LIEN LAWS BY STATE
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FLORIDA STATUTES
CHAPTER 713 LIENS, GENERALLY

PART I CONSTRUCTION LIENS

713.001 Short Title of Part
713.01 Definitions
713.02 Types of Lienors and Exemptions
713.03 Liens for Professional Services
713.04 Subdivision Improvements
713.05 Liens of Persons in Privity
713.06 Liens of Persons Not in Privity; Proper Payments
713.07 Priority of Liens
713.08 Claim of Lien
713.09 Single Claim of Lien
713.10 Extent of Liens
713.11 Liens for Improving Land in Which the Contracting Party has no Interest
713.12 Liens for Improving Real Property Under Contract with Husband or Wife on Property of the Other or of Both
713.13 Notice of Commencement
713.135 Notice of Commencement and Applicability of Lien
713.14 Application of Money to Materials Account
713.15 Repossession of Materials Not Used
713.16 Demand for Copy of Contract and Statements of Account; Form
713.165 Request for List of Subcontractors and Suppliers
713.17 Materials Not Attachable for Debts of Purchaser
713.18 Manner of Serving Notices and Other Instruments
713.19 Assignment of Lien
713.20 Waiver or Release of Liens
713.21 Discharge of Lien
713.22 Duration of Lien
713.23 Payment Bond
713.24 Transfer of Liens to Security
713.245 Conditional Payment Bond
713.25 Applicability of Ch. 65-456
713.26 Redemption and Sale
713.27 Interplead
713.28 Judgments in Case of Failure to Establish Liens; Personal and Deficiency Judgments or Decrees
713.29 Attorney’s Fees
713.30 Other Actions Not Barred
713.31 Remedies in Case of Fraud or Collusion
713.32 Insurance Proceeds Liable for Demands
713.33 Disbursing Agent and Others May Rely on Owner’s Notices
713.345 Moneys Received for Real Property Improvements; Penalty for Misapplication
713.346 Payment on Construction Contracts
713.3471 Lender Responsibilities With Construction Loans
713.35 Making or Furnishing False Statement
713.36 Effective Date
713.37 Rule of Construction

FLORIDA STATUTES

CHAPTER 713 LIENS, GENERALLY

PART I CONSTRUCTION LIENS

713.001 Short Title of Part

This part may be cited as the Construction Lien Law.

713.01 Definitions

As used in this part, the term:
(1) Architect means a person or firm that is authorized to practice architecture pursuant to chapter 481 or a general contractor who provides architectural services under a design-build contract authorized by s. 481.229(3).
(2) Claim of lien means the claim recorded as provided in s. 713.08.
(3) Clerk’s office means the office of the clerk of the circuit court of the county in which the real property is located.
(4) Commencement of the improvement means the time of filing for record of the notice of commencement provided in s. 713.13.
(5) Contract means an agreement for improving real property, written or unwritten, express or implied, and includes extras or change orders.
(6) Contract price means the amount agreed upon by the contracting parties for performing all labor and services and furnishing all materials covered by their contract and must be increased or diminished by the price of extras or change orders, or by any amounts attributable to changes in the scope of the work or defects in workmanship or materials or any other breaches of the contract; but no penalty or liquidated damages between the owner and a contractor diminishes the contract price as to any other lienor. If no price is agreed upon by the contracting parties, this term means the value of all labor, services, or materials covered by their contract, with any increases and diminutions, as provided in this subsection. Allowance items are a part of the contract when accepted by the owner.
(7) Contractor means a person other than a materialman or laborer who enters into a contract with the owner of real property for improving it, or who takes over from a contractor as so defined the entire remaining work under such contract. The term contractor includes an architect, landscape architect, or engineer who improves real property pursuant to a design-build contract authorized by s. 489.103(16).
(8) Direct contract means a contract between the owner and any other person.
(9) Engineer means a person or firm that is authorized to practice engineering pursuant to chapter 471 or a general contractor who provides engineering services under a design-build contract authorized by s. 471.003(2)(j).
(10) Extras or change orders means labor, services, or materials for improving real property authorized by the owner and added to or deleted from labor, services, or materials covered by a previous contract between the same parties.
(11) Furnish materials means supply materials which are incorporated in the improvement including normal wastage in construction operations; or specially fabricated materials for incorporation in the improvement, not including any design work, submittals, or the like preliminary to actual fabrication of the materials; or supply materials used for the construction and not remaining in the improvement, subject to diminution by the salvage value of such materials; and includes supplying tools, appliances, or machinery used on the particular improvement to the extent of the reasonable rental value for the period of actual use (not determinable by the contract for rental unless the owner is a party thereto), but does not include supplying handtools. The delivery of materials to the site of the improvement is prima facie evidence of incorporation of such materials in the improvement.
(12) Improve means build, erect, place, make, alter, remove, repair, or demolish any improvement over, upon, connected with, or beneath the surface of real property, or excavate any land, or furnish materials for any of these purposes, or perform any labor or services upon the improvements, including the furnishing of carpet or rugs or appliances that are permanently affixed to the real property and final construction cleanup to prepare a structure for occupancy; or perform any labor or services or furnish any materials in grading, seeding, sodding, or planting for landscaping purposes, including the furnishing of trees, shrubs, bushes, or plants that are planted on the real property, or in equipping any improvement with fixtures or permanent apparatus.
(13) Improvement means any building, structure, construction, demolition, excavation, landscaping, or any part thereof existing, built, erected, placed, made, or done on land or other real property for its permanent benefit.
(14) Laborer means any person other than an architect, landscape architect, engineer, surveyor and mapper, and the like who, under properly authorized contract, personally performs on the site of the improvement labor or services for improving real property and does not furnish materials or labor service of others.
(15) Lender means any person who loans money to an owner for construction of an improvement to real property, who secures that loan by recording a mortgage on the real property, and who periodically disburses portions of the proceeds of that loan for the payment of the improvement.
(16) Lienor means a person who is:

(a) A contractor;
(b) A subcontractor;
(c) A sub-subcontractor;
(d) A laborer;
(e) A materialman who contracts with the owner, a contractor, a subcontractor, or a sub-subcontractor; or
(f) A professional lienor under s. 713.03; and who has a lien or prospective lien upon real property under this part, and includes his successor in interest. No other person may have a lien under this part.

(17) Lienor giving notice means any lienor, except a contractor, who has duly and timely served a notice to the owner and, if required, to the contractor and subcontractor, as provided in s. 713.06(2).
(18) Materialman means any person who furnishes materials under contract to the owner, contractor, subcontractor, or sub-subcontractor on the site of the improvement or for direct delivery to the site of the improvement or, for specially fabricated materials, off the site of the improvement for the particular improvement, and who performs no labor in the installation thereof.
(19) Notice by lienor means the notice to owner served as provided in s. 713.06(2).
(20) Notice of commencement means the notice recorded as provided in s. 713.13.
(21) Owner means a person who is the owner of any legal or equitable interest in real property, which interest can be sold by legal process, and who enters into a contract for the improvement of the real property. The term includes a condominium association pursuant to chapter 718 as to improvements made to association property or common elements. The term does not include any political subdivision, agency, or department of the state, a municipality, or other governmental entity.
(22) Perform or furnish when used in connection with the words labor or services or materials means performance or furnishing by the lienor or by another for him.
(23) Post or posting means placing the document referred to on the site of the improvement in a conspicuous place at the front of the site and in a manner that protects the document from the weather.
(24) Real property means the land that is improved and the improvements thereon, including fixtures, except any such property owned by the state or any county, municipality, school board, or governmental agency, commission, or political subdivision.
(25) Site of the improvement means the real property which is being improved and on which labor or services are performed or materials furnished in furtherance of the operations of improving such real property. In cases of removal, without demolition and under contract, of an improvement from one lot, parcel, or tract of land to another, this term means the real property to which the improvement is removed.
(26) Subcontractor means a person other than a materialman or laborer who enters into a contract with a contractor for the performance of any part of such contractor’s contract.
(27) Sub-subcontractor means a person other than a materialman or laborer who enters into a contract with a subcontractor for the performance of any part of such subcontractor’s contract.

713.02 Types of Lienors and Exemptions

(1) Persons performing the services described in s. 713.03 shall have rights to a lien on real property as provided in that section.
(2) Persons performing services or furnishing materials for subdivision improvements as described in s. 713.04 shall have rights to a lien on real property as provided in that section.
(3) Persons who are in privity with an owner and who perform labor or services or furnish materials constituting an improvement or part thereof shall have rights to a lien on real property as provided in s. 713.05.
(4) Persons who are not in privity with an owner and who perform labor or services or furnish materials constituting a part of an improvement under the direct contract of another person shall have rights to a lien on real property as provided in s. 713.06.
(5) Any improvement for which the direct contract price is $2,500 or less shall be exempt from all other provisions of this part except the provisions of s. 713.05.
(6) In any direct contract the owner may require the contractor to furnish a payment bond as provided in s. 713.23, and upon receipt of the bond the owner shall be exempt from the other provisions of this part as to that direct contract, but this does not exempt the owner from the lien of the contractor who furnishes the bond. If the bond is provided, it shall secure all liens subsequently accruing under this part as provided in s. 713.23.
(7) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, no lien shall exist in favor of any contractor, subcontractor, or sub-subcontractor unless such contractor, subcontractor, or sub-subcontractor is licensed as a contractor pursuant to the laws of the jurisdiction within which he is doing business.

713.03 Liens for Professional Services

(1) Any person who performs services as architect, landscape architect, interior designer, engineer, or surveyor and mapper, subject to compliance with and the limitations imposed by this part, has a lien on the real property improved for any money that is owing to him for his services used in connection with improving the real property or for his services in supervising any portion of the work of improving the real property, rendered in accordance with his contract and with the direct contract.
(2) Any architect, landscape architect, interior designer, engineer, or surveyor and mapper who has a direct contract and who in the practice of his profession shall perform services, by himself or others, in connection with a specific parcel of real property and subject to said compliances and limitations, shall have a lien upon such real property for the money owing to him for his professional services, regardless of whether such real property is actually improved.
(3) No liens under this section shall be acquired until a claim of lien is recorded. No lienor under this section shall be required to serve a notice to owner as provided in s. 713.06(2) or an affidavit concerning unpaid lienors as provided in s. 713.06(3).

713.04 Subdivision Improvements

(1) Any lienor who, regardless of privity, performs services or furnishes material to real property for the purpose of making it suitable as the site for the construction of an improvement or improvements shall be entitled to a lien on the real property for any money that is owed to him for his services or materials furnished in accordance with his contract and the direct contract. The total amount of liens allowed under this section shall not exceed the amount of the direct contract under which the lienor furnishes labor, materials, or services. The work of making real property suitable as the site of an improvement shall include but shall not be limited to the grading, leveling, excavating, and filling of land, including the furnishing of fill soil; the grading and paving of streets, curbs, and sidewalks; the construction of ditches and other area drainage facilities; the laying of pipes and conduits for water, gas, electric, sewage, and drainage purposes; and the construction of canals and shall also include the altering, repairing, and redoing of all these things. When the services or materials are placed on land dedicated to public use and are furnished under contract with the owner of the abutting land, the cost of the services and materials, if unpaid, may be the basis for a lien upon the abutting land. When the services or materials are placed upon land under contract with the owner of the land who subsequently dedicates parts of the land to public use, the person furnishing the services or materials placed upon the dedicated land shall be entitled to a lien upon the land abutting the dedicated land for the unpaid cost of the services and materials placed upon the dedicated land, or in the case of improvements that serve or benefit real property that is divided by the improvements, to a lien upon each abutting part for the equitable part of the full amount due and owing. If the part of the cost to be borne by each parcel of the land subject to the same lien is not specified in the contract, it shall be prorated equitably among the parcels served or benefited. No lien under this section shall be acquired until a claim of lien is recorded. No notice of commencement shall be filed for liens under this section. No lienor shall be required to serve a notice to owner for liens under this section.
(2) If a lienor under this section who is not in privity with the owner serves a notice on the owner in accordance with the provisions of s. 713.06(2), payment of lienors by the owner under this section shall be governed by s. 713.06(3)(c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), and (4).
(3) The owner shall not pay any money on account of a direct contract before actual furnishing of labor and services or materials for subdivision improvements. The payment shall not qualify as a proper payment under this section.

713.05 Liens of Persons in Privity

A materialman or laborer, either of whom is in privity with the owner, or a contractor who complies with the provisions of this part shall, subject to the limitations thereof, have a lien on the real property improved for any money that is owed to him for labor, services, materials, or other items required by, or furnished in accordance with, the direct contract and for unpaid finance charges due under the lienor’s contract. A materialman or laborer, in privity with the owner, or a contractor shall also have a lien on the owner’s real property for any money that is owed to him for labor, services, or materials furnished to improve public property if the improvements to the public property are a condition of the permit to improve the owner’s real property. No lien under this section shall be acquired until a claim of lien is recorded. A lienor who, as a subcontractor, sub-subcontractor, laborer, or materialman not in privity with the owner, commences to furnish labor, services, or material to an improvement and who thereafter becomes in privity with the owner shall have a lien for any money that is owed to him for the labor, services, or materials furnished after he becomes in privity with the owner. A lienor may record one claim of lien to cover both his work done in privity with the owner and not in privity with the owner. No lienor under this section shall be required to serve a notice to owner as provided in s. 713.06(2). A lienor, except a laborer or materialman, who is in privity with the owner and claims a lien under this section shall furnish the contractor’s affidavit required in s. 713.06(3)(d). A contractor may claim a lien for any labor, services, or materials furnished by another lienor for which he is obligated to pay the lienor, regardless of the right of the lienor to claim a lien; but, if the lienor claims a valid lien, the contractor shall not recover the amount of the lien recovered by the lienor, and the amount of the contractor’s claim of lien may be reduced accordingly by court order. No person shall have a lien under this section except those lienors specified in it, as their designations are defined in s. 713.01.

713.06 Liens of Persons Not in Privity; Proper Payments

(1) A materialman or laborer, either of whom is not in privity with the owner, or a subcontractor or sub-subcontractor who complies with the provisions of this part and is subject to the limitations thereof, has a lien on the real property improved for any money that is owed to him for labor, services, or materials furnished in accordance with his contract and with the direct contract and for any unpaid finance charges due under the lienor’s contract. A materialman or laborer, either of whom is not in privity with the owner, or a subcontractor or sub-subcontractor who complies with the provisions of this part and is subject to the limitations thereof, also has a lien on the owner’s real property for labor, services, or materials furnished to improve public property if the improvement of the public property is furnished in accordance with his contract and with the direct contract. The total amount of all liens allowed under this part for furnishing labor, services, or material covered by any certain direct contract must not exceed the amount of the contract price fixed by the direct contract except as provided in subsection (3). No person may have a lien under this section except those lienors specified in it, as their designations are defined in s. 713.01.
(2) (a) All lienors under this section, except laborers, as a prerequisite to perfecting a lien under this chapter and recording a claim of lien, must serve a notice on the owner setting forth the lienor’s name and address, a description sufficient for identification of the real property, and the nature of the services or materials furnished or to be furnished. A sub-subcontractor or a materialman to a subcontractor must serve a copy of the notice on the contractor as a prerequisite to perfecting a lien under this chapter and recording a claim of lien. A materialman to a sub-subcontractor must serve a copy of the notice to owner on the contractor as a prerequisite to perfecting a lien under this chapter and recording a claim of lien. A materialman to a sub-subcontractor shall serve the notice to owner on the subcontractor if the materialman knows the name and address of the subcontractor. The notice must be served before commencing, or not later than 45 days after commencing, to furnish his services or materials, but, in any event, before the date of the owner’s disbursement of the final payment after the contractor has furnished the affidavit under subparagraph (3)(d)1. The notice must be served regardless of the method of payments by the owner, whether proper or improper, and does not give to the lienor serving the notice any priority over other lienors in the same category; and the failure to serve the notice, or to timely serve it, is a complete defense to enforcement of a lien by any person. The serving of the notice does not dispense with recording the claim of lien. The notice is not a lien, cloud, or encumbrance on the real property nor actual or constructive notice of any of them.
(b) If the owner, in his notice of commencement, has designated a person in addition to himself to receive a copy of such lienor’s notice, as provided in s. 713.13(1)(b), the lienor shall mail a copy of his notice to the person so designated. The failure by the lienor to mail such copy, however, does not invalidate an otherwise valid lien.
(c) The notice must be in substantially the following form:

WARNING TO OWNER:

UNDER FLORIDA LAW, YOUR FAILURE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PAID MAY RESULT IN A LIEN AGAINST YOUR PROPERTY AND YOUR PAYING TWICE. TO AVOID A LIEN AND PAYING TWICE, YOU MUST OBTAIN A WRITTEN RELEASE FROM US EVERY TIME YOU PAY YOUR CONTRACTOR.

NOTICE TO OWNER

To (Owner’s name and address)

The undersigned hereby informs you that he has furnished or is furnishing services or materials as follows:

(General description of services or materials) for the improvement of the real property identified as (property description)under an order given by ____________.

Florida law prescribes the serving of this notice and restricts your right to make payments under your contract in accordance with Section 713.06, Florida Statutes.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR YOUR PROTECTION

Under Florida’s laws, those who work on your property or provide materials and are not paid have a right to enforce their claim for payment against your property. This claim is known as a construction lien. If your contractor fails to pay subcontractors or material suppliers or neglects to make other legally required payments, the people who are owed money may look to your property for payment, EVEN IF YOU HAVE PAID YOUR CONTRACTOR IN FULL.

PROTECT YOURSELF: Recognize that this Notice to Owner may result in a lien against your property unless all those supplying a Notice to Owner have been paid. LEARN more about the Construction Lien Law, Chapter 713, Part I, Florida Statutes, and the meaning of this notice by contacting an attorney or the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

(Lienor’s Signature)

(Lienor’s Name)

(Lienor’s Address)

Copies to:

(Those persons listed in Section 713.06(2)(a) and (b), Florida Statutes)

d) A notice to an owner served on a lender must be in writing and delivered to the lender by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the persons designated, if any, and to the place and address designated in the notice of commencement. Any lender who, after receiving a notice provided under this subsection, pays a contractor on behalf of the owner for an improvement shall make proper payments as provided in paragraph (3)(c) as to each such notice received by the lender. The failure of a lender to comply with this paragraph renders the lender liable to the owner for all damages sustained by the owner as a result of that failure. This paragraph does not give any person other than an owner a claim or right of action against a lender for the failure of the lender to comply with this paragraph. Further, this paragraph does not prohibit a lender from disbursing construction funds at any time directly to the owner, in which event the lender has no obligation to make proper payments under this paragraph.
(e) A lienor, in the absence of a recorded notice of commencement, may rely on the information contained in the building permit application to serve the notice prescribed in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c).
(f) If a lienor has substantially complied with the provisions of paragraphs (a), (b), and (c), errors or omissions do not prevent the enforcement of a claim against a person who has not been adversely affected by such omission or error. However, a lienor must strictly comply with the time requirements of paragraph (a).

(3) The owner may make proper payments on the direct contract as to lienors under this section, in the following manner:

(a) If the description of the property in the notice prescribed by s. 713.13 is incorrect and the error adversely affects any lienor, payments made on the direct contract shall be held improperly paid to that lienor; but this does not apply to clerical errors when the description listed covers the property where the improvements are.
(b) The owner may pay to any laborers the whole or any part of the amounts that shall then be due and payable to them respectively for labor or services performed by them and covered by the direct contract, and shall deduct the same from the balance due the contractor under a direct contract.
(c) When any payment becomes due to the contractor on the direct contract, except the final payment: 1. The owner shall pay or cause to be paid, within the limitations imposed by subparagraph 2., the sum then due to each lienor giving notice prior to the time of the payment. The owner may require, and, in such event, the contractor shall furnish as a prerequisite to requiring payment to himself, an affidavit as prescribed in subparagraph (d)1., on any payment made, or to be made, on a direct contract, but the furnishing of the affidavit shall not relieve the owner of his responsibility to pay or cause to be paid all lienors giving notice. The owner shall be under no obligation to any lienor, except laborers, from whom he has not received a notice to owner at the time of making a payment. 2. When the payment due is insufficient to pay all bills of lienors giving notice, the owner shall prorate the amount then due under the direct contract among the lienors giving notice pro rata in the manner prescribed in subsection (4). Lienors receiving money shall execute partial releases, as provided in s. 713.20(2), to the extent of the payment received. 3. If any affidavit permitted hereunder recites any outstanding bills for labor, services, or materials, the owner may pay the bills in full direct to the person or firm to which they are due if the balance due on the direct contract at the time the affidavit is given is sufficient to pay the bills and shall deduct the amounts so paid from the balance of payment due the contractor. This subparagraph shall not create any obligation of the owner to pay any person who is not a lienor giving notice. 4. No person furnishing labor or material, or both, who is required to serve a notice under paragraph (2)(a) and who did not serve the notice and whose time for service has expired shall be entitled to be paid by the owner because he is listed in an affidavit furnished by the contractor under subparagraph (c)1. 5. If the contract is terminated before completion, the contractor shall comply with subparagraph (d)1.
(d) When the final payment under a direct contract becomes due the contractor:

1. The contractor shall give to the owner an affidavit stating, if that be the fact, that all lienors under his direct contract have been paid in full or, if the fact be otherwise, showing the name of each lienor who has not been paid in full and the amount due or to become due each for labor, services, or materials furnished. The contractor shall have no lien or right of action against the owner for labor, services, or materials furnished under the direct contract while in default for not giving the owner the affidavit. The contractor shall execute the affidavit and deliver it to the owner at least 5 days before instituting an action as a prerequisite to the institution of any action to enforce his lien under this chapter, even if the final payment has not become due because the contract is terminated for a reason other than completion and regardless of whether the contractor has any lienors working under him or not.
2. If the contractor’s affidavit required in this subsection recites any outstanding bills for labor, services, or materials, the owner may, after giving the contractor at least 10 days’ written notice, pay such bills in full direct to the person or firm to which they are due, if the balance due on a direct contract at the time the affidavit is given is sufficient to pay them and lienors giving notice, and shall deduct the amounts so paid from the balance due the contractor. Lienors listed in said affidavit not giving notice, whose 45-day notice time has not expired, shall be paid in full or pro rata, as appropriate, from any balance then remaining due the contractor; but no lienor whose notice time has expired shall be paid by the owner or by any other person except the person with whom that lienor has a contract.
3. If the balance due is not sufficient to pay in full all lienors listed in the affidavit and entitled to payment from the owner under this part and other lienors giving notice, the owner shall pay no money to anyone until such time as the contractor has furnished him with the difference; however, if the contractor fails to furnish the difference within 10 days from delivery of the affidavit or notice from the owner to the contractor to furnish the affidavit, the owner shall determine the amount due each lienor and shall disburse to them the amounts due from him on a direct contract in accordance with the procedure established by subsection (4).
4. The owner shall have the right to rely on the contractor’s affidavit given under this paragraph in making the final payment, unless there are lienors giving notice who are not listed in the affidavit. If there are lienors giving notice who are not so listed, the owner may pay such lienors and any persons listed in the affidavit that are entitled to be paid by the owner under subparagraph (d)2. and shall thereupon be discharged of any further responsibility under the direct contract, except for any balance that may be due to the contractor.
5. The owner shall retain the final payment due under the direct contract that shall not be disbursed until the contractor’s affidavit under subparagraph (d)1. has been furnished to the owner.
6. When final payment has become due to the contractor and the owner fails to withhold as required by subparagraph (d)5., the property improved shall be subject to the full amount of all valid liens of which the owner has notice at the time the contractor furnishes his affidavit.

(e) If the improvement is abandoned before completion, the owner shall determine the amount due each lienor giving notice and shall pay the same in full or prorate in the same manner as provided in subsection (4).
(f) No contractor shall have any right to require the owner to pay any money to him under a direct contract if such money cannot be properly paid by the owner to the contractor in accordance with this section.
(g) Except with written consent of the contractor, before paying any money directly to any lienor except the contractor or any laborer, the owner shall give the contractor at least 10 days’ written notice of his intention to do so, and the amount he proposes to pay each lienor.
(h) When the owner has properly retained all sums required in this section to be retained but has otherwise made improper payments, the owner’s real property shall be liable to all laborers, subcontractors, sub-subcontractors, and materialmen complying with this chapter only to the extent of the retentions and the improper payments, notwithstanding the other provisions of this subsection. Any money paid by the owner on a direct contract, the payment of which is proved to have caused no detriment to any certain lienor, shall be held properly paid as to the lienor, and if any of the money shall be held not properly paid as to any other lienors, the entire benefit of its being held not properly paid as to them shall go to the lienors.

(4) (a) In determining the amounts for which liens between lienors claiming under a direct contract shall be paid by the owner or allowed by the court within the total amount fixed by the direct contract and under the provisions of this section, the owner or court shall pay or allow such liens in the following order: 1. Liens of all laborers. 2. Liens of all persons other than the contractor. 3. Lien of the contractor.
(b) Should the total amount for which liens under such direct contract may be allowed be less than the total amount of liens under such contract in all classes above mentioned, all liens in a class shall be allowed for their full amounts before any liens shall be allowed to any subsequent class. Should the amount applicable to the liens of any single class be insufficient to permit all liens within that class to be allowed for their full amounts, each lien shall be allowed for its pro rata share of the total amount applicable to liens of that class; but if the same labor, services, or materials shall be covered by liens of more than one class, such labor, services, or materials shall be allowed only in the earliest class by which they shall be covered; and also if the same labor, services, or materials shall be covered by liens of two or more lienors of the same class, such labor, services, or materials shall be allowed only in the lien of the lienor farthest removed from the contractor. This section shall not be construed to affect the priority of liens derived under separate direct contracts.

713.07 Priority of Liens

(1) Liens under ss. 713.03 and 713.04 shall attach at the time of recordation of the claim of lien and shall take priority as of that time.
(2) Liens under ss. 713.05 and 713.06 shall attach and take priority as of the time of recordation of the notice of commencement, but in the event notice of commencement is not filed, then such liens shall attach and take priority as of the time the claim of lien is recorded.
(3) All such liens shall have priority over any conveyance, encumbrance or demand not recorded against the real property prior to the time such lien attached as provided herein, but any conveyance, encumbrance or demand recorded prior to the time such lien attaches and any proceeds thereof, regardless of when disbursed, shall have priority over such liens.
(4) If construction ceases before completion and the owner desires to recommence construction, he may pay all lienors in full or pro rata in accordance with s. 713.06(4) prior to recommencement in which event all liens for the recommenced construction shall take priority from such recommencement; or the owner may record an affidavit in the clerk’s office stating his intention to recommence construction and that all lienors giving notice have been paid in full except those listed therein as not having been so paid in which event 30 days after such recording, the rights of any person acquiring any interest, lien or encumbrance on said property or of any lienor on the recommenced construction shall be paramount to any lien on the prior construction unless such prior lienor records a claim of lien within said 30-day period. A copy of said affidavit shall be served on each lienor named therein. Before recommencing, the owner shall record and post a notice of commencement for the recommenced construction, as provided in s. 713.13.

713.08 Claim of Lien

(1) For the purpose of perfecting his lien under this part, every lienor, including laborers and persons in privity, shall record a claim of lien which shall state:

(a) The name of the lienor and the address where notices or process under this part may be served on the lienor.
(b) The name of the person with whom the lienor contracted or by whom he was employed.
(c) The labor, services, or materials furnished and the contract price or value thereof. Materials specially fabricated at a place other than the site of the improvement for incorporation in the improvement but not so incorporated and the contract price or value thereof shall be separately stated in the claim of lien.
(d) A description of the real property sufficient for identification.
(e) The name of the owner.
(f) The time when the first and the last item of labor or service or materials was furnished.
(g) The amount unpaid the lienor for such labor or services or materials and for unpaid finance charges due under the lienor’s contract.
(h) If the lien is claimed by a person not in privity with the owner, the date and method of service of the notice to owner. If the lien is claimed by a person not in privity with the contractor or subcontractor, the date and method of service of the copy of the notice on the contractor or subcontractor.

(2) The claim of lien shall be signed and verified by the lienor or his agent acquainted with the facts stated therein.
(3) The claim of lien shall be sufficient if it is in substantially the following form:

CLAIM OF LIEN State of County of ____________

Before me, the undersigned notary public, personally appeared ____________, who was duly sworn and says that he is (the lienor herein) (the agent of the lienor herein), whose address is ____________; and that in accordance with a contract with ____________, lienor furnished labor, services, or materials consisting of on the following described real property in County, Florida:

(Legal description of real property) owned by of a total value of $____________, of which there remains unpaid $____________, and furnished the first of the items on ____________, 20__, and the last of the items on ____________, 20__; and (if the lien is claimed by one not in privity with the owner) that the lienor served his notice to owner on ____________, 20__, by ____________; and (if required) that the lienor served copies of the notice on the contractor on ____________, 20__, by and on the subcontractor, ____________, on ____________, 20__, by ____________________ .(Signature)

Sworn to and subscribed before me this day of, 20__.

(Notary Public)
My commission expires:

(4) (a) The omission of any of the foregoing details or errors in such claim of lien shall not, within the discretion of the trial court, prevent the enforcement of such lien as against one who has not been adversely affected by such omission or error.
(b) Any claim of lien recorded as provided in this part may be amended at any time during the period allowed for recording such claim of lien, provided that such amendment shall not cause any person to suffer any detriment by having acted in good faith in reliance upon such claim of lien as originally recorded. Any amendment of the claim of lien shall be recorded in the same manner as provided for recording the original claim of lien.
(c) Failure to serve any claim of lien in the manner provided in s. 713.18 before recording or within 15 days after recording shall render the claim of lien voidable to the extent that the failure or delay is shown to have been prejudicial to any person entitled to rely on the service.
(5) The claim of lien may be recorded at any time during the progress of the work or thereafter but not later than 90 days after the final furnishing of the labor or services or materials by the lienor; or, with respect to rental equipment, within 90 days after the date that the rental equipment was last on the job site available for use; provided if the original contractor defaults or the contract is terminated under s. 713.07(4), no claim for a lien attaching prior to such default shall be recorded after 90 days from the date of such default or 90 days after the final performance of labor or services or furnishing of materials, whichever occurs first. The claim of lien shall be recorded in the clerk’s office. If such real property is situated in two or more counties, the claim of lien shall be recorded in the clerk’s office in each of such counties. The recording of the claim of lien shall be constructive notice to all persons of the contents and effect of such claim. The validity of the lien and the right to record a claim therefore shall not be affected by the insolvency, bankruptcy, or death of the owner before the claim of lien is recorded.

713.09 Single Claim of Lien

A lienor is required to record only one claim of lien covering his entire demand against the real property when the amount demanded is for labor or services or material furnished for more than one improvement under the same direct contract. The single claim of lien is sufficient even though the improvement is for one or more improvements located on separate lots, parcels, or tracts of land. If materials to be used on one or more improvements on separate lots, parcels, or tracts of land under one direct contract are delivered by a lienor to a place designated by the person with whom the materialman contracted, other than the site of the improvement, the delivery to the place designated is prima facie evidence of delivery to the site of the improvement and incorporation in the improvement. The single claim of lien may be limited to a part of multiple lots, parcels, or tracts of land and their improvements or may cover all of the lots, parcels, or tracts of land and improvements. In each claim of lien under this section, the owner under the direct contract must be the same person for all lots, parcels, or tracts of land against which a single claim of lien is recorded.

713.10 Extent of Liens

Except as provided in s. 713.12, a lien under this part shall extend to, and only to, the right, title, and interest of the person who contracts for the improvement as such right, title, and interest exists at the commencement of the improvement or is thereafter acquired in the real property. When an improvement is made by a lessee in accordance with an agreement between such lessee and his lessor, the lien shall extend also to the interest of such lessor. When the lease expressly provides that the interest of the lessor shall not be subject to liens for improvements made by the lessee, the lessee shall notify the contractor making any such improvements of such provision or provisions in the lease, and the knowing or willful failure of the lessee to provide such notice to the contractor shall render the contract between the lessee and the contractor voidable at the option of the contractor. The interest of the lessor shall not be subject to liens for improvements made by the lessee when:
(1) The lease or a short form thereof is recorded in the clerk’s office and the terms of the lease expressly prohibit such liability; or
(2) All of the leases entered into by a lessor for the rental of premises on a parcel of land prohibit such liability and a notice which sets forth the following is recorded by the lessor in the public records of the county in which the parcel of land is located:

(a) The name of the lessor.
(b) The legal description of the parcel of land to which the notice applies.
(c) The specific language contained in the various leases prohibiting such liability.
(d) A statement that all leases entered into for premises on the parcel of land contain the language identified in paragraph (c).

(3) The lessee is a mobile home owner who is leasing a mobile home lot in a mobile home park from the lessor.

713.11 Liens for Improving Land in Which the Contracting Party has no Interest

When the person contracting for improving real property has no interest as owner in the land, no lien shall attach to the land, except as provided in s 713.12, but if removal of such improvement from the land is practicable, the lien of a lienor shall attach to the improvement on which he has performed labor or services or for which he has furnished materials. The court, in the enforcement of such lien, may order such improvement to be separately sold and the purchaser may remove it within such reasonable time as the court may fix. The purchase price for such improvement shall be paid into court. The owner of the land upon which the improvement was made may demand that the land be restored substantially to its condition before the improvement was commenced, in which case the court shall order its restoration and the reasonable charge therefore shall be first paid out of such purchase price and the remainder shall be paid to lienors and other encumbrancers in accordance with their respective rights.

713.12 Liens for Improving Real Property Under Contract with Husband or Wife on Property of the Other or of Both

When the contract for improving real property is made with a husband or wife who is not separated and living apart from his or her spouse and the property is owned by the other or by both, the spouse who contracts shall be deemed to be the agent of the other to the extent of subjecting the right, title, or interest of the other in said property to liens under this part unless such other shall, within 10 days after learning of such contract, give the contractor and record in the clerk’s office, notice of his or her objection thereto.

713.13 Notice of Commencement

(1) (a) Except for an improvement that is exempt pursuant to s. 713.02(5), an owner or his authorized agent before actually commencing to improve any real property, or recommencing completion of any improvement after default or abandonment, whether or not a project has a payment bond complying with s. 713.23, shall record a notice of commencement in the clerk’s office and forthwith post either a certified copy thereof or a notarized statement that the notice of commencement has been filed for recording along with a copy thereof. The notice of commencement shall contain the following information:

1. A description sufficient for identification of the real property to be improved. The description should include the legal description of the property and also should include the street address of the property if available or, if there is no street address available, such additional information as will describe the physical location of the real property to be improved.
2. A general description of the improvement.
3. The name and address of the owner, his interest in the site of the improvement, and the name and address of the fee simple titleholder, if other than such owner.
4. The name and address of the contractor.
5. The name and address of the surety on the payment bond under s. 713.23, if any, and the amount of such bond.
6. The name and address of any person making a loan for the construction of the improvements.
7. The name and address within the state of a person other than himself who may be designated by the owner as the person upon whom notices or other documents may be served under this part; and service upon the person so designated constitutes service upon the owner.

(b) The owner, at his option, may designate a person in addition to himself to receive a copy of the lienor’s notice as provided in s. 713.06(2)(b), and if he does so, the name and address of such person must be included in the notice of commencement.
(c) If the contract between the owner and a contractor named in the notice of commencement expresses a period of time for completion for the construction of the improvement greater than 1 year, the notice of commencement must state that it is effective for a period of 1 year plus any additional period of time. Any payments made by the owner after the expiration of the notice of commencement are considered improper payments.
(d) A notice of commencement must be in substantially the following form:

Permit No.
Tax Folio No.

NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT

State of County of The undersigned hereby gives notice that improvement will be made to certain real property, and in accordance with Chapter 713, Florida Statutes, the following information is provided in this Notice of Commencement.

1. Description of property: (legal description of the property, and street address if available)
2. General description of improvement:
3. Owner information: a. Name and address: b. Interest in property: c. Name and address of fee simple titleholder (if other than Owner):
4. Contractor: (name and address) a. Phone number: b. Fax number:(optional, if service by fax is acceptable).
5. Surety a. Name and address: b. Phone number: c. Fax number:(optional, if service by fax is acceptable). d. Amount of bond: $____.
6. Lender: (name and address) a. Phone number: b. Fax number:(optional, if service by fax is acceptable).
7. Persons within the State of Florida designated by Owner upon whom notices or other documents may be served as provided by Section 713.13(1)(a)7., Florida Statutes: (name and address) a. Phone number: b. Fax number:(optional, if service by fax is acceptable).
8. In addition to himself, Owner designates of to receive a copy of the Lienor’s Notice as provided in Section 713.13(1)(b), Florida Statutes. a. Phone number: b. Fax number:(optional, if service by fax is acceptable).
9. Expiration date of notice of commencement (the expiration date is 1 year from the date of recording unless a different date is specified).

(Signature of Owner)

Sworn to and subscribed before me this day of ____________, 20__. (Notary Public)

My Commission Expires:

(e) A copy of any bond must be attached at the time of recordation of the notice of commencement. The failure to attach a copy of the bond to the notice of commencement when the notice is recorded negates the exemption provided in s. 713.02(6). However, if such a bond exists but is not recorded, the bond may be used as a transfer bond pursuant to s. 713.24.
(f) The giving of a notice of commencement is effective upon the filing of the notice in the clerk’s office.
(g) The owner must sign the notice of commencement and no one else may be permitted to sign in his stead.

(2) If the improvement described in the notice of commencement is not actually commenced within 90 days after the recording thereof, such notice is void and of no further effect.
(3) The recording of a notice of commencement does not constitute a lien, cloud, or encumbrance on real property, but gives constructive notice that claims of lien under this part may be recorded and may take priority as provided in s. 713.07. The posting of a copy does not constitute a lien, cloud, or encumbrance on real property, nor actual or constructive notice of any of them.
(4) This section does not apply to an owner who is constructing improvements described in s. 713.04.
(5) Unless otherwise provided in the notice of commencement or a new or amended notice of commencement, a notice of commencement is not effectual in law or equity against a conveyance, transfer, or mortgage of or lien on the real property described in the notice, or against creditors or subsequent purchasers for a valuable consideration, after 1 year after the date of recording the notice of commencement.
(6) A lender must, prior to the disbursement of any construction funds to the contractor, record the notice of commencement in the clerk’s office as required by this section; however, the lender is not required to post a certified copy of the notice at the construction site. The posting of the notice at the construction site remains the owner’s obligation. The failure of a lender to record the notice of commencement as required by this subsection renders the lender liable to the owner for all damages sustained by the owner as a result of the failure. Whenever a lender is required to record a notice of commencement, the lender shall designate the lender, in addition to others, to receive copies of notices to owner. This subsection does not give any person other than the owner a claim or right of action against a lender for failure to record a notice of commencement.

713.135 Notice of Commencement and Applicability of Lien

(1) When any person applies for a building permit, the authority issuing such permit shall:

(a) Print on the face of each permit card in no less than 18-point, capitalized, boldfaced type:

WARNING TO OWNER: YOUR FAILURE TO RECORD A NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT MAY RESULT IN YOUR PAYING TWICE FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO YOUR PROPERTY. IF YOU INTEND TO OBTAIN FINANCING, CONSULT WITH YOUR LENDER OR AN ATTORNEY BEFORE RECORDING YOUR NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT.

(b) Provide the applicant and the owner of the real property upon which improvements are to be constructed with a printed statement stating that the right, title, and interest of the person who has contracted for the improvement may be subject to attachment under the Construction Lien Law. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation shall furnish, for distribution, the statement described in this paragraph, and the statement must be a summary of the Construction Lien Law and must include an explanation of the provisions of the Construction Lien Law relating to the recording, and the posting of copies, of notices of commencement and a statement encouraging the owner to record a notice of commencement and post a copy thereof in accordance with s. 713.13. However, the failure by the authorities to provide the summary does not subject the issuing authority to liability.
(c) Inform each applicant who is not the person whose right, title, and interest is subject to attachment that, as a condition to the issuance of a building permit, the applicant must promise in good faith that the statement will be delivered to the person whose property is subject to attachment.
(d) Furnish to the applicant two or more copies of a form of notice of commencement conforming with s. 713.13. The applicant shall file with the issuing authority prior to the first inspection either a certified copy of the recorded notice of commencement or a notarized statement that the notice of commencement has been filed for recording, along with a copy thereof. In the absence of the filing of a certified copy of the recorded notice of commencement, the issuing authority shall not perform or approve subsequent inspections until the applicant files by mail, facsimile, hand delivery, or any other means such certified copy with the issuing authority. Nothing herein shall be interpreted as requiring or encouraging the recording of a notice of commencement prior to the issuance of a building permit.

(2) On or before December 31, 1996, each county and each municipality shall submit an affidavit to the Advisory Council on Intergovernmental Relations that states whether the county or municipality issues building permits and, if so, the building official must certify that the county or municipality is using a building permit application form that is substantially similar to the form set forth in subsection (7), and further certify that the county or municipality has established and is enforcing procedures to ensure compliance with the requirement to file a certified copy of the recorded notice of commencement contained in paragraph (1)(d).
(3) An issuing authority under subsection (1) is not liable in any civil action for the failure of the person whose property is subject to attachment to receive or to be delivered a printed statement stating that the right, title, and interest of the person who has contracted for the improvement may be subject to attachment under the Construction Lien Law.
(4) An issuing authority under subsection (1) is not liable in any civil action for the failure to verify that a certified copy of the recorded notice of commencement has been filed in accordance with this section.
(5) The several boards of county commissioners, municipal councils, or other similar bodies may by ordinance or resolution establish reasonable fees for furnishing copies of the forms and the printed statement provided in paragraph (1)(d) in an amount not to exceed $5 to be paid by the applicant for each permit in addition to all other costs of the permit; however, no forms or statement need be furnished to, nor may such additional fee be obtained from, applicants for permits in those cases in which the owner of a legal or equitable interest (including that of ownership of stock of a corporate landowner) of the real property to be improved is engaged in the business of construction of buildings for sale to others and intends to make the improvements authorized by the permit on the property and upon completion will offer the improved real property for sale.
(6) In addition to any other information required by the authority issuing the permit, each building permit application must contain:

(a) The name and address of the owner of the real property;
(b) The name and address of the contractor;
(c) A description sufficient to identify the real property to be improved; and
(d) The number or identifying symbol assigned to the building permit by the issuing authority, which number or symbol must be affixed to the application by the issuing authority.

(7) In addition to any other information required by the authority
issuing the permit, the building permit application must be in substantially the following form:

Tax Folio No.

BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION

Owner’s Name
Owner’s Address
Fee Simple Titleholder’s Name (If other than owner)
Fee Simple Titleholder’s Address (If other than owner)
City State Zip Contractor’s Name
Contractor’s Address City State Zip
Job Name
Job Address City County Legal Description
Bonding Company
Bonding Company Address City State
Architect/Engineer’s Name
Architect/Engineer’s Address Mortgage
Lender’s Name Mortgage

Lender’s Address Application is hereby made to obtain a permit to do the work and installations as indicated. I certify that no work or installation has commenced prior to the issuance of a permit and that all work will be performed to meet the standards of all laws regulating construction in this jurisdiction.

I understand that a separate permit must be secured for ELECTRICAL WORK, PLUMBING, SIGNS, WELLS, POOLS, FURNACES, BOILERS, HEATERS, TANKS, and AIR CONDITIONERS, etc.

OWNER’S AFFIDAVIT:
I certify that all the foregoing information is accurate and that all work will be done in compliance with all applicable laws regulating construction and zoning.

WARNING TO OWNER: YOUR FAILURE TO RECORD A NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT MAY RESULT IN YOUR PAYING TWICE FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO YOUR PROPERTY. IF YOU INTEND TO OBTAIN FINANCING, CONSULT WITH YOUR LENDER OR AN ATTORNEY BEFORE RECORDING YOUR NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT.

Signature Owner or Agent Contractor (including contractor)

Date

NOTARY as NOTARY as to Owner or Agent to Contractor
My Commission Expires:
My Commission Expires:
(Certificate of Competency Holder) Contractor’s State Certification or Registration No.
Contractor’s Certificate of Competency No.
APPLICATION APPROVED BY
Permit Officer

(8) This section applies to every municipality and county in the state which now has or hereafter may have a system of issuing building permits for the construction of improvements or for the alteration or repair of improvements on or to real property located within the geographic limits of the issuing authority.

713.14 Application of Money to Materials Account

(1) Any owner, contractor, subcontractor, or sub-subcontractor, in making any payment under, or properly applicable to, any contract to one with whom he has a running account, or with whom he has more than one contract, or to whom he is otherwise indebted, shall designate the contract under which the payment is made or the items of account to which it is to be applied. If he shall fail to do so or shall make a false designation, he shall be liable to anyone suffering a loss in consequence for the amount of the loss.
(2) When a payment for materials is made to a subcontractor, sub-subcontractor, or materialman, the subcontractor, sub-subcontractor, or materialman shall demand of the person making the payment a designation of the account and the items of account to which the payment is to apply. In any case in which a lien is claimed for materials furnished by a subcontractor, sub-subcontractor, or materialman, it is a defense to the claim, to the extent of the payment made, to prove that a payment made by the owner to the contractor for the materials has been paid over to the subcontractor, sub-subcontractor, or materialman, and to prove also that when such payment was received by such subcontractor, sub-subcontractor, or materialman he did not demand a designation of the account and of the items of account to which the payment was to be applied or, receiving a designation of its application to the account for the materials, he failed to apply the payment in accordance therewith. This subsection is cumulative to any other defenses available to the person paying the materialman, subcontractor, or sub-subcontractor.

713.15 Repossession of Materials Not Used

If for any reason the completion of an improvement is abandoned or though the improvement is completed, materials delivered are not used therefore, a person who has delivered materials for the improvement which have not been incorporated therein and for which he has not received payment may peaceably repossess and remove such materials or replevy the same and thereupon he shall have no lien on the real property or improvements and no right against any persons for the price thereof, but shall have the same rights in regard to the materials as if he had never parted with their possession. This right to repossess and remove or replevy the materials shall not be affected by their sale, encumbrance, attachment, or transfer from the site of improvement, except that if the materials have been so transferred, the right to repossess or replevy them shall not be effective as against a purchaser or encumbrancer thereof in good faith whose interest therein is acquired after such transfer from the site of the improvement or as against a creditor attaching after such transfer. The right of repossession and removal given by this section shall extend only to materials whose purchase price does not exceed the amount remaining due to the person repossessing but where materials have been partly paid for, the person delivering them may repossess them as allowed in this section on refunding the part of the purchase price which has been paid.

713.16 Demand for Copy of Contract and Statements of Account; Form

(1) A copy of the contract of a lienor or owner and a statement of the amount due or to become due if fixed or ascertainable thereon must be furnished by any party thereto, upon written demand of an owner or a lienor contracting with or employed by the other party to such contract. If the owner or lienor refuses or neglects to furnish such copy of the contract or such statement, or willfully and falsely states the amount due or to become due if fixed or ascertainable under such contract, any person who suffers any detriment thereby has a cause of action against the person refusing or neglecting to furnish the same or willfully and falsely stating the amount due or to become due for his damages sustained thereby. The information contained in such copy or statement furnished pursuant to such written demand is binding upon the owner or lienor furnishing it unless actual notice of any modification is given to the person demanding the copy or statement before such person acts in good faith in reliance on it. The person demanding such documents must pay for the reproduction thereof; and, if such person fails or refuses to do so, he is entitled only to inspect such documents at reasonable times and places.
(2) The owner may serve in writing a demand of any lienor for a written statement under oath of his account showing the nature of the labor or services performed and to be performed, if any, the materials furnished, the materials to be furnished, if known, the amount paid on account to date, the amount due, and the amount to become due, if known, as of the date of the statement by the lienor. Any such demand to a lienor must be served on the lienor at the address and to the attention of any person who is designated to receive the demand in the notice to owner served by such lienor. The failure or refusal to furnish the statement does not deprive the lienor of his lien if the demand is not served at the address of the lienor or directed to the attention of the person designated to receive the demand in the notice to owner. The failure or refusal to furnish the statement within 30 days after the demand, or the furnishing of a false or fraudulent statement, deprives the person so failing or refusing to furnish such statement of his lien. If the owner serves more than one demand for statement of account on a lienor and none of the information regarding the account has changed since the lienor’s last response to a demand, the failure or refusal to furnish such statement does not deprive the lienor of his lien. The negligent inclusion or omission of any information deprives the person of his lien to the extent the owner can demonstrate prejudice from such act or omission by the lienor. The failure to furnish a response to a demand for statement of account does not affect the validity of any claim of lien being enforced through a foreclosure case filed prior to the date the demand for statement is received by the lienor.
(3) A request for sworn statement of account must be in substantially the following form:

REQUEST FOR SWORN STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT WARNING:

YOUR FAILURE TO FURNISH THE REQUESTED STATEMENT, SIGNED UNDER OATH, WITHIN 30 DAYS OR THE FURNISHING OF A FALSE STATEMENT WILL RESULT IN THE LOSS OF YOUR LIEN.

To: (Lienor’s name and address)

The undersigned hereby demands a written statement under oath of his account showing the nature of the labor or services performed and to be performed, if any, the materials furnished, the materials to be furnished, if known, the amount paid on account to date, the amount due, and the amount to become due, if known, as of the date of the statement for the improvement of real property identified as:

(property description)
(signature and address of owner)
(date of request for sworn statement of account)

(4) When a contractor has furnished a payment bond pursuant to s. 713.23, he may, when an owner makes any payment to the contractor or directly to a lienor, serve a written demand on any other lienor for a written statement under oath of his account showing the nature of the labor or services performed and to be performed, if any, the materials furnished, the materials to be furnished, if known, the amount paid on account to date, the amount due, and the amount to become due, if known, as of the date of the statement by the lienor. Any such demand to a lienor must be served on the lienor at the address and to the attention of any person who is designated to receive the demand in the notice to contractor served by such lienor. The failure or refusal to furnish the statement does not deprive the lienor of his rights under the bond if the demand is not served at the address of the lienor or directed to the attention of the person designated to receive the demand in the notice to contractor. The failure to furnish the statement within 30 days after the demand, or the furnishing of a false or fraudulent statement, deprives the person who fails to furnish the statement, or who furnishes the false or fraudulent statement, of his rights under the bond. If the contractor serves more than one demand for statement of account on a lienor and none of the information regarding the account has changed since the lienor’s last response to a demand, the failure or refusal to furnish such statement does not deprive the lienor of his rights under the bond. The negligent inclusion or omission of any information deprives the person of his rights under the bond to the extent the contractor can demonstrate prejudice from such act or omission by the lienor. The failure to furnish a response to a demand for statement of account does not affect the validity of any claim on the bond being enforced in a lawsuit filed prior to the date the demand for statement of account is received by the lienor.
(5) Any lienor who has filed a claim of lien may make written demand on the owner for a written statement under oath showing the amount of all direct contracts; the amount paid by or on behalf of the owner for all labor, services, and materials furnished pursuant to the direct contracts; the dates and amounts paid or to be paid by or on behalf of the owner for all improvements described in any direct contracts; and the reasonable estimated costs of completing, according to the terms and specifications of same, any direct contract under which construction has ceased. If known, the actual cost of completion must be provided. Any owner who does not provide the statement within 30 days after demand, or who provides a false or fraudulent statement, is not a prevailing party for purposes of an award of attorney’s fees under s. 713.29. The written demand must include the following warning in conspicuous type in substantially the following form:

WARNING: YOUR FAILURE TO FURNISH THE REQUESTED STATEMENT WITHIN 30 DAYS OR THE FURNISHING OF A FALSE STATEMENT WILL RESULT IN THE LOSS OF YOUR RIGHT TO RECOVER ATTORNEY FEES IN ANY ACTION TO ENFORCE THE CLAIM OF LIEN OF THE PERSON REQUESTING THIS STATEMENT.

713.165 Request for List of Subcontractors and Suppliers

(1) An owner of real property may request from the contractor a list of all subcontractors and suppliers who have any contract with the contractor to furnish any material or to perform any service for the contractor with respect to the owner’s real property or improvement to the real property. The request must be in writing and delivered by registered or certified mail to the address of the contractor shown in the contract or the recorded notice of commencement.
(2) The contractor must within 10 days after receipt of the property owner’s written request, furnish to the property owner or the property owner’s agent a list of the subcontractors and suppliers who have a contract with the contractor as of the date the request is received by the contractor. If the contractor fails to furnish the list, the contractor thereby forfeits the contractor’s right to assert a lien against the owner’s property to the extent the owner is prejudiced by the contractor’s failure to furnish the list or by any omissions from the list.
(3) A list furnished under this section shall not constitute a notice to owner.

713.17 Materials Not Attachable for Debts of Purchaser

Whenever materials have been furnished to improve real property and payment therefore has not been made or waived, such materials shall not be subject to attachment, execution, or other legal process to enforce any debt due by the purchaser of such materials, except a debt due for the purchase price thereof, so long as in good faith the same are about to be applied to improve the real property; but if the owner has made payment for materials furnished and the materialman has not received payment therefore, such materials shall not be subject to attachment, execution, or other legal process to enforce the debt due for the purchase price.

713.18 Manner of Serving Notices and Other Instruments

(1) Service of notices, claims of lien, affidavits, assignments, and other instruments permitted or required under this part, or copies thereof when so permitted or required, unless otherwise specifically provided in this part, must be made by one of the following methods:

(a) By actual delivery to the person to be served; or, if a partnership, to one of the partners; or, if a corporation, to an officer, director, managing agent, or business agent thereof.
(b) By mailing the same, postage prepaid, by registered or certified mail to the person to be served at his last known address and evidence of delivery. If an instrument served by this method to the last address shown in the notice of commencement or any amendment thereto or, in the absence of a notice of commencement, to the last address shown in the building permit application is not received, but is returned by the United States Postal Service as being “refused,” “moved, not forwardable,” or “unclaimed,” or is otherwise not delivered or deliverable through no fault of the person serving the item, then service is effective as of the date of mailing.
(c) If neither of the foregoing methods can be accomplished, by posting on the premises.

(2) If the real property is owned by more than one person, a lienor may serve any notices or other papers under this part on any one of such owners, and such notice is deemed notice to all owners.
(3) Service of notices or copies thereof, permitted or required under this part, may be made by facsimile transmission when the person being served has listed that person’s facsimile phone number in the Notice of Commencement. The owner must be served with the Notice to Owner in the manner specified in subsection (2) of this section. The lienor’s facsimile confirmation sheet with the correct facsimile phone number shall be proof of the date and time the notice was served.

713.19 Assignment of Lien

A lien or prospective lien, except that of a laborer, may be assigned by the lienor at any time before its discharge. The assignment may be recorded in the clerk’s office.

