If you were hired by the property owner you are not required to serve a pre-lien notice letter before filing a lien. Click here to File A Lien. All other contractors and suppliers must serve a pre-lien notice letter before filing a lien. If you were hired by a subcontractor on a commercial project, then you actually have to serve two pre-lien notice letters before you can file the lien; however, the two letters can be combined into one letter if sent by the 15th of the second month after providing the labor or materials to the project.
There is very specific statutory language which must be included in a pre-lien notice letter in order to compel the owner to withhold funds from the general contractor and to preserve your lien rights. Click here to Serve A Pre-Lien Notice Letter.