article
The Texas COI Nightmare: Why Your Contractor Might Be Working for Free
Rising litigation costs and referral disputes push this issue into focus now. Owners, design firms, and contractors feel the pressure across the state.
The Texas COI Nightmare: Why Your Contractor Might Be Working for Free is an unpaid lien risk. This gap arises when pay-if-paid clauses shift costs to contractors. Studies indicate unclear contractual language worsens these exposure gaps for trade partners.
Many standard forms embed conditional payment language silently. Courts sometimes enforce these clauses, leaving contractors without expected compensation. Clear contract review identifies payment conditions before work starts.
Owners should verify payment flow down during bidding. One-line takeaway: clarify payment obligations to shield your cash flow.
Who handles conditional payment clauses in Texas?
Typically, contractors and subcontractors address these terms during contract review. Legal counsel helps interpret risks tied to pay-if-paid language.
Does this only affect large commercial projects?
This risk appears on many project sizes when payment conditions exist. Written agreements determine how costs and delays impact each trade partner.