› What should I do after getting paid?

If you get paid after filing a lien on a property, you will very likely be requested to “remove the lien” or sign a lien release. The lien release demonstrates that the debt was fully paid or was settled. The lien release must be filed with the County Property Records where the original lien affidavit was filed and signed by the entity who filed the lien in the first place.
After receiving the written request for a lien release, the contractor is required to either file or send the lien release to the project owner within ten (10) days.

Related questions and answers

What is the deadline to file a mechanic’s lien?

The deadline to file a mechanic's lien depends on a contractor's role and the type of project. For Commercial Projects (Private), the following charts specify the required documents and the last date to submit them. We have separated the charts by type of contractor. It is essential to know that the last day to file or submit a lien document is always the 15th day of every month.

FOR CLAIMS RESULTING FROM A CONTRACT SIGNED BEFORE DECEMBER 31ST, 2021
IF THE 15th OF THE MONTH FALLS ON A WEEKEND OR A HOLIDAY, THE LAST DAY TO FILE A VALID LIEN WILL BE THE EARLIEST BUSINESS DAY.

FOR CLAIMS RESULTING FROM A CONTRACT SIGNED AFTER JANUARY 1ST, 2022
IF THE 15th OF THE MONTH FALLS ON A WEEKEND OR A HOLIDAY, THE LAST DAY TO FILE A VALID LIEN WILL EXTEND TO THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY AFTER THAT WEEKEND OR HOLIDAY.

Original (General) Contractor - Constitutional - Mechanic’s Lien Requirements
Chart of Filing Deadlines
Month of: a) Written Termination b) Abandonment of Project c) Settlement or: d) Completion of the Contract Commercial Projects (Private) 🔗
Pre-lien Notice to Property Owner is
Not Required		 File the Lien Affidavit On or Before:
January None May 15th
February None June 15th
March None July 15th
April None August 15th
May None September 15th
June None October 15th
July None November 15th
August None December 15th
September None January 15th
October None February 15th
November None March 15th
December None April 15th
Subcontractor (1st Tier) Lien Requirements
Chart of Filing Deadlines
Month of Activity Commercial Projects (Private) 🔗
Send Invoice by: Send Pre-lien Notice
to Property Owner and Original Contractor by:		 File the lien by the following date OR within 30 days after the overall project is complete**.
January March 15th April 15th May 15th
February April 15th May 15th June 15th
March May 15th June 15th July 15th
April June 15th July 15th August 15th
May July 15th August 15th September 15th
June August 15th September 15th October 15th
July September 15th October 15th November 15th
August October 15th November 15th December 15th
September November 15th December 15th January 15th
October December 15th January 15th February 15th
November January 15th February 15th March 15th
December February 15th March 15th April 15th
IMPORTANT:

**You can file a lien affidavit 30 days after completing the overall project only if you sent the pre-lien notice for that specific month on time.
Sub-subcontractor (2nd Tier) Lien Requirements
Chart of Filing Deadlines
Month of Activity Commercial Projects (Private) 🔗
Send Invoice by: Send Pre-lien Notice
to Property Owner and Original Contractor by:		 File the lien by the following date OR within 30 days after the overall project is complete**.
January March 15th April 15th May 15th
February April 15th May 15th June 15th
March May 15th June 15th July 15th
April June 15th July 15th August 15th
May July 15th August 15th September 15th
June August 15th September 15th October 15th
July September 15th October 15th November 15th
August October 15th November 15th December 15th
September November 15th December 15th January 15th
October December 15th January 15th February 15th
November January 15th February 15th March 15th
December February 15th March 15th April 15th
IMPORTANT:

**You can file a lien affidavit 30 days after completing the overall project only if you sent the pre-lien notice for that specific month on time.

What information do I need to file a bond claim?

To prepare a bond claim, you will need the general information of the project and your contract. Below is a list of some of the necessary information: • Project Information: Owner, name of project, common address (or legal property description); • Contract: Name (or company name) and mailing address of the General (Prime) Contractor, amount, retainage amount and type of agreement; • Bonding company (surety): Name, address and bond number; • Work: Invoices, description of the unpaid work performed and the amount owed per each individual month.

