California Preliminary Notice - Private Works

Make sure you get paid for work, equipment or materials supplied for a public works construction project with this California 20-Day Stop Payment Notice form.

What is a stop payment notice?

This is a legal notice to the public entity, direct contractor, and construction lender. The notice instructs the party responsible for payment to withhold sufficient funds to pay the outstanding amounts still owing to the contractor for labor, services, and materials supplied to the construction project.

Applicable Law

The Notice is made in accordance with Civil Code Sections 8044 and 9350.

Format and Usage of Template

This is a reusable lien form in MS Word format. Buy the form once, download it, use it as often as you require. The form is intended for use only in the State of California.

Before you furnish workers, materials or equipment to a public works construction project, serve this Preliminary Notice for California contractors, subtrades and suppliers.

• The Notice conforms to the requirements of California Civil Code Sec. 8034(b), 8102, and 9300 et seq.
• The Notice should be served on the public entity, the direct contractor, any first tier subcontractor, and the construction lender (if any).
• A Proof of Service Declaration is included with the Notice.
• This is a reusable lien form. Buy it, download and save it, then fill it in and print it each time you need to send a Preliminary Notice.
• For use only in the State of California.

Release all or part of a Stop Payment Notice on a public works project after you've been paid, with this downloadable form for California contractors.

• This form can be used for either a partial or a full release of a stop payment notice for public works.
• The form is compliant with Civil Code Sec. 9350. It includes the following required portions:
  • Verification Statement, and
  • Proof of Service Declaration.
• Available in MS Word format, customizable and reusable.
• For use only in the State of California.