Cns How To File A Mechanics Lien Basics

How to File a Mechanics Lien: The Basics

Written by CNSApril 27, 2021

In order to ensure that you’re paid for your services, time, or materials after the completion of a construction project, it’s important to understand how to file a mechanics lien.

A mechanics lien – also known as a construction lien or laborer’s lien – is a tool for contractors, subcontractors, and others in the construction industry used to resolve payment disputes. For more information on how liens work in construction, visit our article, “I Did the Job, Now I Just Want to Get Paid.”

At CNS, we have over three decades of experience working with construction notices. If you require assistance filing your mechanics lien, send us a message or call us at 800-366-5660.

Keep reading for a step-by-step guide on how to file a mechanics lien.

 

Filing a Mechanics Lien: State-to-State Similarities

Despite the differences in how to file from state to state (more on this in a future CNS article), the mechanics lien process consists of several steps that are true no matter what state the project is located in.

Verifying the Right to File a Lien

The first step to filing a mechanics lien is researching whether you have the right to file. Depending on where the construction is located, the build and associated liens are subject to the laws of that particular state. Your right to file will be determined by your involvement with the project, whether you’re required to give notice, and the timeline for filing the lien.

When determining your right to file, it’s important to note whether your particular state requires you to give notice to the property owners. This notice can come in the shape of a “preliminary notice” or a “notice of intent to lien.” Sometimes people think that they need to send the prelim (or file the mechanics lien) 20 days after the project ends, but many states require the prelim be mailed within 20 days of the project’s start.

Drafting the Lien

Once you’ve verified that you have the right to file a lien, the next step is to prepare the actual document. This step is known as the lien claim and drafting it can be quite tricky. First, you must acquire the correct form for the state you’re filing in. Next, you must fill it out to the exact state law requirements. This can get pretty detailed and even require the specific formatting of fonts, font sizes, and page margins. Some counties also have different requirements for address details. Seeking the assistance of a professional like CNS can ensure that everything is filled out correctly.

Filing The Lien

After the lien claim has been properly filled out, it must be filed in the county or jurisdiction where the construction project is located. But just how long does a contractor have to file a lien? The lien must be recorded within the time frame defined by that particular state’s laws. If you need help determining your time frame, reach out to CNS.

Every county recorder has unique requirements and procedures that you must adhere to in order to successfully file your lien. Failure to do so may result in additional filing fees or the rejection of your lien. The county recorder will also specify whether you can mail the lien, file it in person, or file it electronically.

Notifying the Parties

Before the filing process is complete, you’ll need to notify the party or parties subject to the lien. Be sure to check state laws as some states require notification immediately after filing while others require it simultaneously with filing. You’ll also have to verify who you need to notify. Some states only require that the property owner is notified while others require that you serve the contractor and lender as well.

Enforcing, Extending, or Releasing

Many contractors and suppliers make the mistake of thinking that the process is over once their lien has been filed. However, there are three important things that must be kept in mind:

  • First of all, there’s a strict time period to enforce the mechanics lien. After the enforcement period has ended, collecting on the mechanics lien can be difficult.
  • Once you’ve been paid, you’ll need to release the mechanics lien.
  • While not all states require the claimant to cancel the lien, some will impose financial penalties if the lien is not released.

 

Secure Payment by Filing a Mechanics Lien on Property

A mechanics lien is one of the most, if not the most, valuable tool that construction businesses have in the collection process. However, there are many challenges when filing a construction lien which can result in you losing your lien rights.

Don’t roll the dice. Reach out to us to ensure your prelim is filed accurately – and quickly – so you’re able to file a lien later on.

Ask CNS to clear that prelim off your to-do list ⇢

Prefer to call? You can reach us at 800-366-5660.

 

Disclaimer: CNS is not an attorney, and if you need legal advice, please contact one.

