20 Day Notice Form – Fill Out and Use This PDF

A 20 Day Preliminary Notice is required in California under Civil Code sections 3097 and 3098. Subcontractors, material suppliers, and equipment lessors must serve this notice within 20 days of first furnishing labor, services, or materials on a private construction project. This document preserves your right to record a mechanics' lien if payment is withheld. Fill out your California 20 Day Notice form below.

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20 Day Notice Form PDF Details

The California 20 Day Preliminary Notice protects subcontractors, material suppliers, and laborers from nonpayment on construction projects. Under Civil Code 3097, any party furnishing labor or materials without a direct owner contract must serve this notice to preserve mechanics' lien rights on private works.

The notice must be served by certified mail or personal delivery to the property owner, the direct contractor, and the construction lender. It identifies the claimant, the job site, a description of the work, and the estimated contract value.

Question	Answer
Form Name	20 Day Notice Form
Form Length	1 pages
Fillable?	No
Fillable fields	0
Avg. time to fill out	15 sec
Other names	california preliminary notice form 2021, california preliminary notice form 2021 pdf, 20 day preliminary notice california form, california 20 day notice form

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CALIFORNIA PRELIMINARY 20-DAY NOTICE

THIS IS NOT A LIEN. THIS NOTICE IS GIVEN PURSUANT TO CIVIL CODE SECTIONS 3097, 3098 AND 3259.5.

NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER

IF BILLS ARE NOT PAID IN FULL FOR THE LABOR, SERVICES, EQUIPMENT, OR MATERIALS FURNISHED OR TO BE FURNISHED, A MECHANICS= LIEN LEADING TO THE LOSS, THROUGH COURT FORECLOSURE PROCEEDINGS, OF ALL OR PART OF YOUR PROPERTY BEING SO IMPROVED MAY BE PLACED AGAINST THE PROPERTY EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE PAID YOUR CONTRACTOR IN FULL. YOU MAY WISH TO PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST THIS CONSEQUENCE BY (1) REQUIRING YOUR CONTRACTOR TO FURNISH A SIGNED RELEASE BY THE PERSON OR FIRM GIVING YOU THIS NOTICE BEFORE MAKING PAYMENT TO YOUR CONTRACTOR OR (2) ANY OTHER METHOD OR DEVICE THAT IS APPROPRIATE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

OTHER THAN RESIDENTIAL HOMEOWNERS OF DWELLINGS CONTAINING FEWER THAN FIVE UNITS, PRIVATE PROJECT OWNERS MUST NOTIFY THE ORIGINAL CONTRACTOR AND ANY LIEN CLAIMANT WHO HAS PROVIDED THE OWNER WITH A PRELIMINARY 20 DAY LIEN NOTICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 3097 OF THE CIVIL CODE THAT A NOTICE OF COMPLETION OR NOTICE OF CESSATION HAS BEEN RECORDED WITHIN 10 DAYS OF ITS RECORDATION. NOTICE SHALL BE BY REGISTERED MAIL, CERTIFIED MAIL, OR FIRST CLASS MAIL, EVIDENCED BY A CERTIFICATE OF MAILING. FAILURE TO NOTIFY WILL EXTEND THE DEADLINES TO RECORD A LIEN.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO THE FOLLOWING PERSONS:

					__________________________________________
OWNER	__________________________________________				(name)
OR REPUTED	(name)
OWNER\	__________________________________________			SUB	__________________________________________
PUBLIC ENTITY	(address)			CONTRACTOR	(address)
	__________________________________________				__________________________________________
	(city)	(state)	(zip)		(city)	(state)	(zip)

					__________________________________________
ORIGINAL	__________________________________________				(name)
CONTRACTOR	(name)			LEASE HOLD
OR REPUTED	__________________________________________			OWNER OR	__________________________________________
CONTRACTOR	(address)			UNION TRUST	(address)
	__________________________________________			FUND	__________________________________________
	(city)	(state)	(zip)		(city)	(state)	(zip)

CONSTRUCTION	__________________________________________
CONSTRUCTION	(name)			ESTIMATED PRICE OF THE LABOR, SERVICES, EQUIPMENT OR
LENDER OR	__________________________________________				MATERIALS DESCRIBED HEREON.
REPUTED	__________________________________________				MATERIALS DESCRIBED HEREON.
REPUTED	(address)
CONSTRUCTION	(address)				$______________________
LENDER	__________________________________________				$______________________
LENDER	(city)	(state)	(zip)
	(city)	(state)	(zip)

THAT THE FOLLOWING PERSON OR FIRM HAS FURNISHED OR WILL FURNISH LABOR, SERVICES, EQUIPMENT OR MATERIAL OF THE FOLLOW DESCRIPTION IS:

	__________________________________________		________________________________________________
INDIVIDUAL	(name)			(description of material, labor, services
OR	__________________________________________
FIRM	(address)		________________________________________________
PROVIDING	__________________________________________			(address of building, structure, work or improvement)
LABOR,	(city)	(state) (zip)
SERVICES,			___________________________________________
EQUIPMENT	by: _______________________________________			(city)	(state)	(zip)
OR MATERIALS	(signature)
	_____________________________________
	(title)	(date)

PROOF OF SERVICE AFFIDAVIT

I, _________________________ declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the state of California that I served copies of the above PRELIMINARY

NOTICE (check appropriate box):

a.	By personally delivering copies to _______________________ (Names) at				(Address) on ____________ (Date) at
___.m. (Time); OR
b.	By First Class, Certified or Registered Mail service, postage prepaid, addressed to each of the parties at the addresses shown above on
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
	Signed on __________	at __________	, California.	______________________________________________________
				(Signature of person mailing service)

ATTACH RECEIPTS OF CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED MAIL WHEN RETURNED

How to Edit 20 Day Notice Form Online for Free

The California 20 Day Preliminary Notice is a pre-lien document that protects contractors and suppliers on construction projects. You must serve it before you can record a mechanics' lien. The steps below show how to complete each section of the form.

Who Must File the 20 Day Notice

Under Civil Code 3097, the following parties must serve a 20 Day Notice to protect their lien rights on private construction projects:

Subcontractors and sub-subcontractors
Material suppliers and equipment lessors
Licensed design professionals without a direct owner contract

If you are a subcontractor or supplier, filing is mandatory to preserve your right to payment. See the related California Preliminary Notice for Private Works for further details on notice requirements.

Deadline for Serving the Notice

Serve the 20 Day Notice within 20 days of first providing labor, services, or materials on the project. A late notice is still valid, but your lien rights will only cover work performed in the 20-day period before the notice was served. Early filing is always recommended to protect your full contract amount.

Filling Out the Form

Complete each section accurately and keep a copy before serving:

Step 1: Claimant and owner information. Enter your name, address, and contact details as the party furnishing work or materials. Then provide the name and address of the property owner, the direct contractor, and the construction lender if one is involved in the project.

Simple tips to fill out 20 day notice part 1

Step 2: Work description and job site. Describe the labor, services, equipment, or materials you are providing. Include the estimated contract value. Then enter the street address or legal description of the job site in California where the work is performed.

Step 3: Proof of Service Affidavit. After completing the notice, serve it by first-class certified or registered mail, or by personal delivery. Sign the Proof of Service section to confirm delivery. Keep your return receipt as evidence of service.

Step 4: Download and save. Click "Done" to finalize your California 20 Day Notice. Download the completed PDF or email it directly from FormsPal. Your form is saved securely in your account for future reference.

Related California Construction Forms

You may need these additional forms when working on a California construction project: