be cured by joint affidavit from parties; substantive errors may require new instruments or court action.

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