Fast, accurate preliminary notice filing for construction projects in Washington, Oregon, and California since 1999.
A preliminary notice is like insurance for the construction industry. Filing a preliminary notice at the start of a project protects your mechanics lien rights if a contractor or property owner fails to pay you.
Don’t risk your hard-earned money by missing a deadline or filing out a form incorrectly.
Northwest Lien Service handles the entire preliminary notice process for construction professionals in Washington, Oregon, and California, so you can focus on the job site.
Filing a preliminary notice construction form yourself takes time and leaves room for costly errors. Here is why contractors trust Northwest Lien Service:
Missing a deadline is the fastest way to lose your right to get paid. Here is a quick guide to the preliminary notice deadlines in the states we serve:
| State | Notice Name | Deadline to File |
|---|---|---|
| California | 20-Day Preliminary Notice | Within 20 days of first providing labor or materials. |
| Oregon | Notice of Right to a Lien | Within 8 business days of starting work or delivering materials. |
| Washington | Notice to Owner / Notice of Right to Claim Lien | 60 days from starting work (commercial/remodels) or 10 days for new single-family residential projects. |
Our industry is unique in many ways, but one of the most important is our unique ability to protect ourselves with liens. Sending preliminary notice once a new project commences is one of the best opportunities to ensure you collect the payables you’ve earned.
The customer isn’t always right in construction and contracting. Customer-provided job descriptions are often inaccurate or incomplete; have someone with complete knowledge of the project confirm and verify the job information before proceeding.
If you’re doing work in several states, don’t assume that all notices are the same. Each state has a different set of deadlines to abide by — and failure to abide by said deadlines can result in a null-and-void notice. Keep in mind there are different types of notices, including a Notice to Owner or Model Disclosure Statement, which is commonly confused with a Notice of Intent.
Liens are a complicated business — and a significant annual expensive if you’re filing notices and liens on a regular basis. Get expert help and considerable discounts on file fees by signing up for Northwest Lien services.
How Our Notice Service Works
We designed our system to keep you out of the office and on the job site. Once you create an account, securing your lien rights takes just a few clicks:
Submit Your Project Details: Send us the basic job info through our secure online portal (takes less than 5 minutes).
We Do the Research: Our team verifies the property owner, general contractor, and lender information to ensure absolute accuracy.
We File and Mail: We prepare the correct state-specific forms and send them via certified mail with tracking. You get a copy for your records and absolute peace of mind.
Mechanic’s lien laws generally require anyone who does not have a direct contract with the property owner to send a preliminary notice. We regularly process filings for:
Erin Schmidtke, Corporate Secretary at Capital Heating and Cooling
Thank you Northwest Lien Services for many years of great service. It brings a peace of mind knowing that the professionals at Northwest Lien Services are there to help us protect our business. Ken and other staff members have been very supportive and informative over the years. Capital Heating and Cooling looks forward to many more years of great service from Northwest Lien.
Joyce Hibma, Controller at Bulldog Demolition & GC Inc
As a customer of Northwest Lien Service for 18 plus years, Ken and his staff continue to provide for us Peace of Mind that our Notice to Customers/Intents are filed accurately and in a timely manner. Ken’s knowledge and support has saved us from losing thousands of dollars throughout the years when dealing with customers who are negligent in paying for services provided. It has been a pleasure watching Northwest Lien service grow, all the while continuing to provide a friendly and hands-on service. I have and will continue to use and recommend their services.
Maria Sanchez, Credit Manager A/R at Atlas Supply
I have been using Northwest Lien services for over twelve years. Their staff is professional and knowledgeable. Profitability is a critical priority for Contractors and Suppliers. As a result, close attention is paid to operational costs. Northwest Lien Services helps Contractors and Suppliers control costs, adopt consistent, lean operational processes, reduce the time spent cutting checks for UCC filings, and optimize fee structure. We thank Northwest Lien for their reliable support and we are looking forward to more years of successful results.
(M-F, 9 AM – 5 PM)
When you partner with Northwest Lien, you can expect:
In most cases, no. For the majority of subcontractors, material suppliers, and equipment lessors, sending a preliminary notice is a strict legal requirement. If you fail to send one, you generally forfeit your right to file a mechanics lien later. Even if you are a general contractor with a direct contract with the owner, sending a notice is still highly recommended and sometimes required by lenders.
Here is what happens if you skip the notice in our service areas:
Watch: Can You File a Mechanics Lien Without a Preliminary Notice in California?
If you miss the deadline, you generally lose your right to file a mechanic’s lien for the work done before the notice was sent. In California, for example, a late 20-day notice only protects the work done in the 20 days immediately preceding the late notice.
Yes. Sending a preliminary notice is a standard business procedure, not a threat. It informs all parties (including the property owner and lenders) that you are working on the project and protects your legal right to payment.
You can, but the rules are strict. If you send the form to the wrong party (like missing the lender in California) or use outdated language, your notice may be invalid. Our service guarantees the paperwork is done correctly.