How are the dates and deadlines calculated?

This is an important issue that is often misunderstood. The dates and deadlines related for lien and bond claims are based off the month and year in which the work was actually performed. The invoice date and company accounting methods are irrelevant for these claims. The important issues are when the work was actually performed and the value of the work for each individual month. A helpful example? Assume that a contractor completed a three-month painting project that lasted from January to March. The contractor would need to separately identify the value of the work performed for January, February, and March. It would not matter if only one invoice was issued at the end of the project. The deadlines will vary depending on the type of document and the type of contractor or supplier. General deadlines can be found in the chart below.

FOR CLAIMS RESULTING FROM A CONTRACT SIGNED BEFORE DECEMBER 31ST, 2021
IF THE 15th OF THE MONTH FALLS ON A WEEKEND OR A HOLIDAY, THE LAST DAY TO FILE A VALID LIEN WILL BE THE EARLIEST BUSINESS DAY.

FOR CLAIMS RESULTING FROM A CONTRACT SIGNED AFTER JANUARY 1ST, 2022
IF THE 15th OF THE MONTH FALLS ON A WEEKEND OR A HOLIDAY, THE LAST DAY TO FILE A VALID LIEN WILL EXTEND TO THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY AFTER THAT WEEKEND OR HOLIDAY.

Original (General) Contractor - Constitutional - Mechanic’s Lien Requirements
Chart of Filing Deadlines
Month of: a) Written Termination b) Abandonment of Project c) Settlement or: d) Completion of the Contract Commercial Projects (Private) 🔗
Pre-lien Notice to Property Owner is
Not Required		 File the Lien Affidavit On or Before:
January None May 15th
February None June 15th
March None July 15th
April None August 15th
May None September 15th
June None October 15th
July None November 15th
August None December 15th
September None January 15th
October None February 15th
November None March 15th
December None April 15th
Subcontractor (1st Tier) Lien Requirements
Chart of Filing Deadlines
Month of Activity Commercial Projects (Private) 🔗
Send Invoice by: Send Pre-lien Notice
to Property Owner and Original Contractor by:		 File the lien by the following date OR within 30 days after the overall project is complete**.
January March 15th April 15th May 15th
February April 15th May 15th June 15th
March May 15th June 15th July 15th
April June 15th July 15th August 15th
May July 15th August 15th September 15th
June August 15th September 15th October 15th
July September 15th October 15th November 15th
August October 15th November 15th December 15th
September November 15th December 15th January 15th
October December 15th January 15th February 15th
November January 15th February 15th March 15th
December February 15th March 15th April 15th
IMPORTANT:

**You can file a lien affidavit 30 days after completing the overall project only if you sent the pre-lien notice for that specific month on time.
Sub-subcontractor (2nd Tier) Lien Requirements
Chart of Filing Deadlines
Month of Activity Commercial Projects (Private) 🔗
Send Invoice by: Send Pre-lien Notice
to Property Owner and Original Contractor by:		 File the lien by the following date OR within 30 days after the overall project is complete**.
January March 15th April 15th May 15th
February April 15th May 15th June 15th
March May 15th June 15th July 15th
April June 15th July 15th August 15th
May July 15th August 15th September 15th
June August 15th September 15th October 15th
July September 15th October 15th November 15th
August October 15th November 15th December 15th
September November 15th December 15th January 15th
October December 15th January 15th February 15th
November January 15th February 15th March 15th
December February 15th March 15th April 15th
IMPORTANT:

**You can file a lien affidavit 30 days after completing the overall project only if you sent the pre-lien notice for that specific month on time.

Will Texas Easy Lien provide documents for any Public Works Project?

Currently, Texas Easy Lien provides help preparing bond claim documents only for State Public Projects. If you are owed in a construction project that is owned by a Federal Entity, we suggest you immediately consult with your lawyer to assert your rights.

What is the legal description of a property and where do I find it?

The legal description is a record of the real property (piece of land) that contains information that clearly identifies it such as property dimensions and boundaries. This description can be written in a few different forms and will typically appear on sales contracts and the property deed. If it is not printed in the contract or blueprints, it can be found in the “Property Search” section of each individual county. Instructions on how to find the legal description of a property