Hi Kurt,

The answer to your question is that you need to check the statutes and common law rulings of your state's court. You are drawing an analogy to mechanics' liens for materials or labor used for the construction or demolition of real estate. Connecticut does not permit abstractors to lien the real estate that is the subject of the search. However, it has expanded its mechanics' lien statute to include the work of architects on condition that the architects plans were actually used in the construction of the home.

If you are going to pursue a lien statute with your state legislators...may I suggest that you look into a lien on the lender/title company file for which you do abstracting work. Attorneys have this by common law in Connecticut.They have a lien on all client files until they are paid in full.