What to do, in order
- Get your dates today. Type your first and last day on the job into your state's calculator. The lien clock started when you started working, not when the invoice went late.
- Check that the notice went out. In most of these states a sub or supplier has to send a notice early in the job (table below). If it is late, some states cover only part of the work, and in Florida a late Notice to Owner is a complete defense to the lien (§ 713.06(2)(a)).
- Send a written late-payment letter. Name the job, the invoice, the amount, and the date you need payment. Keep a copy.
- Record the lien before the deadline if you are still not paid. Do not let promises push you past the date.
- Talk to a construction attorney about the lawsuit deadline and anything special on your job (public work, payment bonds, owner-occupied homes).
The deadlines in the top six states
| State | Notice before the lien | Lien deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | Notice of Claim for each unpaid month: 15th day of the 3rd month after that month (2nd on residential). § 53.056(a-1) | Lien affidavit: 15th day of the 4th month after your last month (3rd on residential). § 53.052 |
| Florida | Notice to Owner: within 45 days of your first day, if another contractor hired you. §§ 713.06, 713.18 | Claim of lien: within 90 days after your last day; serve the owner within 15 days of recording. § 713.08 |
| California | Preliminary notice: within 20 days after first furnishing. §§ 8200, 8204 | Claim of lien (subs and suppliers): earlier of 90 days after completion or 30 days after a recorded notice of completion or cessation. § 8414 |
| North Carolina | Notice to Lien Agent (when a lien agent is named): received within 15 days after first furnishing. § 44A-11.2(l) | Claim of lien: within 120 days after last furnishing at the site. § 44A-12(b) |
| Georgia | Notice to Contractor (if a Notice of Commencement was filed and you have no contract with the contractor): within 30 days after the later of that filing or your first delivery. § 44-14-361.5 | Claim of lien: within 90 days after you finish the work or furnish the materials. § 44-14-361.1(a)(2) |
| Arizona | Preliminary 20-day notice: within 20 days after first furnishing to the jobsite. § 33-992.01 | Lien recording: within 120 days after completion, or 60 days after a recorded notice of completion. § 33-993 |
Private jobs only. Public works and payment bonds follow other rules. Each state page has the full list, including lawsuit dates. All 16 state calculators.
What Job Clock does
- Tracks each notice, lien, and lawsuit deadline on your jobs, with the statute next to each date
- Sends email reminders before each deadline, in English or Spanish
- Prepares the notice forms from the information you give (you sign and serve them)
- Prepares late-payment letters when an invoice goes past due
- Tracks your license, insurance, and bond expiry dates
The deadline dates are free on JobClockApp.com. The paid plan adds the reminders, paperwork, letters, and setup help.
Job Clock does not file liens, mail or serve notices, or give legal advice. Paying does not mean a lien will hold or that you will get paid.
Questions
- What should I do if the general contractor won't pay?
- Find your state's notice and lien deadlines right away, because they count from your first and last day of work, not from the invoice. Make sure any required notice went out, send a written late-payment letter, and record the lien before the deadline if you are still not paid. Ask a construction attorney about the lawsuit deadline.
- Does the lien deadline wait until the invoice is late?
- No. In the states Job Clock covers, the notice and lien dates count from when you furnished labor or materials (for example, Florida's claim of lien is due within 90 days after your last day, Fla. Stat. § 713.08), not from the invoice due date.
- Does Job Clock collect the money or file the lien?
- No. Job Clock tracks the deadlines, sends reminders, and prepares notice forms and late-payment letters. It does not file liens, collect debts, or give legal advice.
This is general information, not legal advice. Rules change. Check the current statute or ask a construction attorney in that state before you rely on a date. Job Clock does not file liens, mail notices, pull permits, or give legal advice.