CONTRACTOR GLOSSARY · LIEN & LEGAL
What is a Lien waiver?
A lien waiver gives up lien rights for work or payment described in the waiver — signed routinely with each payment, and dangerous when the wrong type is signed.
Every requisition cycle, someone hands you a lien waiver to sign before releasing the check. The four types matter enormously: conditional waivers take effect only when payment actually clears; unconditional waivers take effect on signing whether or not the check is good. Each comes in partial (this payment) and final (the whole job) versions.
The rules that keep subs safe: never sign an unconditional waiver for money you haven't actually received, read the through-date and amount on every waiver, and watch for final waivers slipped into progress payments. Some states mandate statutory waiver forms; others let contracts insert waiver language that reaches further than the payment in front of you.
Common questions
What's the difference between conditional and unconditional lien waivers?
A conditional waiver only takes effect when the payment actually clears; an unconditional waiver waives rights immediately on signing. Never sign unconditional for uncollected funds.
Should you sign a final lien waiver on a progress payment?
No — a final waiver releases rights for the whole job and belongs only with true final payment. On progress payments, sign partial waivers matched to the amount received.
Related terms
RevnuPros tracks the thing, not just the word
Permits to sign-off, T&M tags to signature, materials to billed through, retainage to released — built for subcontractors. Browse the full contractor glossary or the Massachusetts permit guide.
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