Effective 28 Aug 1939

429.050. Priority of lien — improvements removed when — exception. — The lien for the things aforesaid, or work, shall attach to the buildings, erections or improvements for which they were furnished or the work was done, in preference to any prior lien or encumbrance or mortgage upon the land upon which said buildings, erections, improvements or machinery have been erected or put; and any person enforcing such lien may have such buildings, erections or improvements sold under execution, and the purchaser may remove the same within a reasonable time thereafter; provided, that nothing contained in this section shall be so construed as to allow any such sidewalk as is mentioned in sections 429.010 to 429.340 to be so sold under execution or so removed.

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(RSMo 1939 § 3549)

Prior revisions: 1929 § 3159; 1919 § 7219; 1909 § 8215

(1972) This section applies only to new construction and does not apply to improvements or repairs of existing structures thus where prior mortgage was given upon land and an existing structure the mechanic's liens arising incident to improvement or repair of existing structure had no priority over mortgage; but by its actions in inducing lien claimants to furnish material and labor which were the basis of the liens, mortgagee bank waived and was estopped from asserting its priority and mechanic's lien claimants had paramount liens not only on improvements but also on land itself. Trout's Investments, Inc. v. Davis (Mo.), 482 S.W.2d 510.

(1978) Statutes providing for priority of mechanic's lien over deed of trust did not violate due process rights of lender under the deed of trust. Westinghouse Electric Company v. Vann Realty Company (Mo.), 568 S.W.2d 777.