As Scott and I have mentioned many times on this blog - mechanic's liens do not last forever.  At some point, the lien claimant is required to initiate foreclosure proceedings (or, occasionally other enforcement proceedings) or the lien will expire.  Also, as we have noted, the time a lien will encumber property before the deadline comes to foreclose varies by state.  Some mechanic's liens, like those in California, have a relatively short effective period, others, like liens in Louisiana, have a longer period.