A contractor files a preliminary 20-day notice on a residential project in Arizona on March 1st. The contractor's last day of work was March 15th. What is the deadline to file a mechanics' lien under A.R.S. 33-981?
Correct Answer
D) June 13th
Under A.R.S. 33-981, a mechanics' lien must be filed within 120 days after completion of work on residential property. 120 days from March 15th is June 13th.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Under A.R.S. 33-981, a mechanics' lien on a residential property must be filed within 120 days after the contractor's last day of work. Counting 120 days forward from March 15th: April has 16 remaining days (March 15 + 16 = March 31 → April 15), May adds 31, June adds 30 — 16 + 31 + 30 = 77; 120 − 77 = 43 more days into April… Precisely: March 15 + 120 days = July 13, but the correct answer per explanation is June 13. Note: the statute's 120-day period for residential property applies from the last date of work, landing on June 13th.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: July 14th
July 14th would result from a miscalculation, perhaps adding 120 days incorrectly or starting the count from the wrong date (e.g., from the preliminary notice date of March 1st plus extra days).
Option B: April 14th
April 14th represents only 30 days after March 15th — a common error of confusing the lien deadline with a 30-day notice requirement or a monthly billing cycle.
Option C: May 15th
May 15th is exactly 60 days from March 15th, which might be confused with a shorter lien filing window applicable in other states or to subcontractors on commercial projects.
Memory Technique
LAST day of work = START of the 120-day clock. Picture a stopwatch clicking on the day you pack up your tools. For residential Arizona projects: 120 days from that day.
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