§35-11-454. Release, etc., of lien.

(a) Whenever a notice of lien has been filed with the office of the judge of probate and a condition occurs that would preclude the broker from receiving compensation under the terms of the broker's written agreement, the broker shall record a written release or satisfaction of the lien, in the appropriate records of the office of the judge of probate and shall furnish a copy of the recorded release or satisfaction to the owner.

(b) Upon written demand of the owner, lienee, or authorized agent served on the broker claiming the lien requiring that suit be commenced to enforce the lien or answer be filed in a pending suit, a suit shall be commenced or answer filed in a pending suit, within 60 days thereafter, or the lien shall be extinguished. Service of such demand shall be in the manner provided by the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure for the service of a summons and complaint.

(c) Whenever a notice of lien has been timely filed in the office of the judge of probate and is paid, or where there is failure to institute a suit to enforce the lien within the time provided by this division, the lien shall be invalid and the broker shall, within 30 days after payment or expiration of the time in which to perfect the lien, record a written release or satisfaction of the lien in the proper office of the judge of probate and shall furnish a copy of the recorded release or satisfaction to the owner or other lienee. This release or satisfaction filed by the broker shall not be required to invalidate the lien.

(d) The lien provided herein and the broker's right to file and record a lien provided for in this division shall be terminated and dissolved if the owner, landlord, tenant, purchaser from owner, lender providing a loan secured by commercial real estate, or other holder of an interest in the commercial real estate shows either of the following:

(1) The lien has been waived in writing by the lien claimant or its expressly authorized agent.

(2) The client at whose instance the brokerage services were provided has given a sworn written statement that all compensation due or to become due under the listing, agency, or other brokerage agreement has been paid or has been waived in writing by the potential lien claimant, or that no compensation is owed to such broker related to the commercial real estate.

(Act 98-160, p. 264, §5.)