You designed it.
You deserve to get paid for it.
Architects, engineers, and surveyors have different lien rules in every state. We know all of them — and we handle the paperwork so you don't have to.
Design-professional lien rules depend on WHO hired you.
Florida gives you automatic lien rights only if you're in privity with the owner. Hired by the GC instead? You're on the 45-day clock like every other subcontractor. Here's the map — and where we come in.
Under §713.03, design pros in privity with the owner (direct contract with owner, or sub-consultant under a prime architect who is in privity) are exempt from the 45-day NTO.
You MUST still record a Claim of Lien within 90 days of last service. We handle that.
If your contract is with the general contractor (or any party other than the owner or a prime design pro in privity), you fall under §713.06 — the standard subcontractor lien path.
You must serve a Florida Notice to Owner within 45 days of first furnishing services. Miss it and you lose the right to lien.
We send FL NTOs for design pros on 2026 statutory forms.
- CA / AZ / MI: 20-day preliminary notice
- WA: 10 days residential / 60 days commercial
- GA / LA: 30-day notice
- NY: No lien rights for design pros
- TX (§53.021): privity with owner required
- OH (§1311.02): commercial only, written owner contract, no filing deadline
We handle every state that grants design-pro lien rights.
What we handle for design professionals
Every step from the compliance research to the certified mail affidavit. You focus on the drawings — we chase the paperwork.
Preliminary Notices Where Required
CA 20-day, AZ 20-day, WA 60-day commercial, MI Notice of Furnishing, GA, LA — always on the current 2026 statutory form.
Claim of Lien Filing
We record within your state's deadline. In Florida that's 90 days from your last service. In every other lien state we track the specific window.
Notice of Non-Payment + Demand
Collection-focused document with sworn statement of account. Most disputes resolve at the demand stage — no litigation needed.
Certified Mail + Affidavit of Service
USPS Certified with Return Receipt. Court-admissible proof of service within 48 hours of delivery.
Owner + Lender Research
We pull county records and identify every party who must be served. You never chase the paperwork.
24/7 Online Portal + Archive
Every notice, affidavit, and Claim of Lien we've filed for you — retrievable anytime, from any device.
$20 – $30 per notice.
Notices from $20.
No contracts. No setup fees. No hidden charges. Postage billed at cost. Volume discounts for design firms sending 10+ notices per month.
Design-Professional FAQs
Common questions from architects, engineers, and surveyors before signing up.
Do design professionals actually have lien rights?
In most states, yes. Florida, California, Arizona, Texas, Washington, Georgia, Louisiana, Virginia, Colorado, Nevada, Michigan, and many others explicitly grant lien rights to architects, engineers, surveyors, and other design professionals. A few states (notably New York) do not. We tell you upfront whether your state qualifies.
Do I need to send a preliminary notice in Florida?
It depends on who hired you. Under Fla. Stat. §713.03, design professionals in privity with the owner (direct contract with the owner, or a sub-consultant working under a prime architect who has a direct contract with the owner) are EXEMPT from the 45-day Notice to Owner. But if your contract is with the general contractor rather than the owner, you fall under §713.06 and MUST serve a Florida NTO within 45 days of first furnishing — same rule as any other subcontractor. Either way, you must record a Claim of Lien within 90 days of last service to preserve the lien.
What if my project spans multiple states?
We handle all 50. If you're licensed in California and the client's project is in Arizona, we know both regimes and will send the AZ 20-day preliminary notice on time.
What if my contract is with the general contractor, not the owner?
This is the most common design-pro scenario we handle. In Florida you're on the 45-day NTO clock — §713.03 does not apply because you're not in privity with the owner. In California, Arizona, Michigan you're still on the standard 20-day preliminary notice. In Texas, lien rights require privity with the owner, so a GC-hired design pro may have no lien remedy at all — we'll tell you upfront. In Ohio, you need a written contract directly with the owner, so a GC-hired design pro has no lien rights in OH commercial either.
How much do you charge?
$20–$30 per notice plus certified mail postage. Volume discounts for design firms sending 10+ notices per month. No subscription, no setup fee — you only pay when you send a notice.
How fast can you send a notice?
Same day if you submit before 2pm ET. Rush service available for tight deadlines.
The information on this page is general in nature and not a substitute for legal advice. State lien statutes are amended periodically. All American Notice provides document-preparation and notice-mailing services and does not practice law. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for advice on your specific matter.