When a contractor isn’t paid for work done on someone’s property, he or she has legal recourse in the form of a mechanics lien. The contractor can use a lien to basically stake a claim to the property. That property then cannot be sold or refinanced without dealing with the debt asserted by that contractor. And if that contractor wants to pursue payment further, he or she can get an order from the court forcing a sale of the property and payment of the debt.

Liens aren’t just available to general contractors. Subcontractors and materials providers can pursue them,…
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