Construction Law Blog
Expert analysis on mechanic liens, bond claims, and payment recovery. Every article reviewed for accuracy by licensed attorneys.
Showing 97–120 of 207 articles
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.
Read Article
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.
Read Article
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.
Read Article
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.
Read Article
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.
Read Article
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 Article
A final payment checklist for construction projects: confirm other parties have met their obligations, verify mechanics liens are properly released, track the owner walk-through list, set time frames, and get sign-off from finance.
Read Article
July roundup featuring a Massachusetts appeals court holding that a letter of intent can qualify as a contract for lien purposes, and a $7.7 million Turner Construction lien on a Denver hotel that the owner is fighting as excessive.
Read Article
Covers the three biggest lien-management challenges for large construction firms: working across states with different notice rules, tracking enforcement deadlines on many liens at once, and handling private versus public projects.
Read Article
Explains how payment and performance bonds work on public construction projects. Since you cannot file a mechanics lien on public work, a bond claim and in many states a lien on public funds become the route to payment.
Read Article
June roundup covering Keystone XL subcontractor liens on Meade County property, a New York Court of Appeals ruling letting lease terms alone infer landlord consent for tenant build-out liens, and US Virgin Islands hurricane-repair liens.
Read Article
A stop notice freezes unpaid construction funds held by the owner rather than attaching to property like a lien. This article explains how a stop notice differs from a lien, when it works best, and the four states that allow it.
Read Article
Reviews the main construction dispute resolution methods: arbitration, litigation, and mediation. Explains contract terms to watch for, such as governing law, venue, and required in-person meetings before a formal claim.
Read Article
Public projects require prime contractors to post performance and payment bonds, but Little Miller Act rules vary by state. This post explains bond thresholds, coverage percentages, notice requirements, and filing deadlines for subs and suppliers.
Read Article
May roundup covering Arizona's expansion of subcontractor lien rights to 130% of the preliminary notice amount starting December 31, 2019, and an Iowa demolition company's lien priority fight against an earlier-recorded mortgage.
Read Article
Explains what a lien release is, comparing a construction lien to a home mortgage, and warns that broad language like "any and all claims" can waive rights you did not intend to give up. Sign only what reflects your agreement.
Read Article
Weighs when a local lien preparation service makes sense versus a national one. Local services know the regional market, while a national service is more efficient if you file in two or more states.
Read Article
A quick cheat sheet on lien notice requirements across all 50 states, breaking down which states require a Notice of Right to File a Lien, which require a Notice of Intent, the timing difference between them, and how names and rules vary.
Read Article
April roundup of construction payment news: Merrill Steel's $278 million lien on the Las Vegas Raiders stadium, Saskatchewan's move to modernize its lien laws after Ontario, and several Texas bills affecting mechanic's lien filing.
Read Article
Knowing when to bring in a lien attorney can save money and protect payment rights. This post covers the warning signs, from entering a new state or market to late payments and an owner who refuses to pay.
Read Article
Notice of Completion laws can sharply shorten the window to file a mechanic's lien, and the rules differ widely by state. This article explains how the notice works, why you must watch public records, and how some states use the term Notice of Cessation instead.
Read Article
A construction request for information (RFI) clarifies scope and creates a written record that protects you in disputes. This post explains why to submit RFIs, keep them in writing, and time them carefully.
Read Article
A March roundup of mega-projects facing payment trouble: liens against the Oceanwide Plaza project in Los Angeles top $98 million, the Aspen Club faces foreclosure pressure, and El Paso's downtown Marriott has unpaid subcontractors.
Read Article
Florida lien waivers have features that surprise contractors: advance waivers are unenforceable, statutory forms are optional, and notarization is not required. This post explains three key details for working in the state.
Read ArticleConstruction lien deadlines are strict and unforgiving. Once they pass, your right to payment may be gone forever.