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Understanding the Arizona 20 Day Preliminary Notice

Written by CNSMarch 23, 2021

If you’re starting a new construction project in the Grand Canyon State, then you may have “send an Arizona 20 day preliminary notice” written on your to-do list. Even though it’s a to-do, you may not understand exactly what this means, and that’s why we wanted to clear up confusion around the preliminary notice.

The CNS team, your resource for construction notices, is also here to take care of preliminary notices for you. You can contact us for assistance by sending us a message or calling 800-366-5660.

As we explained in our recent article, “How Does a California 20 Day Preliminary Notice Work?”, people can get confused by the term “20 day preliminary notice.” For instance, someone may think you need to send the prelim 20 days after their construction project ends. However, the requirement is within 20 days of their project beginning.

Keep reading to learn how an Arizona preliminary lien notice works.

 

Your Arizona 20 Day Preliminary Notice: The Basics

Let’s discuss what a preliminary notice is, generally, and then the particulars of a prelim in AZ. If you regularly do business in Arizona, be sure to review all of our construction notice services in the state. See all AZ Lien Services ⇢

Preliminary Notices

Keep in mind that you might hear a preliminary notice also referred to as a “pre lien,” “prelim,” or “preliminary lien notice.” Regardless of which name you hear, they all point to an official document sent at the beginning of a construction project.

Why are preliminary notices so important? They reduce your risk, helping to ensure you get paid for the work you do. When you send a prelim, you protect your right to file a mechanics lien, if your customer doesn’t pay. Additionally, when you send a prelim, you’re following the law. And, if you don’t mail a preliminary notice, you won’t be able to record a mechanics lien if you aren’t paid.

In general, a contractor sends a prelim to the property owner, construction lender, and general contractor (if the contractor themselves isn’t the GC – or, as the Arizona Revised Statutes 33-992.01 put it, the “original contractor”). Usually, this notice is sent as certified mail to all parties.

Though this explanation is simple, the steps are involved and vary from state-to-state, such that CNS customers rely on our team to give them a hand.

Your Arizona Pre Lien

Arizona differs from the general rule, though, in a couple of ways. Remember the following when mailing your pre lien and working on your project:

  • You must send the preliminary notice as first-class mail – and with a certificate of mailing.
  • All contractors must send a prelim, including general contractors (GCs).
  • If your project’s dollar value (as indicated on your prelim) increases 30%+ during the process, you might need to send another preliminary notice. Details on Arizona lien laws are in the state’s Revised Statutes.

Similar to California, you must mail your Arizona preliminary lien notice within 20 days of starting your project. That means the day you commence work on the jobsite is your baseline, as Day 1, and you count 20 days out from there (details are in the AZ Revised Statutes). Your recipients don’t need to receive it within 20 days, so you still have time to mail your Arizona prelim, even within the final hours before the cut-off.

 

Upcoming Project in CA, OR, WA, NM, or NV?

Then our team has you covered! We serve customers in all the western states listed above, and our experts ensure you properly send your pre lien – and get it out the door on time.

Each state’s lien laws have their own requirements. Because we work with construction companies – from large material suppliers to sole proprietors – we know the ins & outs of each states’ rules. Discover how we can help you with construction projects in California, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, and Nevada: See all of our services ⇢

 

Get Your Arizona 20 Day Preliminary Lien Notice Form Started

You can ask our team to help, and we’ll use our proprietary pre lien notice, which we mail to your recipients. We pride ourselves in accurate, prompt, and expert handling of your preliminary notices – so you and your business can file a mechanics lien later on, if you need to.

Ask CNS to clear that prelim off your to-do list ⇢

Prefer to call? You can reach us at 800-366-5660.

 

Disclaimer: CNS is not an attorney, and if you need legal advice, please contact one.

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How Does a California 20 Day Preliminary Notice Work?

Written by CNSFebruary 22, 2021

Whether your business is headquartered in California or you take on CA-based projects from out-of-state, it’s crucial to know how a California 20 day preliminary notice works.

Since we serve many customers in California, and CNS (Construction Notice Services) was founded there in 1984, we get this question often. Though preliminary notices are common from state-to-state, the addition of a “20 day” time limit can be intimidating and confusing.

