How to Use a Mechanic Lien to Make Sure You Get Paid as a Contractor or Supplier in California

California's Mechanics Lien law provides a great tool for contractors and material suppliers to confirm payment on projects. Although it clearly isn't the sole tool, it's effective because it potentially ties up the property where the work was performed and provides the owner extra incentive to pay. However, Mechanic's Liens aren't appropriate for each project and a contractor filing an invalid Lien runs the chance of paying the owner's attorneys fees if the owner brings a proceeding to release the important property from the Lien. One area where care must be exercised, and our focus here, is whether or not work or materials were provided to a "work of improvement."

Civil Code section 3110 defines work of improvement to incorporate "the construction... or repair... of any building, machinery, railroad, or road, the seeding, sodding, or planting of any lot or tract of land for landscaping purposes, the filling, leveling, or grading of any lot or tract of land, the demolition of buildings, and therefore the removal of buildings." However, California case law provides more useful guidance on what constitutes a piece of improvement for lien law.

The crucial think about determining whether a project qualifies as a piece of improvement is whether or not the development is "permanent" in nature or a "fixture."

Mechanic's liens are legal documents that essentially reserve the rights of the filer to travel after unpaid fees and income. Typically are filed by contractors, subcontractors, or suppliers that never received payment for work that they performed or materials that they provided on the property. Essentially, whoever provides materials or services in a very construction project may file a mechanics lien. California, as is that the case with the opposite states within the country, has mechanics lien laws to assist construction workers and suppliers like you get paid.

Like all other states, California mechanics lien law is additionally confusing and complicated. So you'd wish to understand how the law works to be able to properly file a mechanics lien and protect your right to be paid. Here are belongings you've got to grasp the California mechanics lien law to successfully file your next lien.

A subcontractor, contractor, or the other construction agency associated with a project that doesn't have a right away contractual relationship with the owner must provide a preliminary notice within the established limits. In most states, contractors must provide this notice a minimum of 30 days earlier of putting on the lien. Preliminary notices must be provided to the owner, general contractor, and lender. The contractor must provide an in depth bill and statement that outlines all of the services that were performed for the individual on the property in question.

The process of filing a lien is somewhat different in every area. Mechanic's liens are available to almost anyone who contributes labor, services, or materials to a true estate improvement project. it's accustomed exact payment out of the estate itself by placing a lien on the property and, if necessary, allowing the lien holder to travel to court to own the property sold at auction.

A lien must be recorded at a corresponding local or state office within the county within which the project is found to which the labor or supplies were provided. If the contractor filing a lien isn't licensed, the lien are considered invalid. additionally, the lien laws don't seem to be available to suppliers who have supplied only to other suppliers and ultimately to the project.

Avoiding mechanic's liens

Now that you simply know more about the method behind mechanic's liens, you're probably keen to avoid them. Here are some steps that you just can take:

Get lien waivers. you'll be able to have your contractor get lien waivers from every sub and supplier.

Write checks to both parties. If you write out joint checks to both your GC and their subcontractors/suppliers, both parties will have to sign those checks. This ensures that everybody gets paid fairly.

Pay subcontractors and suppliers yourself. this feature might sound just like the easiest and most straightforward thanks to avoid liens, but it should be your last choice. once you pay these people yourself it sets you up as an employer, meaning you'll even have all of the tax implications of paying employees.

Do your research. This last piece of recommendation is probably the foremost important - do your research before hiring anyone to try and do work on your home. If a contractor, subcontractor, or supplier encompasses a history of filing mechanic's liens there'll be a record at your local courthouse. If there's a history of complaints and liens you ought to consider hiring somebody else.

An unpaid contractor or supplier who furnishes labor or materials to boost California property can record a mechanic's lien against the property. Property are often subject to a mechanic's lien whether or not the landholder failed to personally enter into the agreement. In some cases a landowner could also be at risk of a contractor who has controlled a property manager or tenant. To avoid these involuntary liens, property owners and managers should be aware of mechanics' lien law.

Property is subject to a mechanic's lien if the owner authorizes the work, either directly or indirectly. samples of indirect authorization would be:

An owner who entered into a lease that needs lease improvements by the tenant;

The owner's property manager made the agreement with the contractor; or

The owner becomes tuned in to the work and doesn't advise the contractor, materials provider or laborers that he's not responsible through a Notice of Non responsibility.