713.20 Waiver or Release of Liens

(1) The acceptance by the lienor of an unsecured note for all or any part of the amount of his demand shall not constitute a waiver of his lien therefore unless expressly so agreed in writing, nor shall it in any way affect the period for filing the notice under s. 713.06(2), or the claim of lien under s. 713.08.
(2) A right to claim a lien may not be waived in advance. A lien right may be waived only to the extent of labor, services, or materials furnished. Any waiver of a right to claim a lien that is made in advance is unenforceable.
(3) Any person may at any time waive, release, or satisfy any part of his lien under this part, either as to the amount due for labor, services, or materials furnished or for labor, services, or materials furnished through a certain date subject to exceptions specified at the time of release, or as to any part or parcel of the real property.
(4) When a lienor is required to execute a waiver or release of lien in exchange for, or to induce payment of, a progress payment, the waiver or release may be in substantially the following form:

WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIEN UPON PROGRESS PAYMENT

The undersigned lienor, in consideration of the sum of $______________, hereby waives and releases its lien and right to claim a lien for labor, services, or materials furnished through (insert date) to (insert the name of your customer) on the job of (insert the name of the owner) to the following property:(description of property)

This waiver and release does not cover any retention or labor, services, or materials furnished after the date specified. DATED on ____________, ______20__.

(Lienor) By: ____________

(5) When a lienor is required to execute a waiver or release of lien in exchange for, or to induce payment of, the final payment, the waiver and release may be in substantially the following form:

WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIEN UPON FINAL PAYMENT

The undersigned lienor, in consideration of the final payment in the amount of $, hereby waives and releases its lien and right to claim a lien for labor, services, or materials furnished to (insert the name of your customer) on the job of (insert the name of the owner) to the following described property:

(description of property)
DATED on ____________, ______20__.

(Lienor) By:

(6) A person may not require a lienor to furnish a waiver or release of lien that is different from the forms in subsection (4) or subsection (5).
(7) A lienor who executes a lien waiver and release in exchange for a check may condition the waiver and release on payment of the check.
(8) A lien waiver or lien release that is not substantially similar to the forms in subsections (4) and (5) is enforceable in accordance with the terms of the lien waiver or lien release.

713.21 Discharge of Lien

A lien properly perfected under this chapter may be discharged by any of the following methods:

(1) By entering satisfaction of the lien upon the margin of the record thereof in the clerk’s office when not otherwise prohibited by law. This satisfaction shall be signed by the lienor, his agent or attorney and attested by said clerk. Any person who executes a claim of lien shall have authority to execute a satisfaction in the absence of actual notice of lack of authority to any person relying on the same.
(2) By the satisfaction of the lienor, duly acknowledged and recorded in the clerk’s office. Any person who executes a claim of lien shall have authority to execute a satisfaction in the absence of actual notice of lack of authority to any person relying on the same.
(3) By failure to begin an action to enforce the lien within the time prescribed in this part.
(4) By an order of the circuit court of the county where the property is located, as provided in this subsection. Upon filing a complaint therefore by any interested party the clerk shall issue a summons to the lienor to show cause within 20 days why his lien should not be enforced by action or vacated and canceled of record. Upon failure of the lienor to show cause why his lien should not be enforced or his failure to commence such action before the return date of the summons the court shall forthwith order cancellation of the lien.
(5) By recording in the clerk’s office the original or a certified copy of a judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction showing a final determination of the action.

713.22 Duration of Lien

(1) No lien provided by this part shall continue for a longer period than 1 year after the claim of lien has been recorded, unless within that time an action to enforce the lien is commenced in a court of competent jurisdiction. The continuation of the lien effected by the commencement of the action shall not be good against creditors or subsequent purchasers for a valuable consideration and without notice, unless a notice of lis pendens is recorded.
(2) An owner or his agent or attorney may elect to shorten the time prescribed in subsection (1) within which to commence an action to enforce any claim of lien or claim against a bond or other security under s. 713.23 or s. 713.24 by recording in the clerk’s office a notice in substantially the following form:

NOTICE OF CONTEST OF LIEN To: (Name and address of lienor)

You are notified that the undersigned contests the claim of lien filed by you on ______________ 20__, and recorded in Book ____, Page ____, of the public records of County____________, Florida, and that the time within which you may file suit to enforce your lien is limited to 60 days from the date of service of this notice. This ____ day of ______________ 20__.

Signed: ________________________ (Owner or Attorney)

The lien of any lienor upon whom such notice is served and who fails to institute a suit to enforce his lien within 60 days after service of such notice shall be extinguished automatically. The clerk shall mail a copy of the notice of contest to the lien claimant at the address shown in the claim of lien or most recent amendment thereto and shall certify to such service on the face of such notice and record the notice. Service shall be deemed complete upon mailing.

713.23 Payment Bond

(1) (a) The payment bond required to exempt an owner under this part shall be furnished by the contractor in at least the amount of the original contract price before commencing the construction of the improvement under the direct contract, and a copy of the bond shall be attached to the notice of commencement when the notice of commencement is recorded. The bond shall be executed as surety by a surety insurer authorized to do business in this state and shall be conditioned that the contractor shall promptly make payments for labor, services, and material to all lienors under the contractor’s direct contract. Any form of bond given by a contractor conditioned to pay for labor, services, and material used to improve real property shall be deemed to include the condition of this subsection.
(b) The owner, contractor, or surety shall furnish a true copy of the bond at the cost of reproduction to any lienor demanding it. Any person who fails or refuses to furnish the copy without justifiable cause shall be liable to the lienor demanding the copy for any damages caused by the refusal or failure.
(c) Either before beginning or within 45 days after beginning to furnish labor, materials, or supplies, a lienor who is not in privity with the contractor, except a laborer, shall serve the contractor with notice in writing that the lienor will look to the contractor’s bond for protection on the work. If a notice of commencement is not recorded, or a reference to the bond is not given in the notice of commencement, and in either case if the lienor not in privity with the contractor is not otherwise notified in writing of the existence of the bond, the lienor not in privity with the contractor shall have 45 days from the date the lienor is notified of the existence of the bond within which to serve the notice. The notice may be in substantially the following form:

NOTICE TO CONTRACTOR

To (name of contractor)

The undersigned notifies you that he has furnished or is furnishing (services or materials) for the improvement of the real property identified as (property description) owned by (owner’s name and address) under an order given by and that the undersigned will look to the contractor’s bond for protection on the work.

(Lienor’s signature and address)

(d) In addition, a lienor is required, as a condition precedent to recovery under the bond, to serve a written notice of nonpayment to the contractor and the surety not later than 90 days after the final furnishing of labor, services, or materials by the lienor. A written notice satisfies this condition precedent with respect to the payment described in the notice of nonpayment and with respect to any other payments which become due to the lienor after the date of the notice of nonpayment. The failure of a lienor to receive retainage sums not in excess of 10 percent of the value of labor, services, or materials furnished by the lienor is not considered a nonpayment requiring the service of the notice provided under this paragraph. The notice under this paragraph may be in substantially the following form:

NOTICE OF NONPAYMENT

To(name of contractor and address)
(name of surety and address)

The undersigned notifies you that he has furnished (describe labor, services, or materials) for the improvement of the real property identified as (property description). The amount now due and unpaid is $______.

(signature and address of lienor)

(e) No action for the labor or materials or supplies may be instituted or prosecuted against the contractor or surety unless both notices have been given. No action shall be instituted or prosecuted against the contractor or against the surety on the bond under this section after 1 year from the performance of the labor or completion of delivery of the materials and supplies.
(f) Any lienor has a direct right of action on the bond against the surety. A bond must not contain any provisions restricting the classes of persons protected thereby or the venue of any proceeding. The surety is not entitled to the defense of pro tanto discharge as against any lienor because of changes or modifications in the contract to which the surety is not a party; but the liability of the surety may not be increased beyond the penal sum of the bond. A lienor may not waive in advance his right to bring an action under the bond against the surety.

(2) The bond shall secure every lien under the direct contract accruing subsequent to its execution and delivery, except that of the contractor. Every claim of lien, except that of the contractor, filed subsequent to execution and delivery of the bond shall be transferred to it with the same effect as liens transferred under s. 713.24. Record notice of the transfer shall be effected by the contractor, or any person having an interest in the property against which the claim of lien has been asserted, by recording in the clerk’s office a notice in substantially the following form:

NOTICE OF BOND

To (Name and Address of Lienor)

You are notified that the claim of lien filed by you on ____________, 20__, and recorded in Official Records Book at page of the public records of County, Florida, is secured by a bond, a copy being attached.

Signed: _________________________ (Name of person recording notice)

The notice shall be verified. The clerk shall mail a copy of the notice to the lienor at the address shown in the claim of lien, or the most recent amendment to it; shall certify to the service on the face of the notice; and shall record the notice. The clerk shall receive the same fee as prescribed in s. 713.24(1) for certifying to a transfer of lien.

(3) A payment bond in substantially the following form shall be sufficient:

PAYMENT BOND BY THIS BOND

We, _____________________________ as Principal, and ____________________________, a corporation, as Surety, are bound to _____________________________, herein called Owner, in the sum of $ for the payment of which we bind ourselves, our heirs, personal representatives, successors, and assigns, jointly and severally.

THE CONDITION OF THIS BOND is that if Principal: 1. Promptly makes payments to all lienors supplying labor, material, and supplies used directly or indirectly by Principal in the prosecution of the work provided in the contract dated, 19, between Principal and Owner for construction of, the contract being made a part of this bond by reference; and 2. Pays Owner all loss, damage, expenses, costs, and attorney’s fees, including appellate proceedings, that Owner sustains because of default by Principal under paragraph 1. of this bond; then this bond is void; otherwise, it remains in full force. Any changes in or under the contract documents and compliance or noncompliance with formalities connected with the contract or with the changes do not affect Surety’s obligation under this bond DATED on ______________, 20__.

(Principal)

(SEAL)

(Surety’s name)

By As Attorney in Fact

(4) The provisions of s. 713.24(3) shall apply to bonds under this section.

713.24 Transfer of Liens to Security

(1) Any lien claimed under this part may be transferred, by any person having an interest in the real property upon which the lien is imposed or the contract under which the lien is claimed, from such real property to other security by either:

(a) Depositing in the clerk’s office a sum of money, or
(b) Filing in the clerk’s office a bond executed as surety by a surety insurer licensed to do business in this state, either to be in an amount equal to the amount demanded in such claim of lien, plus interest thereon at the legal rate for 3 years, plus $500 to apply on any court costs which may be taxed in any proceeding to enforce said lien. Such deposit or bond shall be conditioned to pay any judgment or decree which may be rendered for the satisfaction of the lien for which such claim of lien was recorded. Upon making such deposit or filing such bond, the clerk shall make and record a certificate showing the transfer of the lien from the real property to the security and shall mail a copy thereof by registered or certified mail to the lienor named in the claim of lien so transferred, at the address stated therein. Upon filing the certificate of transfer, the real property shall thereupon be released from the lien claimed, and such lien shall be transferred to said security. The clerk shall be entitled to a fee for making and serving the certificate, in the sum of $10. If the transaction involves the transfer of multiple liens, an additional charge of $5 for each additional lien shall be charged. For recording the certificate and approving the bond, the clerk shall receive his usual statutory service charges as prescribed in s. 28.24. Any number of liens may be transferred to one such security.

