In 2026, Illinois contractors are judged on two things: how well they build and how well their contract clauses protect their payment. When a project goes sideways, owners, [...]
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Subcontractors often feel the cash-flow squeeze first when owners slow pay or reject invoices. Illinois law gives you more protection than many realize, but those rights only work [...]
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How many profitable projects in your pipeline would it take to offset one major job that turns into a lawsuit over delays, disputed change orders, or unpaid invoices? A [...]
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Introduction Back in July 30, 2015, then Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner signed H.B. 2635 into law. This bill amended the Illinois Mechanics Lien Act (770 ILCS 60/1 et seq.) and [...]
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Contractors are pricing work with volatile material costs, tight labor markets, and owners who expect aggressive schedules and lean retainage. The three issues most likely to harm [...]
read moreIllinois law sets out specific requirements and limits on what can and cannot be waived. A waiver that is signed too early, or that gives up rights for unearned amounts, can [...]
read moreWorking on a public project in Illinois brings high stakes—and sometimes, even higher payment risks. Unlike private jobs, where mechanics lien provide a direct line to [...]
read moreFrom recording the lien to enforcing it through foreclosure, every step is governed by strict procedures under the Illinois Mechanics Lien Act. Failing to follow these steps [...]
read morePoor documentation and procedural errors rank among the leading causes of construction disputes—costing businesses $52.6 million on average in global dispute value. One of the [...]
read moreIntroduction Working on construction projects can be challenging to ensure a smooth process from the negotiating of the terms and scope of work to managing the trades to project [...]
read moreOverview Illinois House Bill 0024, enacted by the 104th General Assembly in spring 2025 and signed into law by Governor J.B. Pritzker, amends the Home Repair and Remodeling Act [...]
read moreIntroduction This is our third installment in our series on Illinois Mechanics Liens. Now that we have looked at what a lien claim is, the parties entitled to file a lien claim [...]
read moreA mechanics lien is the quickest way to turn an unpaid invoice into a secured interest in the property you improved—but in Illinois, the claim is only as strong as your calendar [...]
read moreWhen a claimant records a mechanics lien Illinois businesses did not expect, the title to the project site freezes. Lenders hesitate, pay applications stop, and closings stall. [...]
read moreUnpaid invoices do more than slow a firm’s books—they stall payroll, erode bonding capacity, and can even sink a bid schedule. Industry surveys show traditional collection [...]
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