Sometimes, contractors are not aware that when they have a direct contract with the project owner, they are not required to send notices of intent to lien (or pre-lien notices). Original contractors have a constitutional right to file a lien directly without giving any notice to anyone. They do however, must file the lien no later than the 15th day of the 4th month after ANY the following events happened during the execution of the contract: a) Written Termination b) Abandonment of Project c) Settlement or; d) Completion of the Contract Unlike mechanic’s liens filed by subcontractors where they must file a lien per each month that goes unpaid, general contractors only need to file one lien claiming for one grand total owed. And must also send a copy of the recorded lien affidavit to the owner within 5 calendar days following the date the lien affidavit was recorded with the county clerk. Below is a chart with the deadline to file a lien for each month of the year. IMPORTANT, IF THE 15th OF THE MONTH FALLS ON A WEEKEND OR A HOLIDAY, THE LAST DAY TO FILE A LIEN WILL ALWAYS MOVE TO THE EARLIEST BUSINESS DAY.

To prepare a prelien notice, a lien affidavit or bond claim document, you will need the general information of the project and contract. Other information will also be necessary and it will depend on what type of document you need and your role in the project. Information required

A Mechanic’s Lien Affidavit is a document used by contractors, suppliers, and any person that is not getting paid for the labor, services or materials delivered to a construction project. A mechanic’s lien, protects claimants by asserting rights against the actual real property (real estate) for the unpaid work or services performed on that specific property.  Depending on where you are located, a Mechanic’s Lien Affidavit can also be referred as “Project Lien”, “Construction Lien” and even “Contractors Lien”.

The Texas Easy Lien system provides a simplified version of the lien and bond laws and does not account for numerous exceptions that may exist. If you did not qualify for a lien or bond with Texas Easy Lien, you should immediately consult with your lawyer because you might still qualify to file a lien or assert a bond claim.

A “Commercial (Public Works)” and/or “Public works project” is any project where the ultimate owner of the construction project is a governmental agency such as the federal, state or city government. Common examples of public projects are construction projects that include: • Sewers • Road & bridge construction • Government buildings • Schools • Universities • Government property • Public parks • Utility work (if publicly owned) • Bus stations