Collecting unpaid invoices can be a hassle. If you happen to work with your hands doing demanding, physical work–such as that of an airplane mechanic–you may not have much time to get on the phone or send out emails to try to recover the funds you are owed. If a debtor is delinquent on money owed to you, one option you have for recovering these funds is to file an airplane claim of lien.
Filing a claim of lien against an airplane is a part of a larger legal process that you will need to complete. As this ordeal can become a bit complicated, educating yourself on what it takes to file a claim of lien, as well as how you can do it online, is a great first step to getting the money that you earned and deserve.
Beginning the Airplane Claim of Lien Process
After weeks or even months of follow-up, you still have not been paid for work that you performed on an airplane. This can be a uniquely frustrating scenario. If you have exhausted most traditional methods for recouping what you are owed, it may be time to file a claim of lien against the aircraft.
So, where do you begin? The first step is to contact an attorney who will work with you on this matter. It is never wise to enter a legal skirmish on your own. Next, you will need to file a civil lawsuit. Your lawsuit should specifically be against the owner of the aircraft. Doing this will force them to go to court as the debtor, facing you as the creditor. You will have a chance to make your case and outline the work that you did, as well as what you are owed.
If a judgment is made in your favor, you now have what is considered a legitimate debt. The next step in this process is, unfortunately, more waiting. Depending on the state in which your lawsuit was filed, the debtor will have a certain period of time to voluntarily compensate you.
If that grace period comes to pass with no payment received, you have grounds to file a claim of lien.
Creating and Filing Your Claim
The lien that you end up filing needs to be made in your local jurisdiction. What this entails, essentially, is drawing up a form, completing it, and submitting it along with an accompanying fee.
The lien that you will specifically be looking to file is known as a “Mechanic’s Lien”. As its name implies, it serves to recover funds for mechanical work done on an aircraft. The act of registering and recording your mechanic’s lien is actually called “perfecting”, and in order to perfect your lien, you will want to be very clear about the work performed and the compensation that was agreed upon.
Once your lien is completed in a comprehensive and accurate manner, the next step is to fill it with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). You can do this by packaging your documents together, along with payment for the required fee, and mailing everything to the FAA’s office in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Completing Your Lien, and Other Documents Online
If you have gotten to the point where you are perfecting a mechanic’s lien, you have already been through a fair amount of bureaucratic rigmarole. You have tried being polite, you have given the debtor ample time, and now you have gone through a drawn-out legal process. If you are a mechanic, chances are good that you are pretty busy as it is, and perhaps you even own your own business that requires your constant attention. Do you really have the time necessary for mailing a bunch of documents to the FAA?
The good news is, that there is a quicker way that you can use to complete this process. At the National Aviation Center, we offer a secure, SSL-encrypted web portal that allows you to file your lien online in just a matter of minutes. We use a streamlined, no-nonsense, fillable form that is easy to understand and complete. With the time you save by working with a private service such as ours, you can get back to the work that supports your livelihood.
While you are using our site to file your lien, take a look around. Chances are you have other documentation needs with the FAA if you happen to also own your own plane. Whether you need an initial registration, a renewal, or even deregistration, the National Aviation Center has you covered. We offer a slew of online forms for the myriad and diverse needs of aircraft owners, and we can help you process your documentation quickly. To learn more, contact one of our friendly customer service agents today.