An Arizona preliminary notice (or pre-lien) is an absolute requirement to secure mechanics lien rights. The notice should be sent within the first 20 days of furnishing labor or materials to secure the full protection of lien rights, However, the notice can still be sent later, but it will only cover labor and materials provided in the 20 days preceding the notice, and all provided thereafter. So if the project is still ongoing, it's better to send a late notice rather than no notice at all. If your work has been completed longer than 20 days ago, then the opportunity to secure your lien rights has passed.
If you haven't been paid, you can still pursue those amounts through a lawsuit against the party who hired you for breach of contract or unjust enrichment. Also, if the claim is for less than $3,500, in Arizona you can file the suit in small claims court.
Here are some other resources that may prove useful:
NOTE. The information presented here is for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and should not be construed nor relied upon as such. Furthermore, this posting does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice, seek the counsel of a licensed, local attorney.See More...See More...