Sometimes people think that they need to send the prelim (or file the mechanic’s lien) 20 days after the project ends, instead of mailing the prelim within 20 days of the project’s start.

Today, we’ll explain how this works, so you can feel more confident about starting your construction project. And, if you’re busy with higher-ROI activities, just ask us to send your preliminary notice for you.

 

How Does a California 20 Day Preliminary Notice Work?

Generally speaking, a preliminary notice (also called a “prelim” or “pre lien”) is sent as certified mail to the property owner, general contractor, and construction lender when you begin a project. Often, contractors find this process burdensome, as sending certified means traveling to the post office, paying extra, and storing a receipt, so they call on CNS to take care of these time-consuming steps instead.

Within the states CNS serves, certified mail is required for CA, NV, OR, and WA preliminary notices. Then, in AZ, your prelim must be sent first-class mail with a certificate of mailing.

Your preliminary notice informs your customer that, if they don’t pay, you reserve the right to collect via a mechanic’s lien. This is an official document that follows the letter of the law – and helps protect your business.

If your project is in California, you must send the preliminary notice within 20 days. The postmark is your friend, as the recipients don’t need to have it delivered or received within 20 days, per state law.

Commence every project with a preliminary notice, and if your customer doesn’t pay, your wallet (and even your employees and family) will thank you! Learn more in our article: What is a Preliminary Notice? It is Your Blueprint for Risk Reduction.

Remember: In California, specifically, you must send your prelim within 20 days of a project starting.

Time is of the essence.

 

Why Should I Send a CA 20 Day Preliminary Notice?

The state of California doesn’t just require your preliminary notice to be sent within 20 days of starting. You could also face disciplinary action from the Contractors State License Board. (See the CA law here.)

If you don’t mail out your 20 day notice in time, there are even more repercussions:

  • Your existing liens, bond claims, and stop notices may become invalid.
  • Let’s say you send your 20 day notice after the first 20 days of your project. You may still be able to collect via a mechanic’s lien on the project later, yet any work performed before those past 20 days isn’t covered.

Think of it as insurance. Sending your pre lien/prelim protects your ability to get paid in the future. Learn more about reasons to send a prelim, in general: Why You Should Always Send a Preliminary Notice.

CNS swiftly handles other types of construction notices in California too. See all our CA services ⇢

 

Do Other States Have a 20 Day Preliminary Notice?

Yes – and within our CNS service regions, we regularly mail 20 day preliminary lien notice forms on behalf of our Arizona customers. Like California, Arizona also requires you to send your preliminary notice within 20 days of beginning your project.

Regardless of the state your project is located in, be sure to send a preliminary notice. That way, if you face a no pay, slow pay, or short pay situation, you’ve already protected your right to get paid.

CNS works with construction businesses in Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, California, and New Mexico. Each state has its own rules for sending prelims, and our experienced team will quickly and accurately send your prelim, according to your state’s requirements. See all our states’ services ⇢

 

Where Can I Get a California 20 Day Preliminary Notice Form?

Though California doesn’t provide boilerplates for preliminary notices, you can call upon CNS, and we’ll provide our proprietary form and send it for you.

No matter which of our states your project is in – from Washington to New Mexico – we’ll take care of your pre lien/prelim, so you don’t have to. Reach out to us anytime for assistance – and if you’re an existing customer, simply log into your customer portal.

Work with CNS, and clear that prelim paperwork off your desk ⇢

 

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What is a Preliminary Notice? It is Your Blueprint for Risk Reduction.

Written by CNSJanuary 21, 2021

No matter what you or your state call a preliminary notice – pre lien, preliminary lien, right to lien notice, etc. – taking action at the start of each project is crucial to reducing risk. In this article, we’ll discuss “what is a preliminary notice?” as well as the “why” behind it.

When you engage our preliminary notice services, or file a prelim on your own, your future self will thank you.

