When do your Lien Rights begin to wind down?

Most states, not all, have statutory conditions which offer a subcontractor or materials supplier 90 days from last supplying or last performing work on the project, to record and serve a mechanics lien. This should be easy to track. However, for many it is not. Why? Because stuff happens. You know what I am talking about: High order days, Exchanges, New Accounts, Sick Days, the whole enchilada. It’s called business. Thank God we have it. But at times it can be overwhelming.

You may ship materials to a project on day 1 and be finished. Naturally this means that you have 90 days from day 1 to record and serve your mechanics lien. But what happens when on day 32 the same customer orders another shipment for the same job? The simple math is:  you now have 122 days from day 1 to record and serve your mechanics lien. And should the same customer place another order on day 67 . . . I think you get the picture.

Key Takeaways

• Moving Target Challenge: The “Stop Date” or “Last Furnishing Date” for mechanics lien rights is often a moving target, extending each time additional work or materials are supplied to a project.
• Tracking Solutions: Effective tracking of this moving target is crucial, and tools like eAlert Unlimited can help subcontractors and suppliers manage and monitor their lien rights deadlines efficiently.
• Regular Updates Required: Consistent updating of records and the use of detailed reports, such as the eAlert Report, are essential to ensure accurate tracking and management of lien rights.

Your Stop Date or Last Furnishing Date is always subject to being a “Moving Target”

As long as that target continues to advance, you have a longer time to concern yourself about filing a lien. Bottom line is that you will always have 90 days from the date you last supplied or performed work. (Of course we are referring to states were the statute allows 90 days) So the challenge with the Moving Target is: How do you track it?

One of the best answers we can provide is eAlert Unlimited.

Using eAlerts Unlimited and the eAlerts Reporting Process, you will have one of the most efficient tools for keeping track of this moving target. It does require a little work on your behalf. (Upon receiving your eAlert Report, you will need to check your clients job accounting file and note any new shipments, or workorders.) However, the report will guide you through every open Preliminary Notice, sorted by job site and your customer, and allows you to simply jot down the most current ship/work order dates on the report, then email the eAlert Report along with your updated status, back to CRM.

Once your review with updates of the eAlert Report is received, your moving targets will be indexed and your ongoing reports will be one of the most useful accounts receivables management tools in your credit and collections toolbox.

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