A subcontractor in Georgia was not paid by the general contractor and wants to file a lien. The subcontractor provided preliminary notice 15 days after starting work. The project was completed on March 15th. What is the latest date the subcontractor can file the lien?
Correct Answer
C) June 13th
Subcontractors have 90 days from completion of work to file a lien. March 15 + 90 days = June 13th. Preliminary notice timing doesn't invalidate the lien right.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Georgia law gives subcontractors 90 days from the completion of their work to file a lien. Starting from March 15th, adding 90 days lands on June 13th. Critically, the timing of the preliminary notice — even though it was 15 days after work started — does not invalidate the lien right. Preliminary notice protects the right to lien but late notice does not forfeit it entirely in Georgia for subcontractors.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: April 14th
April 14th would be only 30 days after March 15th, which is far too short. This is not a recognized deadline under Georgia's lien statutes.
Option B: May 14th
May 14th represents 60 days from March 15th — not the correct 90-day period. Candidates who memorize 60 days (a common figure in other states) may select this erroneously.
Option D: The lien is invalid due to late preliminary notice
The lien is NOT invalidated by the late preliminary notice. This is a critical misconception — the preliminary notice requirement in Georgia affects priority and notice to the owner, but a subcontractor does not lose the right to file a lien solely because the notice was given 15 days after starting work (rather than at inception). The exam tests whether candidates understand that the 90-day filing window still applies.
Memory Technique
March 15 + 90 days: count 16 days to March 31, then 30 in April (46), then 31 in May (77), then 13 more in June = 90 total → June 13. Practice this date arithmetic on your scratch paper.
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