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HomeCivil CodeDiv. 4Pt. 6Ch. 3§ 8138 Final Payment Waiver Requirements

§ 8138 Final Payment Waiver Requirements

Civil Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 8138 Final Payment Waiver Requirements

Key Takeaways

  • •If you sign a paper saying you got your final payment, but you didn't actually get paid, the paper is not valid unless it has a specific warning in big letters.
  • •The warning must say that signing the paper means you give up your rights to get paid, even if you haven't been paid yet.
  • •If you haven't been paid, you should use a different form that says you'll give up your rights only after you get paid.
  • •The paper must include details like your name, the customer's name, where the job was, and who owns the property.

Example

You finish a construction job, and the boss gives you a paper to sign that says you got your final payment. But you haven't actually been paid yet.

If the paper doesn't have the big warning saying you're giving up your rights to get paid, it's not valid. You should use a different form that says you'll give up your rights only after you get paid.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 8138 Final Payment Waiver Requirements

If the claimant is required to execute a waiver and release in exchange for, or in order to induce payment of, a final payment and the claimant asserts in the waiver that the claimant has, in fact, been paid the final payment, the waiver and release shall be null, void, and unenforceable unless it is in substantially the following form, with the text of the “Notice to Claimant” in at least as large a type as the largest type otherwise in the form: UNCONDITIONAL WAIVER AND RELEASE ON FINAL PAYMENT NOTICE TO CLAIMANT: THIS DOCUMENT WAIVES AND RELEASES LIEN, STOP PAYMENT NOTICE, AND PAYMENT BOND RIGHTS UNCONDITIONALLY AND STATES THAT YOU HAVE BEEN PAID FOR GIVING UP THOSE RIGHTS. THIS DOCUMENT IS ENFORCEABLE AGAINST YOU IF YOU SIGN IT, EVEN IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN PAID. IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN PAID, USE A CONDITIONAL WAIVER AND RELEASE FORM. Identifying Information Name of Claimant: Name of Customer: Job Location: Owner: Unconditional Waiver and Release This document waives and releases lien, stop payment notice, and payment bond rights the claimant has for all labor and service provided, and equipment and material delivered, to the customer on this job. Rights based upon labor or service provided, or equipment or material delivered, pursuant to a written change order that has been fully executed by the parties prior to the date that this document is signed by the claimant, are waived and released by this document, unless listed as an Exception below. The claimant has been paid in full. Exceptions This document does not affect the following: Disputed claims for extras in the amount of: $ Signature Claimant’s Signature: Claimant’s Title: Date of Signature: (Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 697, Sec. 20. (SB 189) Effective January 1, 2011. Operative July 1, 2012, by Sec. 105 of Ch. 697 and by Section 8052.)

Last verified: January 21, 2026

Key Terms

UNCONDITIONAL WAIVER AND RELEASE ON FINAL PAYMENTNotice to Claimantlienstop payment noticepayment bond rights

Related Statutes

  • § 8134 Progress Payment Waiver Rules
  • § 8126 Lien Waiver Void Without Payment
  • § 8128 Stop Payment Notice Release
  • § 8302 Design Professional Lien Rights
  • § 8304 Design Professional Lien Requirements

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Civil Code. Section 8138.
View Official Source