Construction Law Blog

Construction Law Insights

Expert analysis on mechanic liens, bond claims, and payment recovery. Every article reviewed for accuracy by licensed attorneys.

Articles

Showing 49–72 of 207 articles

Crew climbing high scaffolding above a New York street at dusk with the Empire State Building lit behind them, enforcing Miller Act claims in New York
August 13, 2024Guide

How to Enforce Miller Act Claims in New York

How subcontractors and suppliers enforce a New York Little Miller Act claim on public projects over $100,000, including the 90-day and 120-day claim windows, certified-mail notice requirements, filing with the surety, and the one-year deadline.

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Two technicians checking valves on the piping gallery of a municipal water treatment plant in Ohio, the public works behind Little Miller Act claims
August 13, 2024Guide

Steps Required to Enforce Little Miller Act Claims in Ohio

The steps to enforce an Ohio Little Miller Act claim, covering the 21-day preliminary notice, obtaining bond information, serving a stop notice, the 90-day window to file against the payment bond, and the six-month deadline to sue.

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Track crew wrenching rail inside a lit transit tunnel, the federal projects where the Miller Act payment bond protects subcontractors and suppliers
August 12, 2024Guide

Federal Miller Act: Bond Protection for Subcontractors

The Federal Miller Act protects subcontractors and suppliers on public projects through payment and performance bonds. This post outlines the bond requirements and the notice, claim, and lawsuit steps for pursuing payment.

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Crew setting a solar panel on a commercial roof at sunset, the solar projects where a lien gets you paid through a Chapter 11
August 9, 2024News

Filing a Lien in SunPower’s Chapter 11

A practical guide for solar installers and subcontractors seeking payment after SunPower's Chapter 11 filing, covering steps such as filing a proof of claim, reviewing contracts, securing claims with a mechanics lien, and coordinating with other creditors.

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Finisher edging a fresh slab at dawn while the crew races the set, the timing that controls California mechanics lien deadlines
January 19, 2024Guide

California Mechanics Lien Deadlines (2026 Timing Guide)

California's mechanics lien process turns on timing: the 20-day notice of right to file lien, the contested question of when "completion" occurs, and the 90-day or 60-day window to record the lien afterward.

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Ironworkers bolting a steel truss bridge over a glacial river in the high mountains, enforcing lien and payment bond deadlines across Canada and its provinces
January 18, 2024Guide

Mechanics Lien Deadlines in Canada’s Provinces

A breakdown of construction lien recording deadlines across Canada's provinces and territories, from the 45-day filing window in most jurisdictions to Ontario's 60 days and Quebec's 30 days, plus how holdbacks work as lien security.

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National Lien and Bond headquarters building at dusk, home of nationwide lien rights protection
September 29, 2023News

Protect your Lien rights Nationwide

A reminder to construction companies to safeguard their mechanics lien rights as Chapter 11 filings rise and cash flow tightens, plus an invitation to meet NLB's National Lien Counsel at the 2023 Chicago Build Expo.

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Construction lawyer walking a contractor client through legal documents beside a construction law book
December 28, 2021Guide

What Does a Construction Lawyer Do & When Do I Need One?

An overview of what construction lawyers handle and when to hire one, covering payment disputes, contract review, contract violations, and jobsite injury claims.

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Crew placing concrete from a mixer chute on a mountain canyon road, the public projects behind Miller Act and Little Miller Act bond claims
December 17, 2021Guide

Your Guide to The Miller Act Vs. The Little Miller Act

A comparison of the federal Miller Act and state Little Miller Acts: required surety bonds, contract amount thresholds, notice and filing deadlines, and how rules differ from state to state for subcontractors and suppliers.

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Crew pulling orange and green conduit through a rain-soaked trench toward the city, keeping the flow connected like the receivables that keep cash king
April 6, 2021News

Cash Flow is King [60 Minute Webinar]

A 60-minute webinar with lien attorneys and a CPA on securing receivables and cash flow in 2021, covering cash flow management, tax incentives, recent legislation, and a legal compliance checklist for contracts.

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Team of national lien professionals ready to teach contractors how to secure job receivables
February 14, 2021News

Webinar: How to Secure Your Job Receivables (2021)

A free webinar with NLB general counsel Hal Emalfarb on securing job receivables, covering credit applications, favorable contract terms, statutory and contract notice requirements, and a legal compliance checklist for every contract.

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Fence builder leveling a cedar post set in fresh concrete along a backyard property line, wrapping up the 2020 lien law recap
December 31, 2020News

2020 Lien Law Recap

A year-end recap of 2020 construction and mechanic's lien developments, including the pandemic's impact on the industry, a national spike in lien filings, the election, and Georgia's lien waiver law changes.

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Bridge girder swinging from a crane over the river as lightning splits the night sky, protecting what you are owed in turbulent times
December 13, 2020News

Webinar: Protect what you are owed in turbulent times

A webinar on protecting construction and mechanic's lien rights during the pandemic, covering how to verify lien rights, get paid on every job, and adapt to new trends in construction law.

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Tile setter combing thinset for a bathroom floor beside a new pebble-base shower, November 2020 lien law update
November 29, 2020News

Monthly Lien Law Update: November 2020

November 2020 update covering the incoming administration's likely regulatory freeze, a New York ruling that courts cannot summarily discharge a lien over its amount under Lien Law 19(6), and millions in liens against developer Park7 on a Denton student housing project.

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Business owner laying payments out across a blank desk calendar, spreading the schedule to limit exposure
November 20, 2020Guide

Limit Your Exposure: Protect and Collect

An overview of National Lien & Bond's collection services for builders, contractors, and suppliers, including no upfront pre-litigation costs, lien and payment bond filing, fee caps tied to settlement, and a single nationwide point of contact.

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Signing a construction agreement listing scope of work, contract time, payment terms and lien and bond requirements
November 10, 2020Guide

Key Elements of an Enforceable Construction Contract

Every construction contract rests on four elements of formation, a clear scope of work, and clear payment terms. This guide breaks down what makes a construction contract enforceable and what to watch for before you sign.

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Installer fastening ceiling drywall from a panel lift inside a framed house, October 2020 lien law update
October 29, 2020News

Monthly Lien Law Update: October 2020

October 2020 update: a survey shows nearly 40% of contractors unchanged by COVID-19 even as lien claims surged 63% year over year, plus Georgia's new lien waiver rules under Act 576 and Alberta's prompt payment legislation, both effective in 2021.

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Contractor on his tailgate reading a lien waiver form beside his laptop with a skeptical look
October 11, 2020Guide

Can waivers of lien form get you paid or not?

An explanation of the four lien waiver forms (final or partial, conditional or unconditional), when to use each, and the cardinal rule never to sign an unconditional waiver before payment clears, plus how exceptions and through-dates affect your rights.

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Roofer fastening architectural shingles on a steep residential roof under a clear sky, September 2020 lien law update
September 29, 2020News

Monthly Lien Law Update: September 2020

September 2020 lien news: a federal court grants USA Fanter over $2 million in liens on a Mariana Islands casino, a look at California's Stop Work Notice law as leverage, and how Illinois and Missouri differ on liening multiple buildings.

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Two contractors in a site trailer reviewing a contract, one pointing at the clause in question, the jobsite crane out the window
September 22, 2020Guide

What Are Liquidated Damages in a Construction Contract?

Liquidated damages set the amount owed on a breach inside the contract itself, as a fair estimate of losses that are hard to measure. This guide explains when a liquidated damages clause is valid, the role of substantial completion, and how the amount is determined.

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Two contractors overlooking a concrete pour with the Chicago skyline at sunset, filing a mechanics lien in Illinois to get paid
September 16, 2020Tutorial

How to file a mechanics lien in Illinois and get paid

A step-by-step walkthrough of the Illinois mechanics lien process: the 90-day notice of intent, the verified lien with its affidavit and legal description, filing with the county Recorder of Deeds, and the 2-year window to enforce.

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Michigan lakeside factory retrofit underway in morning mist off the Great Lakes shoreline
September 10, 2020Guide

Filing a Notice of Commencement in Michigan

Michigan requires a Notice of Commencement filed with the registrar of deeds and posted at the worksite. This guide explains how subcontractors obtain it, the Notice of Furnishing deadline, and what to do when the document cannot be located.

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Construction accountant reviewing an itemized schedule of values line by line with a calculator before a payment application
August 30, 2020Guide

How a Schedule of Values Helps Lien Enforcement

The schedule of values is the budget for the entire project, and it becomes one of your most important documents when a payment dispute turns into a lien claim. This guide explains what it is, what it means for you, and how it strengthens a mechanics lien.

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Subcontractor holding an invoice stamped unpaid while the general contractor crosses his arms on a wood framing job site
August 16, 2020Guide

When the Contractor Refuses to Pay the Subcontractor

When a general contractor will not pay, the subcontractor has to protect its rights through the contract and, when necessary, a mechanics lien. This guide walks through the contract, documentation, an informal resolution attempt, and the notice of intent to lien.

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Deadlines Are Unforgiving

Every Day You Wait Is a Day Closer to Missing Your Deadline

Construction lien deadlines are strict and unforgiving. Once they pass, your right to payment may be gone forever.

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