Are you have difficulties getting paid for contracting or construction work you’ve done? Has a project you were working on been abandoned half-way through leaving you without the money you’re due? Have you been refused payment for work that a general contractor has claimed was bad or incomplete?
It’s a common theme in the residential commercial industrial and oil and gas construction industries. Developers and contractors refusing to pay the crews they’ve hired for specialized tasks. Thankfully in Alberta your work is protected under the Alberta Builders’ Lien Act—so long as you file a builder’s lien.
What’s the most effective way to file a builder’s lien? Hire the Whitecourt pros at Verhaeghe Law Office. With years of experience working with construction companies contractors subcontractors and suppliers we’ve become one of the top law offices in the region. Don’t risk losing the money you’re owed. Contact us today!
What’s the Difference Between a Construction Lien a Mechanic’s Lien and a Builder’s Lien?
The short answer is that they’re all the same thing. Liens simply have a different name in a different area. In Nunavut Newfoundland Nova Scotia New Brunswick PEI Yukon and the Northwest Territories they are called mechanic’s liens. In Ontario they can be called either mechanic’s liens or construction liens. And in Alberta British Columbia and Manitoba they are called builder’s liens.
What is a Builder’s Lien?
A builder’s lien is a legal way to get paid for the work that you’ve done on a property. It basically states that you’ve contributed supplies or labor to a construction project that is fixed to a piece of land. So if you have built something and you are owed wages or payment for it you can file a lien to ensure payment. Same goes for if you’ve erected dug drilled excavated demolished constructed delivered supplies or materials to a construction project. In all these cases you can file a builder’s lien.
What About Oil and Gas Liens?
Since we’re based in Alberta Canada’s capital of oil and gas extraction oil and gas liens are popular with our clients. These function in much the same way as builder’s liens. However instead of filing your lien against a private developer it will be filed against the Minister of Energy. This is because most natural resource extraction rights in Canada are owned by the government.
Can I File a Builder’s Lien Myself?
Yes it is possible to file a builder’s lien independently. However it’s not advisable. Like many areas of law the legislation that governs builder’s liens is not straightforward. It’s easy to file a false claim and end up footing the legal fees for the company you’ve taken the lien against. That’s a double loss. Or you could improperly file your lien and lose your eligibility for the lien.
That’s why it’s always a good idea to hire a lawyer to help you do it properly. With years of experience in construction projects throughout Edmonton Whitecourt and Northern Alberta Verhaeghe Law Office has the skills to get you paid.