Deadline to Serve the Pre-Lien Notice Letter on a Residential Project

Contractors Hired by the Property Owner

If you were hired by the Property Owner, then you are not required to serve a Pre-Lien Notice before filing a lien against the property.

Subcontractors Not Hired by the Property Owner

Anyone not hired by the Property Owner must serve a Pre-Lien Notice before filing a Lien against the property.  The Notice must be served by no later than the 15th day of the second month following each and every month in which all or part of the unpaid labor and/or material was provided to the project.  Regardless of this deadline, always try to serve the Notice before the 30th day from completion of the entire project.

If the 15th falls on a Sunday or a legal holiday, then you must serve the Notice on the preceding business day.

RESIDENTIAL PRE-LIEN NOTICE CALENDAR

In the left-hand column, locate the month that you provided labor and/or materials to the project and for which you have not yet been paid.  In the corresponding right-hand column, is the deadline for filing a lien for money owed for the labor and/or materials provided to the project in that month.