“I thought I’d missed the window on my last two draws. He went through my dates that afternoon and told me exactly what I still had.”
Hank R.Drywall subcontractor
Construction payment law, Henderson
Unpaid on the job? Check your clock first.
Lien rights run on short, strict deadlines, and they differ by state and by your role on the job. Tell me where you worked and the last day you worked or delivered, and I’ll tell you where your clock stands.
Phone(702) 555-0147
HoursMonday to Friday, 6:30am to 5:30pm
What I take on
Three kinds of job-site money trouble
I work for the people who built it and the owners who paid for it: contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and property owners.
Liens and notices
The notices that protect your right to a lien, the lien itself, and what to do when one lands on an owner’s property.
Liens and noticesPreliminary and pre-lien notices
Preparing and recording the lien
Releasing or contesting one
Unpaid work and bonds
When the work is done and the check isn’t coming: demand letters, claims on a payment bond, and suits for what’s owed.
Unpaid work and bondsRetainage held back too long
Change orders nobody signed
Payment bond claims
Contracts and defects
Subcontracts and prime contracts read before you sign, and disputes over work done wrong, from either side of the job.
Contracts and defectsPay-when-paid and indemnity terms
Change-order and delay clauses
Defect claims for owners and builders
From clients
What the first call was like
“He explained the bond claim in the order things would happen, and he sent me the list of notices before I asked for it.”
Shauna T.Small general contractor
“A sub put a lien on our house. Raul told us what that meant, what it didn’t, and what clearing it would cost.”
Trevor M.Homeowner
Each client’s matter is different. What happened for one client doesn’t predict what will happen for you.
Quick answers
Questions that come up on the first call
How long do I have to file a lien?
Not long, and the answer depends on the state, the kind of work and who hired you. The clock often runs from your last day of work or delivery, so send me that date first and I’ll tell you what applies to your job.
I’m a sub or a supplier. Can I still file one?
Often yes. But someone further down the chain may have had to send a notice early in the job to keep the right. That’s the first thing I check.
What does it cost?
For notices and liens I quote a flat fee in writing before I file anything. Collection suits and defect cases are billed hourly or on a fee we agree in writing. Court and recording fees are separate, and you pay them.
A lien was filed on my property. What now?
Don’t pay or sign anything yet, and send me the notice you got. Some liens are valid, some are late or too large, and each has its own way out.
Should I stop work if I’m not being paid?
That depends on your contract and the job. Stopping at the wrong time can put you in breach, so read the payment and stop-work terms first, or send them to me.