Getting Paid
Quotes, deposits, invoices, holdbacks, prompt payment, builders liens and what to do when a contractor will not pay.
13 guides in this section
Prompt Payment Explained
How prompt-payment law works in Canada: the 28-day and 7-day clocks, the proper invoice, and which provinces have it in force, enacted, or none in 2026.
Builders Lien Basics
What a builders lien is and how it secures your money: preservation versus perfection, the holdback link, the deficiency trap, and Quebec's separate legal hypothec.
Lien Deadlines by Province
Per-province builders lien preservation deadlines and holdback percentages across Canada, plus how the deadline can depend on your contract date in transition provinces.
The Statutory Holdback Explained
How the construction holdback works in Canada: who holds it, when it is released, and the 10%, 7.5% and other percentages by province, with a worked example.
Chasing an Unpaid Invoice
The practical ladder for an unpaid invoice in Canada: reminder, demand letter, lien, adjudication and small claims, the limits by province, and the limitation clock.
When a Contractor Will Not Pay
A decision guide for unpaid Canadian trades: lien versus prompt-pay adjudication versus small claims, which to use first, and how the deadlines interact.
How Construction Adjudication Works
Construction adjudication explained: the 30 to 46 day fast-track decision, who runs it (ODACC, CanDACC, SCDRO, MPPAA), what it costs, and where it applies.
Filing a Builders Lien Step by Step
How to file a builders lien in Canada: pin your last day, gather the content, use your province's form, swear the affidavit, and register before the deadline.
The Proper Invoice Checklist
What makes an invoice "proper" so the prompt-payment clock starts: the full content checklist plus Alberta, Ontario and federal-project extras, in 2026.
Notice of Non-Payment Explained
The notice of non-payment under prompt-payment law: the 14-day and 21-day deadlines, what makes it valid, and why a missed notice means the payer must pay.
Debt Collection and Limitation Periods
How long you have to sue for an unpaid invoice in Canada: 2, 3 or 6 years by province, how an acknowledgement resets the clock, and the collection pathway.
Getting Paid in Quebec
How tradespeople get paid in Quebec: the legal hypothec (30 days to register, 6 months to act), the prior-notice trap, no holdback, and the public-project rules.
The Builders Lien: The Complete Guide
The complete builders lien guide for Canada: what a lien is, the all-13 deadline and holdback matrix, preservation vs perfection, and Quebec's hypothec.