We have created detailed instructions and a checklist covering what to do, when and where and we have included them with your bond claim documents.
Related questions and answers
Yes. You do not have to wait any number of days to file a lien affidavit after you have sent your required pre-lien notices. Many notices and liens are mailed and filed the same day. If you have concerns you will not get paid until you enforce a lien on the property you can always execute both documents at the same time.
The county appraisal district websites are free and can provide you with the project owner’s name, mailing address, and legal description of the property. Make sure to search the real property records and not the business/personal property records. To locate a county appraisal district website search online by typing (county name) Texas tax appraisal district website. For example: “Harris County, Texas, tax appraisal district website” or “Harris CAD.” Then select their “Property Search” link and enter owner’s name and/or street address to search for property information. Make sure you have identified the correct legal name of the owner of the property, it could also be a company name. Finding property information in the tax appraisal websites is sometimes difficult and although having the legal description in the lien documents is preferred, if you know the actual street address of the project, you may use that instead and your lien will still be valid.
If the general (prime) contractor did not provide the bond information at the time of entering into the contract, you should request it verbally or on writing as soon as possible. Bond claims and liens have very similar deadlines and requirements having all the necessary information at hand is of utmost importance. If you still don’t get the bond information, in most cases you can get it requesting it to the project owner. If you have the bonding company information but not the bond number, you can still file a bond claim.
After the claim has been sent to the General Contractor and Bond Company, you cannot file suit on a bond claim for the first sixty days (60). If, however, you are unable to settle your dispute within that time, you must file a lawsuit against the bond before the expiration of one (1) year from the filing date of the bond. If you fail to file suit within this time period, your claim against the bond will expire.
All you need is for the signer to have access to a camera and a valid ID. You can use any device with a camera (desktop, tablet, or your phone).