(2) Any excess of the security over the aggregate amount of any judgments or decrees rendered plus costs actually taxed shall be repaid to the party filing the same or his successor in interest. Any deposit of money shall be considered as paid into court and shall be subject to the provisions of law relative to payments of money into court and the disposition of same.
(3) Any party having an interest in such security or the property from which the lien was transferred may at any time, and any number of times, file a complaint in chancery in the circuit court of the county where such security is deposited, or file a motion in a pending action to enforce a lien, for an order to require additional security, reduction of security, change or substitution of sureties, payment of discharge thereof, or any other matter affecting said security.
(4) If no proceeding to enforce a transferred lien shall be commenced within the time specified in s. 713.22 or if it appears that the transferred lien has been satisfied of record, the clerk shall return said security upon request of the person depositing or filing the same, or the insurer.

713.245 Conditional Payment Bond

(1) Notwithstanding any provisions of ss. 713.23 and 713.24 to the contrary, if the contractor’s written contractual obligation to pay lienors is expressly conditioned upon and limited to the payments made by the owner to the contractor, the duty of the surety to pay lienors will be coextensive with the duty of the contractor to pay, if the bond contains on the front page, in at least 10-point type, the statement:

THIS BOND ONLY COVERS CLAIMS OF SUBCONTRACTORS, SUB-SUBCONTRACTORS, SUPPLIERS, AND LABORERS TO THE EXTENT THE CONTRACTOR HAS BEEN PAID FOR THE LABOR, SERVICES, OR MATERIALS PROVIDED BY SUCH PERSONS. THIS BOND DOES NOT PRECLUDE YOU FROM SERVING A NOTICE TO OWNER OR FILING A CLAIM OF LIEN ON THIS PROJECT.

(2) Except as specified in this section, all bonds issued under this section must conform to the requirements of s. 713.23(1)(a), (b), (f), and (4). No action shall be instituted or prosecuted against the contractor or the surety after 1 year from the date the lien is transferred to the bond.
(3) The owner’s property is not exempt from liens filed under this part. All lienors must comply with the provisions of this part to preserve and perfect those lien rights.
(4) Within 90 days after a claim of lien is recorded for labor, services, or materials for which the contractor has been paid, the owner or the contractor may record a notice of bond as specified in s. 713.23(2), together with a copy of the bond and a sworn statement in substantially the following form:

CERTIFICATE OF PAYMENT TO THE CONTRACTOR TO:

Lienor (name and address from claim of lien)
Contractor (name and address)
Surety (name and address)

Under penalties of perjury, the undersigned certifies that the bond recorded with this certificate conforms with s. 713.245, F.S., that the bond is in full force and effect, and that the contractor has been paid $__________ for the labor, services, and materials described in the Claim of Lien filed ____________________ by dated ______________, 20__, and recorded _______________, 20__, in Official Records Book at Page of the Public Records of County, Florida. Dated this day of _________________, 20__.

(Owner)
(Address)

Sworn to and subscribed before me, the undersigned authority, this day of, 20__.

(Name)

NOTARY PUBLIC My Commission Expires:

(Contractor)
(Address)

Sworn to and subscribed before me, the undersigned authority, this ____ day of ________________, 20__.

(Name)

NOTARY PUBLIC My Commission Expires:
Any notice of bond recorded more than 90 days after the recording of the claim of lien shall have no force or effect as to that lien unless the owner, the contractor and the surety all sign the notice of bond.

(5) The clerk shall serve a copy of the notice, the bond, and the certificate on the contractor, the surety, and the lienor; certify to the service on the face of the notice, the bond, and the certificate; record the notice, the bond, and the certificate; and collect a fee in accordance with s. 713.23(2).
(6) The contractor may join in a certificate of payment to the contractor at any time by recording a sworn statement substantially in the following form:

JOINDER IN CERTIFICATE OF PAYMENT

TO: _________________________________________ Owner (name and address from certificate of payment)
Lienor (name and address from claim of lien)
Surety (name and address)

The undersigned joins in the Certificate of Payment to the Contractor recorded on ________________________, 20__, in Official Records Book ______ at Page ______ of the Public
Records of ____________________________ County, Florida, and certifies that the facts stated in the Certificate of Payment to the Contractor are true and correct. Dated this ____ day of _______________, 20__.

(Name)
(Address)

Sworn to and subscribed before me, the undersigned authority, this ____ day of ____________, 20__.

(Name)
NOTARY PUBLIC My Commission Expires:

(7) The clerk shall serve the joinder in certificate of payment on the owner, the surety, and the lienor; certify to the service on the face of the joinder; record the joinder; and collect a fee in accordance with s. 713.23(2).
(8) If the contractor disputes the certificate of payment to the contractor, the contractor must record, not later than 15 days after the date the clerk certifies service of the certificate, a sworn statement in substantially the following form:

NOTICE OF CONTEST OF PAYMENT

TO: ____________________________ Owner (name and address from certificate of payment)

Lienor (name and address from claim of lien)

Surety (name and address) Under penalties of perjury, the undersigned certifies that the contractor has not been paid or has only been paid $ for the labor, services, and materials described in the Certificate of Payment to the Contractor recorded in Official Records Book ______ at Page ______ of the Public Records of ____________________ County, Florida. Dated this ____ day of ________________, 20__.

(Name)
(Address)

Sworn to and subscribed before me, the undersigned authority, this __ day of ________________, 20__.

(Name)

NOTARY PUBLIC
My Commission Expires:

(9) The clerk shall serve a copy of the notice of contest of payment on the owner, the lienor, and the surety; certify service on the face of the notice; record the notice; and collect a fee in accordance with s. 713.23(2).
(10) If the contractor has signed the certificate of payment to the contractor or the joinder in the certificate or the contractor fails to record a notice of contest of payment within 15 days after the date the clerk certifies service of a certificate of payment to the contractor signed by the owner, the lien shall transfer to the bond to the extent of payment specified in the certificate of payment to the contractor. To the extent the lien exceeds the amount specified in the certificate of payment to the contractor, such amount shall remain as a lien on the owner’s property. The surety may assert all claims or defenses of the owner regarding the validity of the claim of lien or of the contractor regarding the amount due the lienor.
(11) If the notice of contest of payment specifies that the contractor has been paid a portion of the amount due the lienor, the lien shall transfer to the bond to the extent of the payment specified in the notice of contest of payment. To the extent the lien exceeds the amount specified in the notice of contest of payment, such amount shall remain as a lien on the owner’s property. The surety may assert all claims or defenses of the owner regarding the validity of the claim of lien or of the contractor regarding the amount due the lienor.
(12) If there are any material misstatements of fact made by the owner or the contractor in any certificate of payment to the contractor, or by the contractor in any notice of contest of payment, the person making the material misstatement is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. The penalties apply individually and to the business entity if the false certificate is signed in a representative capacity.
(13) The certificate of payment to the contractor and the notice of contest of payment must be signed by the owner or the contractor individually if he is a natural person, by the general partner if the owner or the contractor is a limited partnership, by a partner if the owner or the contractor is a general partnership, by the president or a vice president if the owner or the contractor is a corporation, or by any authorized agent if the owner or the contractor is any other type of business entity.
(14) In an action to enforce a lien, the owner shall not be considered the prevailing party solely because the lien is transferred to a conditional payment bond after the action to enforce the lien is brought.

713.25 Applicability of Ch. 65-456

This act shall take effect on July 1, 1965, but shall not apply to any act required to be done within a time period which is running on that date nor shall apply to existing projects where its operation would impair vested rights.

713.26 Redemption and Sale

The right of redemption upon all sales under this part shall exist in favor of the person whose interest is sold and may be exercised in the same manner as is or may be provided for redemption of real property from sales under mortgages.

713.27 Interplead

An owner or other person holding funds for disbursement on an improvement shall have the right to interplead such lienor and any other person having or claiming to have an interest in the real property improved or a contract relating to the improvement thereof, whenever there is a dispute between lienors as to the amounts due or to become due them. If the court decrees the interpleader, it may transfer all claims to the funds held by the plaintiff. In such case the court shall require said fund to be deposited in registry of court and, effective upon such deposit, shall decree the real property to be free of all liens and claims of lien of the parties to the suit.

713.28 Judgments in Case of Failure to Establish Liens; Personal and Deficiency Judgments or Decrees

(1) If a lienor shall fail, for any reason, to establish a lien for the full amount found to be due him in an action to enforce the same under the provisions of this part, he may, in addition to the lien decreed in his favor, recover a judgment or decree in such action against any party liable therefore for such sums in excess of the lien as are due him or which he might recover in an action on a contract against any party to the action from whom such sums are due him.
(2) In any action heretofore or hereafter brought a court may, either before or after the final adjudication, award a summary money judgment or decree in favor of any party. This shall not preclude the rendition of other judgments or decrees in the action.
(3) If, upon the sale of the real property under any judgment or decree there is a deficiency of proceeds to pay the amount of such judgment or decree, the judgment or decree may be enforced for the deficiency against any person liable therefore in the same manner and under the same conditions as deficiency decrees in mortgage foreclosures. Any payment made on account of any judgment or decree in favor of a party shall be credited on any other judgment or decree rendered in favor of that party in the same action.

713.29 Attorney’s Fees

In any action brought to enforce a lien or to enforce a claim against a bond under this part, the prevailing party is entitled to recover a reasonable fee for the services of his attorney for trial and appeal or for arbitration, in an amount to be determined by the court, which fee must be taxed as part of his costs, as allowed in equitable actions.

713.30 Other Actions Not Barred

This part shall be cumulative to other existing remedies and nothing contained in this part shall be construed to prevent any lienor or assignee under any contract from maintaining an action thereon at law in like manner as if he had no lien for the security of his debt, and the bringing of such action shall not prejudice his rights under this part, except as herein otherwise expressly provided.

