Working in construction means juggling a million things at once. Between managing crews, chasing down materials, and dealing with demanding owners, your paperwork can sometimes take a back seat. But when a payment dispute hits and you need to secure your rights, that paperwork becomes your entire world. You rely on mechanics liens as a
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Legibility as a Lien Recording Requirement
By Ethan Lobo
If safety squints don’t fly on the jobsite. They definitely won’t when it comes to the county recorder looking at your lien or preliminary notice. Submitting a document for recording with specks, smudges, lines, contrast issues, or other imperfections that make it hard to read is one of the fastest ways to wind up with…
Timing is Everything: Navigating the New USPS Postmark Reality
In the world of mechanics lien and bond claim law, deadlines are famously unforgiving. For subcontractors and suppliers, missing a notice deadline, even by a single day, can cause valuable rights to vanish instantly.
Many states rely on the “mailbox rule,” the idea that if you drop a notice in the mail by your deadline,…
The Ultimate Guide to Mechanics Lien Attachments: State-by-State Rules
Attaching extra documents to a mechanics lien can make or break your filing, but the rules aren’t uniform. Some states mandate specific attachments by statute, while others merely allow or recommend them; many provide no direct guidance at all, leaving county recorders with wide discretion, for better or worse.
Attachment rules for mechanics lien filings…
Unexpected Holiday Closures: What the 2025 Executive Order Means for Your Deadlines
As the construction industry prepares for the 2025 winter break, a recent executive order has introduced unexpected complexity to year-end compliance. While these additional days off are intended for federal personnel, they create a ripple effect that could jeopardize your payment rights if state and local filing offices follow suit.
The End-of-Year Deadline “Curveball”
President…
California SB 440: What the New “Fair Payment Act” Means for Contractors
Great news for construction businesses in California! Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed Senate Bill 440- also known as the Private Works Change Order Fair Payment Act- into law. This new legislation aims to simplify and speed up the process of handling change-order and time-extension claims on private construction projects.
Mark your calendars! The law law…
Georgia Contractors: New Payment Bond Threshold on Public Projects
Big news for contractors working on public works projects in Georgia! A new piece of legislation, House Bill 137 (HB 137), has been signed into law, increasing the contract value threshold for payment and performance bonds. This change, effective July 1, 2025, could simplify things for smaller public projects and impact your bid strategies.
Overview…
3 Ways to Reduce Payment Risk With The New Tariffs And Rising Construction Costs
Contractors operate with low profit margins as it is, so absorbing the increased cost of materials and labor is usually not an option.
There are three main ways contractors can effectively deal with construction cost increases: financing building material purchases, adding a margin to their estimates, or including an escalation clause in the contract.
1. …
Empowering Women in Construction: Insights from the Intersection of Technology and Credit
The construction industry has long been perceived as a male-dominated field, but women are increasingly making their mark, especially in areas like technology and credit management. As we celebrate Women in Construction Week, it’s crucial to recognize the unique perspectives and valuable contributions that women bring to the table. From project management software to innovative…
Join Levelset and Procore at ABC’s 75th Annual Convention in Las Vegas!
The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Annual Convention is back, and this year, it’s bigger than ever as ABC celebrates 75 years of advancing the construction industry! From February 25-27, the industry’s best and brightest will gather in Las Vegas to connect, compete, and celebrate excellence in construction.
At this dynamic event, attendees will experience…