A contractor completes $15,000 worth of electrical work on a commercial building. The property owner fails to pay within 30 days. To preserve mechanics lien rights under California Civil Code, the contractor must record a mechanics lien within how many days of completion?
Correct Answer
A) 90 days
Under California Civil Code Section 8412, a mechanics lien must be recorded within 90 days after completion of the work of improvement.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Under California Civil Code Section 8412, a direct contractor must record a mechanics lien within 90 days after completion of the work of improvement. This 90-day deadline is a hard cutoff — failure to record within this window permanently extinguishes the mechanics lien right, leaving the contractor without this powerful collection tool.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option B: 60 days
60 days is insufficient. California gives direct contractors the full 90 days. Subcontractors and material suppliers who served a preliminary notice also get 90 days from completion, but some claimants may have shorter windows depending on the notice of completion filing — the standard for a direct contractor is 90 days.
Option C: 30 days
30 days is far too short for recording a mechanics lien. The 30-day figure may appear in other contexts (e.g., payment terms), but it does not apply to the lien recording deadline.
Option D: 120 days
120 days is too long. No California mechanics lien provision gives a direct contractor 120 days from completion to record. Once the 90-day window closes, lien rights are lost.
Memory Technique
The mechanics lien timeline has two 90s: 90 days to RECORD the lien after completion, and 90 days to FILE SUIT to enforce it after recording. Think '90 + 90' for the two key deadlines once work is done. The preliminary notice at the start is 20 days — a different phase entirely.
More California Questions
A homeowner signs a $15,000 home improvement contract on Monday at 2 PM at the contractor's office. Under California law, what is the latest time the homeowner can cancel the contract without penalty?
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Under California's prompt payment law, if a contractor submits a proper payment request to a property owner, payment is due within how many days?
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A subcontractor completes roofing work on Tuesday, March 15th. The general contractor is paid by the owner on Friday, March 25th. Under California prompt payment laws, what is the latest date the general contractor must pay the subcontractor?
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