Under A.R.S. 33-981, a contractor must file a preliminary 20-day notice for lien rights. If materials are first delivered on March 15th and labor begins March 20th, what is the deadline to serve the preliminary notice?
Correct Answer
C) April 4th
The preliminary notice must be served within 20 days of first furnishing labor or materials. Since materials were delivered first on March 15th, the deadline is April 4th (20 days later).
Why This Is the Correct Answer
The 20-day clock starts from the date labor or materials are FIRST furnished, whichever occurs earlier. Materials were delivered March 15th — five days before labor began — so the triggering date is March 15th. Adding 20 calendar days: March 15 + 20 = April 4th. That is the statutory deadline.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: March 25th
March 25th is only 10 days after March 15th. This would represent half the allowed period and does not reflect the 20-day statutory requirement under A.R.S. 33-981.
Option B: April 15th
April 15th is 31 days after March 15th, exceeding the 20-day window. It may appear attractive if someone mistakenly counts from the labor start date (March 20 + 26 days), but neither calculation produces a valid legal deadline.
Option D: April 9th
April 9th is 25 days after March 15th, or 20 days after the labor start of March 20th. This is a classic trap: candidates who count from the labor start rather than the material delivery date will arrive at this incorrect answer.
Memory Technique
Think 'FIRST furnishing fires the clock.' Materials hit the site first on March 15 — that day pulls the trigger. Count exactly 20 days forward: March 15 → April 4.
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