Before filing a mechanics lien, what document must be served on the property owner within how many days of first furnishing labor or materials?
Correct Answer
B) Preliminary notice within 20 days
A preliminary notice must be served within 20 days of first furnishing labor or materials as a prerequisite to filing a mechanics lien.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
California Civil Code requires a preliminary notice to be served within 20 days of first furnishing labor or materials. This notice preserves the right to later file a mechanics lien if payment is not received. Without it, the claimant loses lien rights for work done before the notice was served.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: Notice to owner within 30 days
Option A is wrong on two counts: the document type is correctly 'preliminary notice' (not 'notice to owner'), and the 30-day window is too long — the law specifies 20 days.
Option C: Notice to owner within 15 days
Option C uses the wrong document name ('notice to owner' instead of 'preliminary notice') and the wrong timeframe (15 days instead of 20). Both elements are incorrect.
Option D: Preliminary notice within 10 days
Option D gets the document name right ('preliminary notice') but states an incorrect 10-day window. The statutory deadline is 20 days from first furnishing.
Memory Technique
Think '20/20 vision to see your lien rights clearly' — you have 20 days to serve the preliminary notice. The word 'preliminary' means it comes before the lien, just as 20 comes before 30 and 15 in numerical order.
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A contractor completes $25,000 of electrical work on March 15th. The property owner fails to pay. What is the deadline for the contractor to record a mechanics lien under California Civil Code?