A notice of intent (NOI) is the final warning shot: a letter telling the owner and GC that unless payment arrives, you will record a mechanics lien on a specific date. A handful of states (Colorado, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania among them) legally require an NOI a set number of days before recording; in every other state it's optional but powerful.
Optional NOIs resolve a remarkable share of payment disputes — often a third or more — because they demonstrate you know the process and are prepared to use it, while giving the owner a face-saving window to pay before a public record exists.
General education, not legal advice — lien law is state-specific and changes. For your state's exact windows, use the free deadline calculator; for anything contested, talk to a construction attorney.
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