Contractor has refused to pay me and my team for over a month. They sent an unconditional lien release. After reading the document there was a contingency that said lien release would activate once payment is received. My problem is that it does not give a deadline for when payment must be received and also makes me wary of faulty checks. Thank you Levelset Team.
As long as the release states on its face that it only takes effect upon payment, you need not worry. Lien releases (in Florida, at least) don't typically have deadlines for payment. One deadline you do need to be mindful of, though, is the deadline for filing your lien. If you are not paid, you need to file a lien within 90 days of your last work on the site.