Which parties do NOT need to send a Preliminary 20 Day Notice?

In construction projects, a Preliminary 20 Day Notice serves to inform property owners and general contractors of parties involved in the project who may be entitled to file a lien if they are not paid for their services or materials. The purpose of this notice is to protect the rights of subcontractors, laborers, and material suppliers so they can ensure their claims are recognized.

General contractors and architects typically do not need to send a Preliminary 20 Day Notice because they are already in a direct contractual relationship with the owner of the project, and their rights to payment are established through this contract. Since they have a primary role in the project, their interests are inherently protected without needing to file such notices. This differs from subcontractors, laborers, and material suppliers, who may not have direct contracts with the property owner and thus require the notice to safeguard their lien rights.

The considerations for other groups, such as design professionals, laborers, and material suppliers, highlight the necessity of the notice for those who might not have direct contracts with the property owner. On the other hand, the relationships held by general contractors and architects provide them with the necessary legal standing without needing to issue a Preliminary 20 Day Notice. Therefore, the correct group that does not need to send