The most significant changes to California construction law in decades will became law on July 1, 2012. Owners, builders, developers, design professionals, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and laborers rely on california mechanics liens, stop notices and/or bond claims to preserve their rights to payment. The changes attempt to simplify the legal rules and procedures for utilizing these remedies.
New Definitions, New Rules, New Procedures
Most important, all mechanics liens, stop notices and bond claims recorded after July 1, 2012 must use the new standardized forms and follow the new definitions, notice prerequisites and statutory release form language. The main substantive changes were meant to make it easier to understand the requirements, standardizing notice requirements and forms, and updating key terminology to reflect actual use of terminology, parties and documents.
Designed to Simplify the Old Statutes
Beyond renumbering, reorganizing and relocating the previous statutes governing mechanics liens, stop notices and bond claims, many of the changes to the overall scheme are not substantive, and are primarily designed to simplify the old statutes. Thus case law interpreting such language under the old statutes should continue to apply.
The new statutes governing mechanics liens, stop notices and bond claims can be found in California Civil Code Sections 8000-9566. There are three distinct groups within the statutory scheme:
- Works of Improvement (general)—Sections 8000-8154
- Private Works of Improvement—Sections 8160-8848
- Public Works of Improvement—Sections 9000-9566
For a more detailed explanation of the changes, take a look at LienItNow.com‘s prior blog posintg regarding Calfornia Mechanics Lien Changes – 2012.