Construction Law Blog
Expert analysis on mechanic liens, bond claims, and payment recovery. Every article reviewed for accuracy by licensed attorneys.
Showing 73–96 of 201 articles
A guide for unpaid contractors and suppliers on placing a lien to secure a debt. Covers mechanics liens, preliminary notices, notices of intent, filing with the county, and how judgment liens offer a second path to collect.
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A step-by-step guide to filing a mechanics lien in Colorado, covering the Notice of Intent, the 2-month versus 4-month filing deadline depending on whether you supplied materials, the extension option, penalties for overstating the amount owed, and the 6-month enforcement window.
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January 2020 roundup of construction payment news: a New York Irish Cultural Center unable to pay its bills while awaiting a state grant, a Tallahassee project restarting after a loan settles its liens, and Kansas wind farm liens raising concern in Texas.
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A step-by-step guide to filing a mechanics lien in Florida, covering notice to owner requirements, the 45-day preliminary notice and 90-day filing deadlines, service on the owner, the one-year enforcement window, and property description rules.
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A state-specific guide to mechanics liens in Georgia covering when preliminary notice is required, the 90-day filing deadline, county recording rules, eligibility and licensing requirements, lien waivers, and attorney's fees recovery.
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A mechanics lien is a recorded claim against the property where you worked, giving you the right to have it sold to satisfy what you are owed. This overview covers the three core requirements every state shares: proper notice, accurate information, and meeting deadlines.
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December 2019 roundup of mechanics lien disputes: an Indiana waste facility's bond funding clouded by a $5.5 million lien, Kansas wind farm liens hitting landowners who leased their property, and a Garapan casino contractor told to amend its filings.
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A back charge is money you owe back to the contractor you work for, and it's governed by your contract rather than lien law. This guide covers how back charges arise, the most common triggers, and the contract terms worth negotiating to limit them.
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Payment and performance bonds aren't just for public work. This guide explains how private project bonds operate, what the surety does when a contractor fails to perform or pay, and how a bond claim compares to filing a state mechanics lien.
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California's 20-day preliminary notice under Cal. Civ. Code 8200 must reach the owner, general contractor, and construction lender within 20 days of first furnishing. This guide covers the form, required contents, exceptions, late-service consequences, and delivery methods.
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November 2019 roundup of construction payment disputes: an Oklahoma ruling that staffing services are not subcontractor labor, a Virgin Islands STEP recovery foreclosure tied to bond rights, and a $4.2 million HVAC lien against a New York medical center.
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Retainage is the percentage of each payment withheld until your work is complete. This guide walks through the punch list, project documents, final invoice, and lien release affidavit you must clear to get those funds released.
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A step-by-step walkthrough for subcontractors and suppliers on preparing and serving a Notice to Owner in Florida, covering document format, required details, certified-mail service, the 45-day timeline, and who is qualified to file.
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Payment and performance bonds protect contractors and suppliers on government and many private projects without a mechanics lien. This guide explains how each bond works, the Miller Act and Little Miller Act requirements, and how bond claims are filed.
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October 2019 lien news covering a Michigan ruling that lien amounts cannot include consequential losses, more than $13 million in liens against a Kentucky hemp processing facility, and a $255,000 electrical lien on a new Maine vocational school.
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Five things contractors and suppliers should know about Ohio mechanics liens, including the Notice of Furnishing and Notice to Commence Suit rules, the 60-day residential and 75-day commercial deadlines, and Ohio's limits on interest and attorney's fees.
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A conditional lien waiver releases rights only after payment clears, while an unconditional waiver gives them up immediately. This guide explains the difference, the four California statutory forms, and how to read waiver language before signing.
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Seven facts contractors and suppliers should know before filing a mechanics lien in New York, including service rules without preliminary notice, the 4-month and 8-month deadlines, who is qualified to file, and landscaper lien rights.
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September 2019 lien news covering PG&E bankruptcy fallout that left over 900 Sacramento County homes with mechanic liens, and the Penn Dutch market closures in South Florida that triggered more than $75,000 in construction liens.
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Change orders and variation claims let contractors recover added cost or time when unforeseen events arise. This guide walks through reading your contract terms, giving prompt written notice, documenting the claim, and showing the cause was outside your control.
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When you work for a tenant on a build-out, your lien may attach to the entire property or only the lessee's leasehold interest. This article explains how lease terms, owner consent, and state limits determine which, and how to protect your rights.
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August 2019 lien law roundup covering an Oregon ruling on when a change order restarts the lien filing deadline, a $3 million Pennsylvania pipeline lien, and proposed Tennessee changes to subcontractor notice periods and retainage.
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Contractors who treat every preliminary notice the same can lose their lien rights in two-notice states. This article explains the difference between a Notice of Right to File a Lien and a Notice of Intent to File Lien, and how to tell whether a state requires both.
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Most construction conflicts can be resolved without going to court. This guide covers how dispute resolution clauses, protected lien rights, requests for information, and proactive communication help contractors reduce the chance of litigation.
Read ArticleConstruction lien deadlines are strict and unforgiving. Once they pass, your right to payment may be gone forever.