Construction Law Blog
Expert analysis on mechanic liens, bond claims, and payment recovery. Every article reviewed for accuracy by licensed attorneys.
Showing 49–72 of 201 articles
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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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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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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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The Notice of Intent to Lien differs from a preliminary notice in timing and force. This article explains how the preliminary notice keeps owners and contractors informed early, while the Notice of Intent acts as a demand that can trigger enforceable lien rights against third parties.
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The California Prompt Payment Act requires owners to pay contractors within 30 days of an undisputed demand, with a 2% per month penalty for bad-faith delay. This guide covers private and public dispute rules, waiver limits, the architect and engineer exclusion, and attorney's fee recovery.
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A state-by-state overview of preliminary notice and Notice of Lien requirements, explaining which states mandate them, which treat them as best practice, the varying deadlines, and the many different names these notices go by.
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May 2020 update on the industry reopening: Pennsylvania allowing in-person construction to resume May 1 as suspended lien deadlines restarted, and Colorado's Aspen Club project securing new financing to pay timely-filed mechanic liens and exit bankruptcy.
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An April 2020 special edition covering how the pandemic disrupted lien filings: roughly 1,000 recording offices closed or limited, Maryland courts pausing lien foreclosures, Ontario suspending all lien deadlines, and a New Jersey clerk halting lien filings.
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February 2020 lien news: more than $27 million in mechanics liens filed against Philadelphia's Comcast Technology Center amid a developer-contractor dispute, and a Santa Barbara builder's fraud case where only the lien filers got paid.
Read ArticleConstruction lien deadlines are strict and unforgiving. Once they pass, your right to payment may be gone forever.