713.31 Remedies in Case of Fraud or Collusion

(1) When the owner or any lienor shall, by fraud or collusion, deprive or attempt to deprive any lienor of benefits or rights to which such lienor is entitled under this part by establishing or manipulating the contract price or by giving false affidavits, releases, invoices, worthless checks, statements, or written instruments permitted or required under this part relating to the improvement of real property hereunder to the detriment of any such lienor, the circuit court in chancery shall have jurisdiction, upon a complaint filed by such lienor, to issue temporary and permanent injunctions, order accountings, grant discovery, utilize all remedies available under creditors’ bills and proceedings supplementary to execution, marshal assets, and exercise any other appropriate legal or equitable remedies or procedures without regard to the adequacy of a remedy at law or whether or not irreparable damage has or will be done.
(2) (a) Any lien asserted under this part in which the lienor has willfully exaggerated the amount for which such lien is claimed or in which the lienor has willfully included a claim for work not performed upon or materials not furnished for the property upon which he seeks to impress such lien or in which the lienor has compiled his claim with such willful and gross negligence as to amount to a willful exaggeration shall be deemed a fraudulent lien.
(b) It is a complete defense to any action to enforce a lien under this part, or against any lien in any action in which the validity of the lien is an issue, that the lien is a fraudulent lien; and the court so finding is empowered to and shall declare the lien unenforceable, and the lienor thereupon forfeits his right to any lien on the property upon which he sought to impress such fraudulent lien. However, a minor mistake or error in a claim of lien, or a good faith dispute as to the amount due does not constitute a willful exaggeration that operates to defeat an otherwise valid lien.
(c) An owner against whose interest in real property a fraudulent lien is filed, or any contractor, subcontractor, or sub-subcontractor who suffers damages as a result of the filing of the fraudulent lien, shall have a right of action for damages occasioned thereby. The action may be instituted independently of any other action, or in connection with a summons to show cause under s. 713.21, or as a counterclaim or cross-claim to any action to enforce or to determine the validity of the lien. The lienor who files a fraudulent lien shall be liable to the owner or the defrauded party in damages, which shall include court costs, clerk’s fees, a reasonable attorney’s fee for services in securing the discharge of the lien, the amount of any premium for a bond given to obtain the discharge of the lien, interest on any money deposited for the purpose of discharging the lien, and punitive damages in an amount not exceeding the difference between the amount claimed by the lienor to be due or to become due and the amount actually due or to become due.
(3) Any person who willfully files a fraudulent lien, as defined in this section, commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

713.32 Insurance Proceeds Liable for Demands

The proceeds of any insurance that by the terms of the policy contract are payable to the owner of improved real property or a lienor and actually received or to be received by him because of the damage, destruction, or removal by fire or other casualty of an improvement on which lienors have furnished labor or services or materials shall, after the owner or lienor, as the case may be, has been reimbursed therefrom for any premiums paid by him, be liable to liens or demands for payment provided by this part to the same extent and in the same manner, order of priority, and conditions as the real property or payments under a direct contract would have been, if the improvement not been so damaged, destroyed, or removed. The insurer may pay the proceeds of the policy of insurance to the insured named in the policy and thereupon any liability of the insurer under this part shall cease. The named insured who receives any proceeds of the policy shall be deemed a trustee of the proceeds, and the proceeds shall be deemed trust funds for the purposes designated by this section for a period of 1 year from the date of receipt of the proceeds. This section shall not apply to that part of the proceeds of any policy of insurance payable to a person, including a mortgagee, who holds a lien perfected before the recording of the notice of commencement or recommencement.

713.33 Disbursing Agent and Others May Rely on Owner’s Notices

When the proceeds of a construction or improvement loan or any portion thereof are being disbursed by a person other than the owner, any affidavit, notice or other instrument which is permitted or required under this part to be furnished to the owner may be relied upon by such other person in making such disbursements to the same extent as the owner is entitled to rely upon the same.

713.345 Moneys Received for Real Property Improvements; Penalty for Misapplication

(1) (a) A person, firm, or corporation, or an agent, officer, or employee thereof, who receives any payment on account of improving real property must apply such portion of any payment to the payment of all amounts then due and owing for services and labor which were performed on, or materials which were furnished for, such improvement prior to receipt of the payment. This paragraph does not prevent any person from withholding any payment, or any part of a payment, in accordance with the terms of a contract for services, labor, or materials, or pursuant to a bona fide dispute regarding the amount due, if any, for such services, labor, or materials.
(b) Any person who knowingly and intentionally fails to comply with paragraph (a) is guilty of misapplication of construction funds, punishable as follows: 1. If the amount of payments misapplied have an aggregate value of $100,000 or more, the violator is guilty of a felony of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. 2. If the amount of payments misapplied have an aggregate value of $20,000 or more but less than $100,000, the violator is guilty of a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. 3. If the amount of payments misapplied have an aggregate value of less than $20,000, the violator is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
(2) The provisions of this section do not apply to mortgage bankers or their agents, servants, or employees for their acts in the usual course of the business of lending or disbursing mortgage funds.

713.346 Payment on Construction Contracts

(1) Any person who receives a payment for constructing or altering permanent improvements to real property shall pay, in accordance with the contract terms, the undisputed contract obligations for labor, services, or materials provided on account of such improvements.
(2) The failure to pay any undisputed obligations for such labor, services, or materials within 30 days after the date the labor, services, or materials were furnished and payment for such labor, services, or materials became due, or within 30 days after the date payment for such labor, services, or materials is received, whichever last occurs, shall entitle any person providing such labor, services, or materials to the procedures specified in subsection (3) and the remedies provided in subsection (4).
(3) Any person providing labor, services, or materials for improvements to real property may file a verified complaint alleging:

(a) The existence of a contract, as defined in s. 713.01, to improve real property.
(b) A description of the labor, services, or materials provided and alleging that the labor, services, or materials were provided in accordance with the contract.
(c) The amount of the contract price.
(d) The amount, if any, paid pursuant to the contract.
(e) The amount that remains unpaid pursuant to the contract, and the amount thereof that is undisputed.
(f) That the undisputed amount has remained due and payable pursuant to the contract for more than 30 days after the date the labor or services were accepted or the materials were received.
(g) That the person against whom the complaint was filed has received payment on account of the labor, services, or materials described in the complaint more than 30 days prior to the date the complaint was filed.

(4) After service of the complaint, the court shall conduct an evidentiary hearing on the complaint, upon not less than 15 days’ written notice. The person providing labor, services, or materials is entitled to the following remedies to the extent of the undisputed amount due for labor or services performed or materials supplied, and upon proof of each allegation in the complaint:

(a) An accounting of the use of any such payment from the person who received such payment.
(b) A temporary injunction against the person who received the payment, subject to the bond requirements specified in the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure.
(c) Prejudgment attachment against the person who received the payment, in accordance with each of the requirements of chapter 76.
(d) Such other legal or equitable remedies as may be appropriate in accordance with the requirements of the law.

(5) The remedies specified in subsection (4) must be granted without regard to any other remedy at law and without regard to whether or not irreparable damage has occurred or will occur.
(6) The remedies specified in subsection (4) do not apply:

(a) To the extent of a bona fide dispute regarding any portion of the contract price.
(b) In the event the plaintiff has committed a material breach of the contract which would relieve the defendant from the obligations under the contract.

(7) The prevailing party in any proceeding under this section is entitled to recover costs, including a reasonable attorney’s fee, at trial and on appeal.

713.3471 Lender Responsibilities With Construction Loans

(1) (a) Within 5 business days after a lender makes a final determination, prior to the distribution of all funds available under a construction loan, that the lender will cease further advances pursuant to the loan, the lender shall serve written notice of that decision on the contractor and on any other lienor who has given the lender notice. The lender shall not be liable to the contractor based upon the decision of the lender to cease further advances if the lender gives the contractor notice of such decision in accordance with this subsection and the decision is otherwise permitted under the loan documents.
(b) The failure to give notice to the contractor under paragraph (a) renders the lender liable to the contractor to the extent of the actual value of the materials and direct labor costs furnished by the contractor plus 15 percent for overhead, profit, and all other costs from the date on which notice of the lender’s decision should have been served on the contractor and the date on which notice of the lender’s decision is served on the contractor. The lender and the contractor may agree in writing to any other reasonable method for determining the value of the labor, services, and materials furnished by the contractor.
(c) The liability of the lender shall in no event be greater than the amount of undisbursed funds at the time the notice should have been given unless the failure to give notice was done for the purpose of defrauding the contractor. The lender is not liable to the contractor for consequential or punitive damages for failure to give timely notice under this subsection. The contractor shall have a separate cause of action against the lender for damages sustained as the result of the lender’s failure to give timely notice under this subsection. Such separate cause of action may not be used to hinder or delay any foreclosure action filed by the lender, may not be the basis of any claim for an equitable lien or for equitable subordination of the mortgage lien, and may not be asserted as an offset or a defense in the foreclosure case.
(d) For purposes of serving notice on the contractor under this subsection, the lender may rely on the name and address of the contractor listed in the notice of commencement or, if no notice of commencement is recorded, on the name and address of the contractor listed in the uniform building permit application. For purposes of serving notice on any other lienor under this subsection, the lender may rely upon the name and address of the lienor listed in the notice to owner.
(e) The contractor or any other lienor may not waive the right to receive notice under this paragraph.
(2) (a) If the lender and the borrower have designated a portion of the construction loan proceeds, the borrower may not authorize the lender to disburse the funds so designated for any other purpose until the owner serves the contractor and any other lienor who has given the owner a notice to owner with written notice of that decision, including the amount of such loan proceeds to be disbursed. For the purposes of this subsection, the term “designated construction loan proceeds” means that portion of the loan allocated to actual construction costs of the facility and shall not include allocated loan proceeds for tenant improvements where the contractor has no contractual obligation or work order to proceed with such improvements. The lender shall not be liable to the contractor based upon the reallocation of the loan proceeds or the disbursement of the loan proceeds if the notice is timely given in accordance with this subsection and the decision is otherwise permitted under the loan documents.
(b) If the lender is permitted under the loan documents to make disbursements from the loan contrary to the original loan budget without the borrower’s prior consent, the lender is responsible for serving the notice to the contractor or other lienor required under this subsection.
(c) This subsection does not apply to a residential project of four units or less.
(d) This subsection does not apply to construction loans of less than $1 million unless the lender has committed to make more than one loan, the total of which loans are greater than $1 million, for the purpose of evading this subsection.
(e) The owner or the lender is not required to give notice to the contractor or any other lienor under this subsection unless the total amount of all disbursements described in paragraph (a) exceed 5 percent of the original amount of the designated construction loan proceeds or $100,000, whichever is less.
(f) Disbursement of loan proceeds contrary to this subsection renders the lender liable to the contractor to the extent of any such disbursements or to the extent of the actual value of the materials and direct labor costs plus 15 percent for overhead, profit, and all other costs, whichever is less. The lender is not liable to the contractor for consequential or punitive damages for disbursing loan proceeds in violation of this subsection. The contractor shall have a separate cause of action against the lender for damages sustained as the result of the disbursement of loan proceeds in violation of this subsection. Such separate cause of action may not be used to hinder or delay any foreclosure action filed by the lender, may not be the basis of any claim for equitable subordination of the mortgage lien, and may not be asserted as an offset or a defense in the foreclosure case.
(g) For purposes of serving notice on the contractor under this subsection, the lender may rely upon the name and address of the contractor listed in the notice of commencement or, if no notice of commencement is recorded, the name and address of the contractor listed in the uniform building permit application. For purposes of serving notice on any other lienor under this subsection, the lender may rely upon the name and address of the lienor listed in the notice to owner.
(h) For purposes of this subsection, the lender may rely upon a written statement, signed under oath by the contractor or any other lienor, that confirms that the contractor or the lienor has received the written notice required by this subsection.
(i) A contractor and any other lienor may not waive his right to receive notice under this subsection.

713.35 Making or Furnishing False Statement

Any person, firm, or corporation who knowingly and intentionally makes or furnishes to another person, firm, or corporation, a written statement in the form of an affidavit, whether or not under oath, containing false information about the payment status of subcontractors, sub-subcontractors, or suppliers in connection with the improvement of real property in this state, knowing that the one to whom it was furnished might rely on it, and the one to whom it was furnished will part with draw payments or final payment relying on the truth of such statement as an inducement to do so is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

713.36 Effective Date

Chapter 63-135 shall take effect at 12:01 a.m., October 1, 1963. The rights of all persons with respect to an improvement that has a time of visible commencement prior to October 1, 1963, shall be determined and enforced as provided in former ss. 84.01-84.35, as they existed prior to October 1, 1963. As to all other rights, former ss. 84.01-84.35 are repealed concurrently with the effective time of this part.

713.37 Rule of Construction

This part shall not be subject to a rule of liberal construction in favor of any person to whom it applies.