You may have more power than you think — but the clock is already running.
Every state gives unpaid contractors a powerful tool: the mechanics lien, a legal claim against the property itself. But every state also sets brutal, unforgiving deadlines. Miss one by a single day and your rights can vanish — no matter how much you're owed. Pay My Invoice translates lien law into plain English: your deadlines, your notices, your next step, state by state.
Independent and plain-spoken. We don't sell filing services — we tell you how the system works, including when filing is the wrong move.
Most contractors who get stiffed don't lose because the law is against them. They lose because of paperwork and timing: a preliminary notice never sent, a deadline counted from the wrong date, a claim filed with the wrong office. The system rewards the contractor who knows the rules early — and punishes the one who finds out late.
Average wait for a subcontractor to get paid. Only about 5% are paid on time.
How late you can be on some lien deadlines before your rights evaporate entirely.
States, 50 different rulebooks. Your deadline in Texas has nothing to do with your deadline in Florida.
Filing a mechanics lien isn't one action — it's a sequence, and the order matters. Here's the path most states follow:
Many states require a preliminary notice early in the job — sometimes within 20 days of starting work. Miss it and you may have no lien rights at all, even if you're owed thousands.
A formal "pay up or I file" letter. In some states it's legally required; everywhere else it's leverage — a large share of disputes settle right here.
Record your claim with the county, with the exact contents your state demands. Deadlines run 30 days to 8 months depending on the state — this is where most rights die.
A recorded lien puts a cloud on the property's title — owners suddenly want to talk. If they don't, most states give you a fixed window (often one year) to file suit or the lien expires.
Notice of Intent template + Lien Kill-Checklist. The two documents every unpaid contractor needs first. Download direct, no signup.
Get the free templatesThe 50-State Lien Deadline + Notice Pack. Every state's deadlines on one page, notice templates by role, the filing walkthrough, and the deadline calculator. Currently under construction-lien attorney review.
See what's insideState-by-state filing guides in plain English — Texas, California, Florida, and the 50-state deadline hub. New guides every week.
Browse the guidesMechanics lien laws are state-specific and they change. Deadlines, notice rules, and forms differ by state and by your role on the job. Everything here is general information — before you act on a deadline, confirm it with a construction attorney in your state.