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how can i get paid, and am i out of time to get anything done?

i started working for a man that lives in California he hired me to work on two houses he owns in Oklahoma and its been since June he says he is going to pay and if i say anything about putting a lien or taking him to court then he starts saying you dont want to do that i will burry you guys and you will not win but he still wont pay we tried setting up payments and have only recieved 280 $ out of 2500.00 what can i still do

1 reply

Dec 4, 2019

Oklahoma allows parties who perform work and are unpaid to file liens to secure the amounts due. However, there are strict timing deadlines in order to qualify to file a valid and enforceable lien. For parties who contract directly with the property owner, an Oklahoma mechanics lien must be filed within 4 months from the date the claimant last furnished labor or material to the project. If work was last proved in June, that 4 month deadline has passed, and a lien is not likely an available option to recover payment. There are other avenues to potentially recover the amounts due. Oklahoma law provides specific deadlines by which contractors must be paid for their work. For prime contractors, payment must be made within 28 calendar days of billing, if not specifically modified by contract. Since the amount at issue is $2,500, small claims court may also be an option. Bringing a case in small claims court doesn't require the same time and expense of a "regular" lawsuit, and can result in a more speedy recovery. If regular communication has not worked to get the owner to pay, turning to legal channels may be the best option. Like everything, though, there are tradeoffs. Lawsuits (even small claims) can take time and energy. Deciding to go to court is a decision that should be weighed against the recovery. Good luck.

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