Making Alabama's Construction Liens Laws Work for You
If you are a construction worker, subcontractor or company that supplies construction materials, you have a right to be paid promptly. When a construction company tells you, "You'll get paid when we get paid," tell them, "Wrong answer."
Under Alabama state lien law (Section 35.11.210), subcontractors or material suppliers who give materials or labor to a construction project and haven't been paid have a right to file a construction lien (sometimes called a mechanic's lien) against the property owner in probate court.
This means that if you are a contractor, subcontractor or vendor, your right to be paid for work and materials is protected by more than your contract with the construction company or the contractor above you. Your rights are protected by the lien law.
Early Action Protects Your Right to Get Paid: Perform a cost-benefit analysis before beginning each new project. If the project is worth a lot of money, it may be to your benefit to pay a nominal legal fee ahead of time to an attorney who can help you protect your payment rights from the outset.
The Lindsey Law Firm is a Birmingham construction liens law firm that represents construction workers, subcontractors and materials suppliers throughout Alabama. Our attorneys have a thorough understanding of the construction liens claims procedure, and we have a high-volume practice filing construction liens for individuals and companies of all sizes. Our familiarity with construction liens law allows us to provide efficient and cost-effective service.
Using Construction Liens Law to Get the Payment You Deserve
In order to obtain satisfaction under Alabama lien law, you must first send the proper written notice to the property owner and any construction lender within four months of the last day you provided materials or service on the construction project in question.
The law allows you to six months to file a lien in most cases. There are some differences in the timelines depending upon whether your case involves materials, services or labor. For example, if you are seeking to file a lien for unpaid labor, the law requires you to submit notice to the property owner within 30 days of the last day you worked on the project. Filing a mechanic's lien may also require you to jump through specific bureaucratic hoops.
In almost every case, you can best protect your rights to be paid by taking certain actions before you begin working on the project. Sending a notice of lien rights to the project owner before you begin work can make the practical difference between getting paid and not getting paid. Learn more about notices of lien rights and the difference between unpaid balance and full balance lien claims.
Contact the Lindsey Law Firm for a Free Initial Consultation
No matter what stage you are at in the payment process, the Lindsey Law Firm will do everything we can to help. We can send the applicable notice of lien rights to the appropriate parties, and we can file liens in the probate court if you have an unpaid bill. If your lien rights have expired, we can explore other legal strategies, such as an action under Alabama's Prompt Payment Act.
We have immediate appointments available, and the initial consultation is always free of charge. Send us an e-mail or call 205-588-2896 today.
