Tucson Contractor Not Getting Paid? Arizona Lien Clocks and Funding

You finished the Tucson job and the check never came. Arizona lien rights hinge on a preliminary 20-day notice and short recording windows, so the calendar matters as much as the invoice.

This guide covers Arizona lien clocks for Tucson jobs, where Pima County liens get recorded, and how Darkwell funding can help carry a claim of $10,000 or more. For the full state picture, see the Arizona contractor not paid pillar.

Owed $10,000 or more on a Tucson job? Request a free claim review.

Pima County recorder and court

• Pima County Recorder. Arizona liens are recorded with the county recorder where the property sits. The Pima County Recorder’s main downtown office handles document research and recording at 240 N Stone Avenue, Tucson (Pima County Recorder).
• Arizona Superior Court in Pima County. Lien foreclosure and larger contract suits go to superior court. The Pima County court is at 110 West Congress Street, Tucson (sc.pima.gov).

Arizona lien clocks (Tucson projects)

• Preliminary 20-day notice. Except for people performing actual labor for wages, claimants must serve it as a condition of lien validity, no later than 20 days after first furnishing to the jobsite. A late notice generally covers only work furnished from 20 days before it was given (A.R.S. § 33-992.01).
• Record the notice and claim of lien. Record it with the county recorder of the county where the property sits, within 120 days after completion, or within 60 days after a notice of completion is recorded (A.R.S. § 33-993).
• Sue within six months. The lien lapses six months after recording unless an enforcement action is brought and a notice of pendency is recorded (A.R.S. § 33-998).

Count from the right date

Arizona’s recording window runs from completion, or from a recorded notice of completion. Your Arizona attorney confirms which date controls and whether your preliminary notice reaches back far enough to cover the unpaid work.

When funding helps

If the claim is real, the other side is stalling, and counsel costs are the bottleneck, funding can help carry attorney and case costs while your attorney runs the case.

How Darkwell helps

Legal costs are often what stops a good claim. Darkwell helps carry them. On a Tucson unpaid invoice, that can mean funding the lien foreclosure or the contract suit.

• We help carry the cost. Darkwell funding helps pay for the case, so your operating cash stays in your business.
• We bring attorneys we know. Darkwell has a network of attorneys we know. They help keep costs down while still pursuing the claim. The claim moves forward with an attorney from our network, or your current attorney where it fits.
• Your attorney handles the law. We don’t run your case or choose your legal strategy. Your attorney does that.
• You make a clear decision. The goal is to take the stress out of the fight and make the smart financial decision about your claim.

What to send for a claim review

• Contract or subcontract, and change orders
• Invoices, pay applications, and payment history
• Job address and the owner, GC, or customer name
• Photos, daily logs, and delivery tickets
• Any notices, lien filings, or bond information
• Your attorney’s contact, if you have one
• Your preliminary 20-day notice and proof of service

How we get paid

Our fee comes out of the recovery, not your pocket. If there’s no recovery, you don’t repay our funding. Your written agreement sets the exact terms.

Where we work and claim size

We fund business claims, and individual and consumer claims in some states, reviewed state by state where the law allows. We confirm your state during review. See where Darkwell funds claims.

In select cases, we may purchase a business claim outright, where state law allows.

We review claims of $10,000 or more, subject to review and approval by our team.

Darkwell does not buy or collect consumer debt.

Common questions

Where do I record a lien on a Tucson job? With the county recorder of the county where the property sits, under A.R.S. § 33-993. For Pima County property, that is the Pima County Recorder.

How long do I have to sue on an Arizona lien? The lien lapses six months after recording unless an enforcement action is brought and a notice of pendency is recorded, under A.R.S. § 33-998.

Does Darkwell control my case? No. Your attorney handles the case and the legal strategy. Darkwell provides funding.

Sources

• A.R.S. § 33-992.01
• A.R.S. § 33-993
• A.R.S. § 33-998
• Pima County Recorder
• Arizona Superior Court in Pima County
• Arizona Contractor Not Paid

Tucson job still unpaid at $10,000 or more? Request a free claim review. Send what you have, and you’ll get a response from our team.

Related reading: Arizona Contractor Not Paid · Phoenix Contractor Not Getting Paid · Contractor Not Getting Paid · Where We Fund