Even if you work with the same people you always have, you may face slow pay, short pay, and no pay situations. Add an uncertain economic climate to the mix, and the risk of late, incomplete, or zero payment can increase.

Whether it’s January or June, it’s never too late to set a New Year’s resolution for yourself – and resolve to protect your business better.

 

What is a Preliminary Notice?

A preliminary notice is mailed to the property owner, general contractor, and construction lender at the start of a project. This notice informs your customer that you officially have the right to collect unpaid costs and file a mechanics lien, if they fail to pay.

CNS provides preliminary notice services for construction projects in California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and New Mexico. Depending on the state, the type of mail (e.g., certified vs. first class) and timing of the notice can differ. Our experts are here to help you meet your state’s requirements.

To protect your rights, always send a prelim at the start of every project. Read on to understand more reasons why.

 

Why File a Pre Lien?

The biggest reason: You protect your rights to collect money that’s rightfully yours.

Without a pre lien/prelim filed, you forfeit the ability to place a valid lien on the property. That’s potentially a big deal for your business and your pocketbook. Sitting back and examining the potential risk to a company, employees, and one’s own finances, it’s easy to see why filing a pre lien is so critical.

We’re so passionate about it, we started communicating this to customers from Day 1 – and on our homepage today as well: Don’t roll the dice.

Learn even more in another CNS article: Why You Should Always Send a Preliminary Notice.

 

Create a Successful Blueprint with CNS

Working seamlessly with you and your in-house team, we make prelims easy. We send the prelim accurately, expertly, and quickly.

With CNS taking important paperwork off your plate, your business has a blueprint for risk reduction. No matter the type of project – state or federal, residential or commercial – your dedicated CNS customer service rep is there to help reduce your risk with the proper notice sent at the right time. We guide you through the process and answer any questions you may have.

As you already know well, your employees, their families, and your family are counting on you to do your due diligence, and protect the payments of your projects.

Let us help you protect those funds – and enforce your rights to collect, if and when the need arises.

Reach out to CNS, your prelim/pre lien experts ⇢

 

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Cns Release Of Mechanics Lien Article By State

Release of Mechanics Lien: The “Why” & Our State-by-State Guide

Written by CNSDecember 15, 2020

You filed a lien, your late-to-pay customer responded, and now your balance is paid up. You’re ready to move onto the next batch of projects. However, there’s one last step – a release of mechanics lien.

Avoid potential penalties – and ensure your business does its part – by removing the lien on that property.

Whenever you file a mechanics lien with CNS, a free lien release form is included. Your team can complete that paperwork, or you can skip worrying about it, and call on CNS to take care of it.

By the way, we have another freebie for CNS customers: Free lien waiver forms.

Take care of your final release of a lien, and continue reading to understand the rules for the states we serve.

 

What’s a Release of Mechanics Lien – and Why Do I Need One?

A release of mechanics lien is an official legal document that’s recorded with the county. The release states that the claim has been fully paid/satisfied, and the lien is removed from the property. Learn about four varieties of waivers and releases.

Once your outstanding balance has been paid in full, you should – or need to – release the lien. This helps you avoid potential repercussions from your state or legal action from the customer.

 

Arizona Lien Release

If you’ve recorded a lien in Arizona, the lien claimant (you or your business) must remove the lien within 20 days after your customer has paid the balance.

Otherwise, you can be held liable for actual damages and $1,000.00. View the Arizona Revised Statues here.

See all our AZ services ⇢

 

California Release of Lien

In contrast to Arizona and Nevada, California has no statutory time frame or penalty if you fail to release the lien.

That said, if a lien is expired or has been satisfied/paid, the owner may petition the courts to have the lien removed, and the lien claimant may be subject to attorney fees. In this case, your business could encounter unexpected costs from this situation. View the California Civil Code here.

Additionally, in this article from Porter Law Group, you can learn more about a real-world example of the complications that an unreleased lien in California can create.

Explore all our CA services ⇢

 

Lien Release Nevada

After the amount in question is paid up, the lien on your customer must be released within 10 days. Or, the lien claimant may be liable for any damages caused or $100.00, whichever is greater. View the Nevada Revised Statutes.

Discover all our NV services ⇢

 

Lien Release Washington State

According to Washington state law, once the lien has been paid up, the claimant must immediately prepare and release the lien. Otherwise, you risk paying for court costs, attorneys’ fees, and any damages. View the Washington Revenue Code.

Discover all our WA services ⇢

 

Oregon Lien Release

When your customer has paid what was owed, and you’ve gotten a written request for the lien cancellation, you must release the lien within 10 days. However, if that lien isn’t released, you might owe actual damages or $500, whichever is greater. View the Oregon Revised Statutes.

Discover all our OR services ⇢

 

Please Note: New Mexico is another state we serve, yet we only handle preliminary notices there. Log into your customer portal – or register for a new account – to get your next prelim in NM started.

 

Call on CNS this Holiday Season

If you’re busy making a list and checking it twice, ask CNS to help take a task off your business’ to-do list this December.

To get your accounts prepared for 2021, we can assist you with recording mechanics liens, releasing paid-up liens, and more.

Reach out to CNS, your reliable & speedy team ⇢

 

Disclaimer: CNS is not an attorney, and if you need legal advice, please contact one.

 

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Free Lien Waiver Forms Cns Online

Free Lien Waiver Forms for CNS Customers

Written by CNSNovember 18, 2020

When’s the last time you or your team needed free lien waiver forms?

During a project, getting this step done may sink to the bottom of your to-do list. When other priorities take center stage, you can make the lien-waiver process more efficient with our complimentary lien waiver generator for CNS customers.

Even if our team didn’t file your preliminary notice, you can still use our general waiver form.

With your free lien waiver forms in hand, you can take action faster. As the job’s progress is compensated for, you can ensure everything is fair for your customer – without sacrificing your business’ mechanics lien rights.

Read on, and learn about our handy tool.

 

Why Use Our Lien Waivers?

Not only are our lien waivers free of charge for CNS customers, but our system keeps track of the waivers – so you don’t have to. Your lien waiver is electronically stored in your secure CNS portal. If you can’t recall whether a waiver has been sent, search inside your portal by the prelim number or your customer’s name.

As an existing customer who’s filed the same project’s preliminary notice with CNS, that same critical job information is automatically imported.

After you generate the waiver, you can swiftly print, sign, and email it from your office.

Not familiar with lien waivers? Get the basics here.

 

How to Use Our Free Lien Waiver Forms

To use a free printable lien waiver from CNS, you first log into your customer portal.

Once you view the preliminary notice you’d like to produce a waiver for, you can print a waiver from the bottom-right of the screen.

Choose from four options, such as conditional waiver and release on progress payment. Learn about types of waivers and releases.

Your client information for this job is automatically populated, and you can print, sign, and then send.

Take advantage of a free waiver of lien form. To get started, log into your customer portal ⇢

Questions about using this service? Call your dedicated customer service representative. If you’re not sure who your rep is, simply call 800.366.5660 and ask the receptionist to transfer you to them.

 

Lien Releases to File too?

The end of the year is fast approaching. As you prepare your books for next year’s taxes, you can settle up with clients by releasing liens.

You can count on CNS to help with all your construction-notice needs.

Reach out to the friendly & efficient CNS team ⇢

 

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Mechanics Lien Services Leaf On Concrete( )

Now’s the Time to Utilize Mechanics Lien Services

Written by CNSOctober 20, 2020

When it comes to construction work, strategic planning is key to safeguarding your investments. The fall season presents a crucial juncture for contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers to proactively secure their hard-earned financial interests.

In this article, we delve into why fall is the optimal time to leverage mechanics lien services, offering a comprehensive approach to protecting your business and thriving in an ever-evolving economic landscape.

Contact CNS today to file a mechanics lien, or call us at 800-366-5660.

