Under California Civil Code Section 8200, a contractor must serve a preliminary notice within how many days after first furnishing labor or materials to preserve mechanics lien rights?
Correct Answer
A) 20 days
California Civil Code Section 8200 requires contractors to serve preliminary notice within 20 days after first furnishing labor, services, equipment, or materials to preserve their right to claim a mechanics lien. This is a fundamental requirement for lien protection in California.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Civil Code § 8200 requires subcontractors, material suppliers, and most claimants (excluding direct contractors of the owner) to serve a 20-day preliminary notice after first furnishing labor, services, equipment, or materials. Missing this deadline limits lien rights to work performed in the 20 days prior to filing — or eliminates them entirely.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option B: 10 days
10 days is too short and does not appear as a preliminary notice deadline in § 8200. It may be confused with shorter notice periods under other code sections.
Option C: 45 days
45 days exceeds the statutory window. Waiting 45 days to serve the preliminary notice means the claimant loses lien rights for any work furnished in the first 25 days (45 − 20 = 25 days of unprotected work).
Option D: 30 days
30 days is a common distractor because many contract payment windows are 30 days. However, the statutory preliminary notice window under § 8200 is specifically 20 days, not 30.
Memory Technique
Remember '20 days = first on the clock.' The preliminary notice starts the lien-protection process. Think of it as 'Day 1 of work → 20 days to notify or lose protection.' Use the phrase: 'Twenty days to tell, or no right to compel.'
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