Unpaid in Florida? Send a Notice of Intent to Lien
When you provide labor, services, or materials in Florida and don’t get paid, you have legal rights to protect yourself. One of the most effective tools is the Notice of Intent to Lien. At Southron Firm, P.A., we help contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers use this process to enforce payment while protecting relationships and avoiding costly disputes.
If you’re owed money on a construction project, don’t wait. The deadlines under Florida lien law are short, and missing them can cost you your rights. Our attorneys are prepared to advocate for your right to payment so you recover what you’ve earned.
Unpaid work puts your business at risk—send your Notice of Intent to Lien letter now.
What Is a Notice of Intent to Lien?
A Notice of Intent to Lien is a formal letter sent to a property owner, contractor, or other responsible party before filing a construction lien. It serves as an official warning: payment is overdue, and a lien will be recorded against the property if the balance is not resolved.
Under Florida lien law, a Notice of Intent is not always required by statute. Still, it is often a valuable step for contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers who are seeking payment. Sending this notice shows professionalism, documents your intent to enforce your rights, and frequently results in payment without the need to move forward with a lien.
The benefits of sending a notice of intent to lien include:
- Puts the responsible party on notice that legal action will follow if payment is not made.
- Creates an opportunity for resolution before litigation or lien filing becomes necessary.
- Often accelerates payment and avoids the time and expense of court proceedings.
At Southron Firm, P.A., we prepare and serve Notices of Intent that are both legally compliant and strategically written to strengthen our clients’ lien rights while maximizing the likelihood of prompt payment.
Why a Notice of Intent Matters in Florida Construction Projects
Florida’s construction market moves quickly, and payment disputes are all too common. Whether you’re a contractor in Miami, a subcontractor in Orlando, or a supplier in Tampa, a Notice of Intent to Lien can be an effective way to protect your bottom line and avoid unnecessary conflict.
A notice of intent to lien provides several advantages, including:
- Preserves your right to payment
- Promotes resolution
- Supports future legal action
At Southron Firm, P.A., we have helped Florida clients recover thousands of dollars in unpaid invoices through this process. In many cases, the notice alone was enough to secure payment—without the time and expense of litigation.
Our Notice of Intent to Lien letters get you paid faster.
Florida Deadlines and Requirements
The deadlines under Florida lien law (Chapter 713, Florida Statutes) are strict. Missing even one deadline can eliminate your lien rights entirely. That’s why it is critical to act quickly and correctly.
Below are the key deadlines and requirements for Florida liens:
- Notice to Owner (NTO): Must be served within 45 days of first furnishing labor, services, or materials. (Fla. Stat. § 713.06)
- Claim of Lien: Must be recorded in the county’s public records within 90 days of last furnishing labor, services, or materials. (Fla. Stat. § 713.08)
- Enforcement of Lien: A lien must generally be enforced within 1 year from the date it is recorded, unless the property owner shortens the deadline by filing a notice of contest. (Fla. Stat. § 713.22)
While Florida law does not always require a Notice of Intent to Lien, sending one before these deadlines often strengthens your position. It demonstrates seriousness, encourages prompt resolution, and documents your effort to resolve the matter in good faith.
At Southron Firm, P.A., we prepare and serve lien-related notices in full compliance with Florida Statutes, protecting your rights and minimizing the risk of technical mistakes that could jeopardize your claim.
How to Draft and Send a Notice of Intent to Lien
It can be tempting to use a generic template from the internet, but Florida lien law is highly technical. A small mistake—such as using the wrong legal description or missing a required detail—can make the notice ineffective and cost you your right to payment.
A valid Notice of Intent to Lien typically must include:
- Your information – name, address, and role in the project.
- Property details – the correct legal description and project location.
- Amount owed – the exact unpaid balance, supported by invoices or contracts.
- Statement of intent – clear language that a lien will be filed if payment is not received.
The notice must also be sent in a way that can be legally verified, such as certified mail or another form of delivery recognized under Chapter 713, Florida Statutes.
Even experienced contractors and suppliers can run into problems when preparing or serving lien-related documents, and one mistake can cost you your rights under Florida law. Working with an attorney ensures accuracy and compliance with all statutory requirements, while also giving you the benefit of strategic drafting that applies real pressure on the responsible party to pay.
At Southron Firm, P.A., we also handle the service and verification process, removing any doubt about whether the notice was properly delivered. Most importantly, our results-driven approach often leads to payment shortly after the notice is sent—without the need to move forward with a lien or litigation.
One letter can get you paid—let us prepare it for you.
What Happens After Sending a Notice of Intent?
Once a Notice of Intent to Lien is received, the property owner or contractor must decide how to respond.
Common outcomes include:
- Payment is made – The most frequent result, since most owners prefer to avoid a lien being recorded.
- The notice is ignored – This leaves you with no choice but to move forward with filing a lien.
- The claim is disputed – The owner or contractor may challenge the amount or validity of the debt, which can lead to negotiation or, if necessary, court action.
In Florida, many disputes are resolved quickly once a notice is served because no owner wants their property tied up in a lien. When payment still doesn’t come, our construction law attorneys are prepared to act—filing the lien, enforcing your rights, and pursuing every available legal remedy to recover the money you’ve earned.
How Our Construction Attorneys Can Help You
At Southron Firm, P.A., we focus on protecting the payment rights of Florida contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers. With years of experience handling Notice of Intent to Lien matters under Florida lien law, our lien attorneys deliver strategies that get results.
Our services include:
- Careful evaluation of your situation to confirm that lien rights exist and determine the best course of action.
- Drafting and serving notice of intent to lien letters that fully comply with Florida Statutes and maximize pressure on the responsible party.
- Aggressive enforcement of liens in court when payment does not come voluntarily.
- Strategic negotiation and resolution, helping you recover what you’re owed without lengthy disputes.
Clients across Florida choose us because we explain the process in plain language, act quickly, and fight to secure the money they’ve earned. Our goal is simple: protect your rights and get you paid.
If you are owed money on a construction project, time is not on your side. Florida lien deadlines are short, and every day you wait could cost you. At Southron Firm, P.A., we prepare and deliver notice of intent to lien letters that get results. Whether you are a contractor, subcontractor, or supplier, our attorneys are here to protect your lien rights in Florida.
Unpaid work shouldn’t cost you—our attorneys are ready to help.