Not in Louisiana? Mechanic lien discharge bonds in other states

Louisiana lien / privilege discharge bonds.
Flat 2%.

A recorded privilege freezes everything it touches — closings, refinances, draws. A discharge bond swaps the surety's guarantee for the property, so the recorder of mortgages cancels the statement of claim from the title. Flat 2%, 48-hour underwriter response.

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Cancels the privilege without paying the claim — you keep every defense you have
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Louisiana sets the bond at 125% of the claim amount (La. R.S. 9:4835)
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Same rate for everyone — 2% flat, posted, no leverage games when you're in a hurry
48 hrsunderwriter responseA-ratedA.M. Best carriers$50Maggregate capacity
Trusted by industry leaders
New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC)
Blumenfeld Development Group (BDG)
Capital Development Partners
McKinney Properties
Terra Capital
JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle)
Triple Five Group
The Georgetown Company
New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC)
Blumenfeld Development Group (BDG)
Capital Development Partners
McKinney Properties
Terra Capital
JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle)
Triple Five Group
The Georgetown Company
Price

How much does a Louisiana lien / privilege discharge bond cost?

2% of the bond amount, $100 minimum, paid once.

How it works

From frozen title to canceled privilege.

Every day the privilege sits on the title costs you leverage, interest, or a closing date. Here's the entire process:

TODAY · 5 MINUTES

Apply + send the claim documents

The application plus a copy of the statement of claim or privilege and any court documents — that's the file. Send documents to underwriting right after you submit; everything is reviewed together.

WITHIN 48 HOURS

A human underwrites it

A licensed underwriter reviews the recorded claim, the dispute, and your file. Larger or heavily contested privileges can require financials — you'll get one checklist, once.

ON APPROVAL

Deposit & cancel

The executed bond is deposited with the recorder of mortgages in the parish, the statement of claim is canceled from the property, and your closing, refinance, or draw schedule starts moving again.

The whole pricing page.

Bond amount × 2% = your premium, one-time, $100 minimum. A $100,000 claim means a $125,000 bond under La. R.S. 9:4835 — $2,500.

$50,000 claim → $62.5K bond
$1,250
$100,000 claim → $125K bond
$2,500
$500,000 claim → $625K bond
$12,500
About this bond

What it is and who needs it.

What a discharge bond actually does

When a contractor, sub, or supplier files a statement of claim or privilege, the property itself becomes their security — Louisiana calls it a privilege, not a mechanic's lien, but it works the same way. Until it's resolved, title companies won't close, lenders won't fund, and draws stop. The Private Works Act lets any interested party swap the property out and a surety bond in — at 125% of the claim amount.

The recorder of mortgages then cancels the statement of claim from the title. The dispute itself continues — bonding off a privilege is not paying it and not admitting it's valid. If the claimant ultimately proves the claim, the bond pays; if they don't, it expires with the dispute.

That makes this the rare bond bought for leverage: you stop negotiating with your closing date held hostage and start negotiating on the merits of the claim.

LA Private Works ActLouisiana's Private Works Act (La. R.S. 9:4835) lets any interested party deposit a surety bond with the recorder of mortgages to guarantee the obligation up to 125% of the principal amount of the claim. On filing, the recorder cancels the statement of claim or privilege from the records. The surety has no benefit of division or discussion. Your attorney handles the deposit; we handle the bond.

You need this bond if you're

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A property owner with a privilege blocking a sale, refinance, or construction loan draw
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A general contractor whose sub's privilege is jamming the owner relationship — many GC contracts require you to bond claims off
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A developer who needs clean title on a schedule the dispute won't respect
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Disputing the claim itself — bonding it off preserves every defense while freeing the property
After you buy

Claims, renewal, filing, and what sets the price.

If a claim is made

A claim comes from the party the bond protects, the obligee named on the form, when the duty the bond guarantees is not met.

The surety investigates and pays a valid claim, up to the bond amount. You then repay the surety: a surety bond is a guarantee of your performance, not insurance for you.

Renewal and term

A performance and payment bond runs for the life of the contract, plus any warranty period the contract sets; there is no annual renewal.

How to file it

Deposit & cancel. The executed bond is deposited with the recorder of mortgages in the parish, the statement of claim is canceled from the property, and your closing, refinance, or draw schedule starts moving again.

What sets the price

Bond amount times 2%, $100 minimum, one time: the rate is flat for every applicant we write, so the premium is a line in your budget, not a negotiation.

Five minutes, plus your claim documents.

Submit the application, then send the statement of claim and any court documents to underwriting — a licensed underwriter reviews the full file and responds within 48 hours.

Start the application →
FAQ

Common questions.

Does bonding off the privilege pay the contractor?No. The bond substitutes for the property as security — nothing is paid to the claimant when the bond is deposited. The underlying dispute continues exactly as before, except your title is clean. If the claimant eventually proves the claim in court, the bond responds; if not, it doesn't.
How is the bond amount set?125% of the principal claim amount under Louisiana's Private Works Act (La. R.S. 9:4835) — a $100,000 claim means a $125,000 bond. Your attorney or the recorded statement will state the exact figure; use that number in the application.
How much does it cost?A flat 2% of the bond amount, one time, $100 minimum. A $125,000 bond runs $2,500. The rate is posted and identical for everyone — no surge pricing because you have a closing on Friday.
How fast can this happen?Submit the application and the claim/court documents today, and a licensed underwriter responds within 48 hours. Straightforward claims move fastest; large or heavily contested privileges can take longer if financials are needed. The deposit with the recorder of mortgages is then your attorney's same-day errand.
Will I need collateral or financials?It depends on the size of the claim and the shape of the dispute. Smaller, clearly documented claims are often approved from the application alone; larger or messier ones can require financial statements. Either way you'll get one checklist, once — and a soft credit check that never affects your score.
Does bonding off the privilege mean admitting it's valid?No. Depositing a discharge bond is expressly not an admission — you keep every defense, offset, and counterclaim you had. Most owners and GCs bond claims off precisely so they can fight them properly.
How do I contact Light RFP about this bond?Email insurance@lightrfp.com. It reaches the bond team at Light RFP Risk Management Services LLC (NY DFS License # PC-1978982). Write to us about quotes, applications, bond forms or certificates. We will respond within 24 hours.
Related bonds

Other Louisiana bonds.

Nearby states

The same bond in nearby states.

Requirements checked on the carrier’s application, . Page updated .

Get the privilege off the title this week.

Five-minute application, flat 2%, underwriter response within 48 hours. Your attorney files; the project moves.

Your premium @ 2%$2,500
Apply now →