Getting Paid & Liens

Getting paid is the hardest part of construction. This hub links every guide, calculator, generator, workflow, and playbook for protecting your payment rights and collecting what you're owed.

Start with deadlines

Lien and notice deadlines are non-negotiable. If you are new here, read Lien Law Basics and run the Lien Deadline Calculator for your project state.

Start here

Your rights

Protect

Preliminary notices, stop notices, and joint checks before trouble starts.

And collect

Bill

Pay apps, retainage, and collections — get cash in before you lien.

If they won't pay

Enforce

Liens, stop notices, and payment bond claims when collection fails.

Protect your rights

Construction Lien Law — Mechanics lien deadlines, preliminary notices, and waivers
Stop Notices — Alternative to liens for public works
Joint Check Agreements — How joint checks work and when to use them
State Lien Law Quick Reference

State lien law

Bill and collect

Pay Applications — AIA billing, schedule of values, and getting paid faster
Retainage Guide — Understanding and managing withheld retention
Collections Strategy — Steps to collect payment before filing a lien

When bonds apply (claimant)

Payment Bond Claims — Making claims when you're not paid on public work
Payment Bond Claim Procedure

Principal-side bonding (getting bonded as a contractor) lives in the Bonding & Surety Hub.

Getting Paid & Liens

Protect your rights

State lien law

Bill and collect

When bonds apply (claimant)

Run it

Tools

Playbooks

Protect your rights​

State lien law​

Bill and collect​

When bonds apply (claimant)​

Run it​

Tools​

Playbooks​

Related​

Protect your rights

State lien law

Bill and collect

When bonds apply (claimant)

Run it

Tools

Playbooks

Related