How Can an Owner Avoid Paying Twice?

Sometimes a general contractor fails to pay subcontractors or suppliers whether or not the overall contractor has been paid. The subcontractors and suppliers can file mechanics' liens against the property if they haven't been paid, whether or not the quantity in question has previously been paid to the overall contractor. There are several ways in which an owner can protect himself against having to pay the identical bill twice.

Posting and Recording a Notice of Non-responsibility. A home owner who didn't order the services or materials can prevent a mechanic's lien from being attached to his interest within the property by posting a "Notice of Non-responsibility." It states that the owner won't be accountable for any claims that arise due to the work. Notices of Non responsibility are very technical, and every one of the wants of the law must be followed for them to be effective. A Notice of Non-responsibility must:

run in a very particular form that's signed under penalty of perjury;

Specifically describe the property and also the nature of the interest of the person giving the Notice;

Identify the one who ordered the work;

Be posted on the property, in an exceedingly conspicuous place, within 10 days of the date that the owner knew, or had reason to understand, of the existence of the work. this data may come from receiving a Preliminary 20-Day Notice from a contractor or supplier or by actually observing people performing at the property;

A verified copy must even be recorded with the county recorder during that very same ten-day period.

Lien releases. Requiring that the contractor obtain lien releases signed by the contractor and every subcontractor and material supplier; and paying the contractor only if s/he provides the lien releases. The  article, Mechanics Lien Releases, has information about the four sorts of mechanics lien releases.

A payment bond. Requiring that the contractor obtain a payment bond. A payment bond is another source where an unpaid subcontractor or supplier can seek payment instead of through a mechanic's lien on the property.

Joint payments. Making payments to the final contractor within the style of a joint check to the final contractor and therefore the subcontractors or suppliers providing the labor or materials. Joint checks give the subcontractors and material suppliers a chance to barter with the contractor regarding payment in exchange for his or her signature on the check.

Fund control. Requiring that a fund control company be accustomed disburse payments. A fund control company may be a licensed escrow company that makes a specialty of handling funds for construction jobs. The fund control company receives the funds then makes payments to the overall contractor, subcontractors, and suppliers.

Once a Mechanic's Lien has been Filed, What Can the Owner Do?

If a mechanic's lien has been filed, a landowner might want to refer to an attorney to develop an action plan. Possible actions may include one or more of the following:

Negotiating with the contractor.

Complaining to the Contractor's State License Board. someone harmed by a contractor can file a complaint with the Contractors State License Board which has the authority to analyze and discipline a contractor for the contractor's wrongful actions. The Contractor's State License Board might not always achieve success in obtaining restitution for an injured party; in some cases a lawsuit must be filed by the owner against the contractor.

Obtaining a Bond to Release the Lien. The cloud on title created by a mechanic's lien are often avoided by purchasing a bond certificate adequate to 1.25 times the mechanic's lien amount. The bonding company agrees to ensure payment. A release bond allows the owner to sell or encumber the property without first having to satisfy the mechanics lien. a regular provision in commercial leases, like those utilized by the American Industrial assets Association, requires the tenant to post the bond if a mechanic's lien is recorded.

Litigating the Dispute. A contractor is required to file a lawsuit to foreclose on the mechanic's lien within 90 days after the lien is recorded. If the contractor fails to file the action on time, the lien right is lost. If the contractor does file a timely lawsuit, the owner may file a solution and litigate the lien's validity. it's going to even be advisable for the owner to cross-complaint against the contractor and/or the contractor's bonding company. Contractors are required to take care of a $12,500 bond with the California State Contractor's License Board. Owners that are injured or defrauded because the results of a contractor's violation of the Business and Professions Code may bring an action against the Contractor's bonding company to want payment of the bond to the owner. Status of the bond could also be confirmed through the Board before authorizing the work of improvement.

Petitioning to get rid of the Lien if a Foreclosure Lawsuit Isn't Filed. If a lawsuit to foreclose on the mechanic's lien isn't filed within the period of time specified by law, the landholder may petition the court for an order releasing the petition from the lien.

While the applicable law is complex, mechanics' liens are often avoided through careful management. When faced with a mechanics' lien issue and unsure on the simplest course of action, seek legal advice with a construction attorney.