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HomeCivil CodeDiv. 4Pt. 6Ch. 3§ 8134 Progress Payment Waiver Rules

§ 8134 Progress Payment Waiver Rules

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

§ 8134 Progress Payment Waiver Rules

Key Takeaways

  • •If you sign a paper saying you got paid for work but didn't actually get the money, the paper is useless unless it looks exactly like the special form in the law.
  • •The special form must have a big warning at the top saying that you're giving 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 the money.
  • •The form lets you list exceptions, like money still owed or extra work you did that wasn't paid for.

Example

You fix someone's roof, and they ask you to sign a paper saying you got paid $1,000, but they haven't given you the money yet.

If the paper doesn't look exactly like the special form in the law, with the big warning, it's not valid. You should use a different form that says you'll give up your rights only after you get the money.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 8134 Progress Payment Waiver Rules

If the claimant is required to execute a waiver and release in exchange for, or in order to induce payment of, a progress payment and the claimant asserts in the waiver that the claimant has, in fact, been paid the progress 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 PROGRESS 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: Through Date: Unconditional Waiver and Release This document waives and releases lien, stop payment notice, and payment bond rights the claimant has for labor and service provided, and equipment and material delivered, to the customer on this job through the Through Date of this document. 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 received the following progress payment: $ Exceptions This document does not affect any of the following: (1) Retentions. (2) Extras for which the claimant has not received payment. (3) Contract rights, including (A) a right based on rescission, abandonment, or breach of contract, and (B) the right to recover compensation for work not compensated by the payment. 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

waiver and releaseprogress paymentNotice to Claimantlienstop payment noticepayment bond rights

Related Statutes

  • § 8138 Final Payment Waiver Requirements
  • § 8126 Lien Waiver Void Without Payment
  • § 8132 Progress Payment Waiver Rules
  • § 8122 Contract Claimant Rights Protection
  • § 8124 Lien Waiver Release Requirements

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Civil Code. Section 8134.
View Official Source