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Construction Law Insights

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

Articles

Unpaid-balance lien states infographic — in unpaid balance lien states you are racing against two deadlines: the statutory deadline to file a mechanics lien, and the moment the owner pays the general contractor in full, which can limit or eliminate your lien rights.
June 26, 2026Guide

Unpaid-Balance Lien States: Why You're Racing Against Two Deadlines, Not One

In an unpaid-balance lien state, the calendar deadline to record your lien is only half the race. The hidden second deadline is the moment the owner finishes paying the general contractor — because that payment can shrink or erase the fund your lien attaches to. This guide explains both deadlines, why subcontractors and suppliers lose money even when they file 'on time,' and the notice-and-timing strategy that protects your leverage.

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Connecticut Mechanics Lien Law guide — the lower-tier notice of intent, the 90-day certificate recording deadline, the 30-day owner-service requirement, the one-year foreclosure and lis pendens deadline, the lienable-fund limit, and contractor registration.
June 20, 2026Guide

Connecticut Mechanics Lien Law: Notices, Deadlines, Lien Rights, and Contractor Registration

Connecticut treats original contractors and lower-tier claimants differently. This guide covers the lower-tier notice of intent, the 90-day certificate recording deadline, the 30-day owner-service requirement, the one-year foreclosure-and-lis-pendens deadline, the lienable-fund limit on subcontractor liens, who can claim, and how Home Improvement Act and New Home Construction registration affect enforcement.

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Delaware Mechanics Lien Law guide — the statement of claim, the 180-day and 120-day filing deadlines, the prior-written-consent rule for tenant work, the $25 threshold, the pleading elements, and contractor registration.
June 20, 2026Guide

Delaware Mechanics Lien Law: Statement of Claim, Deadlines, Lien Rights, and Contractor Registration

Delaware enforces mechanics liens through a strictly construed statement of claim filed in Superior Court. This guide covers the 180-day and 120-day filing deadlines, the prior-written-consent rule for tenant work, the statement-of-claim pleading elements, the $25 threshold, who can claim, and Delaware contractor registration and business licensing.

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Colorado Mechanics Lien Law guide — the 10-day notice of intent, the notice of nonliability, the 4-month and 2-month recording deadlines, the 6-month suit and recorded notice of action, who can claim, and local contractor licensing.
June 20, 2026Guide

Colorado Mechanics Lien Law: Notices, Deadlines, Lien Rights, and Licensing

A full-role overview of Colorado mechanics lien law: the 10-day notice of intent before recording, the notice of nonliability, the 4-month and 2-month recording deadlines, the 6-month suit-and-recorded-notice requirement, who can claim, and why Colorado contractor licensing is mostly local. For a subcontractor-focused deadline walkthrough, see our companion guide.

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California Mechanics Lien Law guide — the 20-day preliminary notice, the 90/60/30-day claim-of-lien recording deadlines, the 90-day foreclosure deadline, contractor licensing under Business and Professions Code § 7031, and lien release issues.
June 20, 2026Guide

California Mechanics Lien Law: Preliminary Notice, Deadlines, Lien Rights, and Licensing

California lien rights are rooted in the state Constitution but depend on early notice and fast enforcement. This guide covers the 20-day preliminary notice, the 90/60/30-day recording deadlines, the 90-day foreclosure deadline, who can claim, how Business and Professions Code § 7031 licensing can defeat a claim, and lien release issues.

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Alaska Mechanics Lien Law guide — the notice of right to lien, the 120-day claim-of-lien recording deadline, the 15-day notice-of-completion trap, contractor registration under AS 08.18, and the 6-month suit-to-enforce window.
June 20, 2026Guide

Alaska Mechanics Lien Law: Notice, Deadlines, Lien Rights, and Contractor Registration

Alaska handles preliminary notice, deadlines, and registration differently from most states. This guide covers the optional but important notice of right to lien, the 120-day claim-of-lien deadline and the 15-day notice-of-completion trap, why Alaska does not use full price vs unpaid balance liens, who can claim, how AS 08.18 contractor registration can bar enforcement, and the 6-month suit/extension window.

