Contracts,contracts, contracts, these are the most bitter lessons i've had to learn and it'll make an old man out of you. In Ark. you must send a (specifically worded) notice of intent to lien within 75 days of the money being owed, then within another 45 days file the lien, but you then have to file suit in order to enforce the lien. You need to get an attorney to send these notices, but keep copies. when you do this stuff, you gotta be letter perfect with the legal description of the property. Once your situation is in the hands of an attorney, you loose anyway... but get after this, send the notice of intent to lien to the owner because it clouds the title and they don't want that. Kick their A$%#s.