A California Waiver of Lien Agreement by Subcontractor is a legal document used in the construction industry to protect the rights of subcontractors and suppliers who have performed work or provided materials on a construction project. This agreement is essential to waive the right to file a lien against the property owner's interest in the project. In California, subcontractors and suppliers typically use two main types of lien waiver agreements: Conditional Waiver and Unconditional Waiver. 1. Conditional Waiver: A conditional waiver is used when a partial payment or progress payment has been made to the subcontractor. By signing the conditional waiver, the subcontractor acknowledges receiving payment but retains the right to file a lien against the property owner's interest for any unpaid balance if the payment is not made. Keywords: Conditional waiver, subcontractor, construction project, lien, property owner, unpaid balance. 2. Unconditional Waiver: An unconditional waiver is used when the subcontractor receives full payment for their work or materials. By signing the unconditional waiver, the subcontractor relinquishes their right to file a lien against the property owner's interest in exchange for payment received. Keywords: Unconditional waiver, subcontractor, full payment, work, materials, lien, property owner. Both types of waivers can further be classified into the following categories based on the timing of the waiver: 1. Conditional Progress Payment Waiver: Used when a subcontractor receives a payment for completed work or materials and agrees to waive their lien rights for that specific payment. 2. Conditional Final Payment Waiver: Used when a subcontractor receives final payment for the completed project and waives their lien rights for the entire project upon receiving payment. 3. Unconditional Progress Payment Waiver: A subcontractor signs an unconditional waiver for a partial payment, forfeiting their lien rights for that specific payment. 4. Unconditional Final Payment Waiver: A subcontractor signs an unconditional waiver for the final payment, waiving their lien rights for the entire project upon receiving full payment. These variations allow subcontractors to clearly indicate the payment stage at which they are waiving their lien rights, ensuring transparency and accountability in the construction payment process. Keywords: Progress payment, final payment, payment stage, transparency, accountability, construction payment process. In summary, a California Waiver of Lien Agreement by Subcontractor is a legally binding document that allows subcontractors and suppliers to waive their rights to file a lien against a property owner's interest in a construction project. There are different types of waivers, including conditional and unconditional, that can be further categorized based on the timing of payment. It is crucial for subcontractors to understand these variations and choose the appropriate waiver type to protect their interests while maintaining reliable financial relationships with project owners.