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Arkansas Mechanics Lien Law guide — the residential Important Notice to Owner, the commercial 75-day notice, the 10-day notice before filing, the 120-day lien filing deadline, the 15-month foreclosure and lis pendens deadline, and contractor licensing.
June 20, 2026Guide

Arkansas Mechanics Lien Law: Notices, Deadlines, Lien Rights, and Licensing

Arkansas lien rights turn on strict notice compliance. This guide covers the residential Important Notice to Owner, the commercial 75-day notice, the 10-day notice before filing, the 120-day lien filing deadline, the 15-month foreclosure-and-lis-pendens deadline, who can claim, and how contractor licensing under Ark. Code Ann. § 17-25-101 et seq. can bar enforcement.

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Alabama Mechanics Lien Law guide — notice requirements, lien statement deadlines by claimant type (6 months for original contractors, 4 months for subcontractors and suppliers, 30 days for day laborers), full price versus unpaid balance liens, contractor licensing, and the 6-month suit-to-enforce deadline.
June 20, 2026Guide

Alabama Mechanics Lien Law: Notice, Deadlines, Lien Rights, and Licensing

Alabama lien rights turn on notice, short deadlines, and licensing. This guide covers who must give notice and when, the lien statement deadlines by claimant type (6 months, 4 months, and 30 days), full price versus unpaid balance liens, who has lien rights and who does not, how licensing can void a contract and lien, and the 6-month suit-to-enforce window.

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A Florida Notice of Commencement and a Notice to Owner under Florida Statutes § 713.13 posted side by side on a plywood board at a residential construction job site.
June 20, 2026Guide

Florida Notice of Commencement: The Who, What, Why, and How It Connects to Mechanic Liens

Florida's Notice of Commencement is not a lien and not a contract — but it is the gateway document that makes the state's construction lien system work. Here is who records it, what it must contain, when it expires, and how it ties directly to the Notice to Owner and the Claim of Lien.

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Illinois Mechanic's Lien Law infographic — key deadlines to protect subcontractor payment rights: 60-day residential notice (770 ILCS 60/21(c)), 90-day notice (60/24), 4-month lien recording (60/7), 2-year lawsuit deadline (60/9), plus public-works fund notice and 90-day complaint deadlines (60/23).
June 16, 2026Guide

How an Illinois Subcontractor Protects the Right to Get Paid: The 90-Day Notice, the 4-Month Recording Deadline, and the 2-Year Suit Window

Illinois subcontractors and suppliers protect payment rights by serving the 90-day notice, recording within 4 months to protect priority, and filing suit within 2 years. This guide explains the deadlines, residential traps, trust-fund issues, and public-works alternatives.

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Colorado Mechanic Lien Law infographic — who has lien rights, the trust fund protections, and the lien deadlines: serve the Notice of Intent at least 10 days before filing, record the Lien Statement within 4 months, file suit within 6 months, plus the optional Notice Extending the Time to File.
June 16, 2026Guide

How a Colorado Subcontractor Protects the Right to Get Paid: The Notice of Intent, the 4-Month Lien Deadline, and the 6-Month Suit Window

Colorado subcontractors and suppliers usually protect payment rights by serving a Notice of Intent, recording a lien within 4 months, and filing suit within 6 months. Here is how the deadlines work, what commonly goes wrong, and how public-works bond claims differ.

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Miller Act Payment Bond Claims on Federal Projects — National Lien & Bond guide to the 90-day notice and one-year suit deadlines.
June 4, 2026Guide

The Miller Act Deadlines That Decide Whether You Get Paid on a Federal Project

You cannot lien a federal courthouse, an Army base, or a VA hospital. On a federal construction project the payment bond is your security, and two Miller Act deadlines decide whether you collect: a 90-day notice and a one-year suit window.

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Florida's 45-Day Notice to Owner timeline — serve the Notice to Owner within 45 days of first furnishing, record your mechanic's lien within 90 days of last furnishing, and file suit to enforce within one year of recording.
May 3, 2026Guide

Florida's 45-Day Notice to Owner: The Line Between Getting Paid and Closing Your Doors

On a Florida private commercial project, missing the 45-day Notice to Owner deadline destroys your lien rights — and the attorney-fee clause in your subcontract will not save you. A side-by-side story of one missed step worth a million dollars.

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Contractor Bankruptcy: Protecting Your Claim — construction professional reviewing insolvency paperwork with a binder labeled Payment Rights Protected, with a construction site in the background.
September 1, 2025Guide

When a General Contractor Goes Bankrupt, Can a Subcontractor File a Mechanic Lien?

A general contractor's bankruptcy filing can devastate unpaid subcontractors and suppliers. Here is what you need to do immediately to protect lien, bond, and preference positions.

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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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