I'm a contractor, an electrician...if I wanted to spend my days in court, I would have chosen another line of work.
The area of liens is one that varies greatly btate by state. Just as you would not ask your accountant for electrical advice....
In several places, the "Good book" tells us to avoid court at all costs- once in front of the judge, all bets are off! (Many of these remarks are in a part called 'wisdom' for some reason.)
The best way to solve the problem is to avoid it. The primary way of avoiding it is to know your customer. A zebra isn't going to change his stripes for you!
One of the ironies of working in Nevada is that you quickly find better ethics (regarding payment, anyways) in Brothels than Churches. "Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show" ought to be ashamed.
I still, ocasionally, get a call from a customer who once stiffed me for $600. My answer is the same each time:
"I'd love to have the work- after you pay me for the last job!"
