Friday, March 31, 2017

Exactly How A Construction Liens NY Can Affect Ownership Of Your Property

By Jose Stewart


The economy has slowly been moving in a direction that has allowed the building industry to pick back up. New homes are once again being built and improvements on existing homes are being contracted. Construction liens NY are a vital tool within this process. Though most people don't even know what these liens are, they play a crucial role in most building type projects. Because of this, it is important for homeowners and contractors to understand how they work.

In its simplest form, a lien under NY law is a signal to the world that the lienholder has an interest in some real or personal property. The most common are construction liens recorded by materialmen. Materialmen are generally regarded as people who improve property and aren't fully paid. Judgments can also act as liens as well as Uniform Commercial Code Financing Statements (UCC-1s), if they are properly recorded and filed in the right places.

It's quite obvious why mechanic's liens are beneficial for contractors and subcontractors. Contractors can ensure that they're paid by the homeowner, and subcontractors can ensure that they're paid even if the homeowner or general contractor fails to pay them. Homeowners, however, also benefit. They allow construction projects to go forward without an otherwise full upfront payment. This can be very beneficial for anyone having construction performed.

The best way to fight a mechanic's lien is to ensure one is never placed on a property. This can be done by obtaining releases of lien from contractors, suppliers and subcontractors before making any payment on work that will be performed. If partial payments must be made, then partial releases should be obtained.

For real property, construction liens have likewise been called as a mechanics lien, a materialman's lien or a supplier's lien in reference to people who furnished the materials. It is often called as a laborer's lien for people who provide the labor. And, in reference to those who design the enhancement, such as architects, it is otherwise known as a design professional's lien.

It is possible, however, for a contractor or subcontractor to file for relief from this automatic stay. This will allow them to foreclose on their lien, but this process must be done through the bankruptcy court. The claimant must show that just cause exists for this relief to be given, and this is sometimes a difficult process. Once again, an individual with a lawyer at their side has a much better chance of coming out of the mess successful. Obtaining the services of an experienced attorney is likely the only way a contractor will be paid after a debtor files bankruptcy.

Contractors and subcontractors also have protections against those who try to file bankruptcy to avoid paying their legitimate debts. If a homeowner is simply trying to get work done for free, the courts can sometimes help. When bankruptcy is filed, automatic stays are put onto any foreclosure process that arises or is already in process. This means that claimants cannot collect their owed money in a court of law.

So what if a party has a legal right to record a lien, should it do so? Like many areas of the law, it depends on the particular situation. However, liens provide for lawful methods of seizing property and give a party special rights greater than those of other claimants. For example, a properly recorded and priority lien can give a party the ability to prevent another from being able to seize assets subject to the lien and can ultimately protect that a party's ability to satisfy a judgment in its favor.




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