Navigating Payment Milestones

Fall is the season when projects initiated in the preceding months, particularly June or July, enter a critical phase where they need to be paid up. To address potential payment issues such as slow, short, or no pay, leveraging mechanics lien services becomes a strategic move. By doing so, construction professionals can tackle payment concerns before they escalate, avoiding legal complications and ensuring a smoother project trajectory.

Adapting to Economic Uncertainties

Regardless of the longevity of your relationship with a client and the apparent smoothness of daily operations, the current economic environment introduces uncertainties that demand proactive measures, such as high interest rates and funding challenges. Recording and enforcing mechanics liens are critical steps in securing both time and financial investments in your projects, as well as protecting your employees and their income.

The Importance of Preliminary Notices

A cornerstone of the mechanics lien process is the preliminary notice, commonly known as a “prelim” or “pre-lien.” Failing to send a prelim can hinder your ability to later file a mechanics lien and even lead to you losing your lien rights. This is where specialized services like CNS prove indispensable. Entrusting professionals ensures a seamless process, including the timely mailing of preliminary notices and laying the groundwork for future collections through mechanics liens.

Navigating Tax Season & Client Payments

Looking ahead to the coming year, fall proves instrumental in preparing your financial books. Proactive measures taken during this period, such as utilizing mechanics lien services, contribute not only to maintaining a healthy cash flow but also to fortifying the overall resilience of your business. As the world anticipates the arrival of a new year, the construction industry must shift its focus to tax season and ensure client payments have arrived.

File a Mechanics Lien with CNS

In an industry often plagued with uncertainties and payment issues, fall stands out as the opportune season to deploy mechanics lien services. By addressing late or short payments and preparing for the closure of the fiscal year, contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers can enter the new year with confidence and stronger cash flow.

Contact CNS today to get a preliminary notice started or file a mechanics lien.

Prefer to call? You can reach us at 800-366-5660.

 

Disclaimer: CNS is not an attorney, and if you need legal advice, please contact one.

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Senate Bill

Senate Bill 2 Imposes Hidden Tax on the Construction Industry

Written by CNSJanuary 4, 2018

Senate Bill 2 -The Building Homes & Jobs Act was approved by Governor Brown on September 29th, 2017 and will be put into effect starting January 1st, 2018. This bill will affect many documents recorded at local county recorder’s offices. The Building Homes & Jobs Act imposes a fee of $75 dollars for “every real estate instrument, paper, or notice required or permitted by law to be recorded, except those expressly exempted from payment of recording fees, per each single transaction per parcel of real property.” This includes mechanics’ liens and mechanics’ lien releases.

The money generated from the fee will be transferred to The Building Homes and Jobs Trust Fund. The fees possessed from January 1st, 2018 to December 31st, 2018 will be split in two for the local government in California and the Department of Housing and Community. The local government funding will be used to advance the production of multi-income homes, shelters, and the accuracy of real estate evaluations. The Department of Housing and Community will finance programs to assist households retain their homes.

On January 1st, 2019, The Building Homes and Jobs Trust Fund will be split differently. 70% will go to the local government in California and 30% will go to The Department of Housing and Community.

The bill’s objective is to help forge low to moderate income households and decrease the burden of obtaining/keeping a home.

For more information on how this might affect the recording of your mechanics’ lien or mechanics’ lien release, give CNS a call at 800-366-5660.

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THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF THE NEVADA NOTICE OF RIGHT TO LIEN

Written by CNSNovember 17, 2017

The Nevada Notice of Right to Lien is critical to ensuring that your mechanics lien rights are enforceable.

Everyone involved in the project including contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers, and equipment rental companies must send a notice of right to lien to the property owner and general contractor via certified mail in order to preserve their ability to record a notice of lien.

To secure your lien rights for the duration of the project, the notice must be delivered in person or by certified mail to the owner of the property and to the prime contractor within the first 31 days of commencing work or supplying material to the project.

If the notice is sent late, the contractor/material supplier/equipment rental has a right to lien for materials or equipment furnished or for work or services performed in the 31 days before the date the notice of right to lien is mailed and for the materials or equipment furnished or for work or services performed anytime thereafter until the completion of the work of improvement.

Exceptions:
• A prime contractor or other person who contracts directly with an owner or sells materials directly to an owner is not required to give notice.
• However, it is critical to verify that the party you are in contract with is the owner. Please see our post “Do You Know Who The Actual Property Owner Is?” for more information

At CNS, we understand that protecting your lien rights is paramount to future cash flow and growth. Not only is the right to lien notice legally required, but it also must contain accurate information. This is why for the past 34 years we have perfected our procedures to ensure that every notice is as complete as possible.

Our highly trained research staff verifies all information relating to your project including:
• property ownership
• jobsite address
• general contractor
• financial lender(s)
• bonding company(s)

No matter what the circumstances may be for thinking you don’t want/need to send a preliminary notice; remember it’s better to have sent it and not need it; than to need it and not have sent it.

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Jobsite Research Verification

Jobsite Research & Verification for Lien Rights

Written by CNSOctober 30, 2017

Preliminary notices, mechanics liens, stop payment notices, and payment bond claims are powerful resources for contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers. However, to be fully effective in protecting and facilitating payment, they must be prepared and filed or delivered correctly. Any mistake in the process could result in the loss of lien rights and render them unenforceable.

Unfortunately, given the many moving parts involved in any single project and the various rules and regulations for preparing notices, mistakes happen often. This is where the specialized process of jobsite research and verification from CNS comes into play.

Our in-depth research of construction project information and its verification is critical to the success and accuracy of every notice our team prepares.

If you’re experiencing slow, short, or no pay issues, contact CNS today or call us at 800-366-5660.

Comprehensive Information Collection

The foundation of any reliable preliminary notice or mechanics lien is accurate and comprehensive information. CNS begins this meticulous process by gathering a few important details from customers, including:

  • The precise job address.
  • Your customer’s information (the individual or firm who hired you).
  • An estimated value of the work performed or the amount outstanding.
  • A detailed description of the materials supplied or labor furnished.

This information allows us to delve straight into the research and verification process that follows.

Diligent Verification of Pre-Liens & Mechanics Liens

Upon receipt of the notice request, our research department employs a mix of techniques — emails, phone calls, title databases, building permit offices, and tax assessor information — to confirm the accuracy of every piece of information listed in the request. This rigorous verification process encompasses confirming details with upstream contracting parties and identifying and verifying the correct property owner, general contractor, lender, bonding company, and other relevant parties. This phase ensures that every link in the information chain is robust and verifiable. Typically, each request requires 6-8 phone calls before all information is verified. All verification(s) and methods are documented for accuracy and to provide you with support if anyone ever questions your claim.

State-Specific Requirements

Understanding and adhering to the unique lien laws and legal requirements of each state is crucial for ensuring that notices are effective. CNS’s expertise is especially significant in states like California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and Florida, where the law mandates that all relevant parties receive the notice for it to be valid. CNS’s nuanced understanding of state-specific legislation helps maximize your chances of fully collecting on the project.

The CNS Difference

The work that’s invisible to you is the most important thing to us. For 40 years, we have been helping contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers get paid. From our receptionists to our researchers, the entire CNS team is dedicated to the integrity of each notice and lien filed. This commitment is embodied in a rigorous system of quality control checks, ensuring that every document sent out meets the highest standards of accuracy and reliability.

Protect Your Right to Payment with CNS

By entrusting your preliminary notice and mechanics lien needs to CNS, you’re not just sending out a document; you’re deploying a meticulously verified claim backed by a dedicated team committed to supporting your right to fair payment.

Contact us to experience our jobsite research and verification process and get a prelim started today.

Prefer to call? You can reach us at 800-366-5660.

 

Disclaimer: CNS is not an attorney, and if you need legal advice, please contact one.

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