If there is contract for over $500,000 that exists between the owner and the GC, can the owner opt not to hold retention so owner would not have to open an escrow account for retention? If so, can the GC hold retention on his subcontractors? If the GC can hold retention on his subcontractors, does that mean the GC is required to open a single escrow account as an "umbrella" for all of the subcontractors together? Or would the GC have to open a separate escrow account for each individual subcontractor? If the owner does not hold retention on the contract over $500,000, should the GC then not hold retention since, technically, the GC would be paid all monies owed to the GC since the owner did not hold retention on the GC? These laws regarding retention and escrow accounts are really confusing to me. Thank you in advance for your help.