Construction Law Articles
Rights Under Express Easements in Utah
Joseph G. Ballstaedt801.365.1021joe@snjlegal.com An easement is the right to use another person’s land. In Utah, easements can be created in a variety of ways, including by expressly giving an easement, by implication, by necessity, and by adverse possession (a prescriptive easement). This ...
Read More → What Can a Utah Property Owner Do When a Co-Owner Fails to Pay Property Expenses?
Joseph G. Ballstaedt801.365.1021joe@snjlegal.com In Utah, a person can hold title to real estate with other people in a variety of ways, including as joint tenants with rights of survivorship or tenants in common. Spouses regularly share ownership of a property, but friends, business partners, ...
Read More → Does Amending a Recorded Notice of Lien Reset the Deadline to Foreclose on a Construction Lien in Utah?
Joseph G. Ballstaedt801.365.1021joe@snjlegal.com To preserve a lien claim, a lien claimant must, among other things, record a notice of construction lien with the county recorder’s office, and within 180 days thereafter, initiate a lawsuit to foreclose on that lien. But ...
Read More → Timelines (and the Statute of Limitations) for Foreclosing on a Trust Deed in Utah
Joseph G. Ballstaedt801.365.1021joe@snjlegal.com In Utah, trust deeds are often used to secure loans, ranging from loans for homebuyers to loans for general contractors used to finance real estate developments. The real property identified in the trust deed acts as collateral. ...
Read More → How to Deal with Ambiguous Contracts in Utah
Joseph G. Ballstaedt801.365.1021joe@snjlegal.com What happens when two parties to a contract disagree about what the contract language means? How are ambiguities in a contract resolved? Utah courts and judges should interpret and enforce each contract in a way that is ...
Read More → Utah Construction Liens: an overview of the Five Basic Steps
Joseph G. Ballstaedt 801.365.1021 joe@snjlegal.com In Utah, a construction lien is a valuable tool for any contractor, subcontractor, or supplier who does not receive payment for work it performs on a construction project. If the party who contracted for the ...
Read More → Lien Worthy Restoration Work
In Utah, to lien, you must do more than clean. Restoration contractors often do more than clean up when disaster strikes a home or business. When a restoration contractor physically improves the structure, there may be a basis for a lien ...
Read More → The Final Steps of a Lien Claim: Winning the Lawsuit, Selling the Property, and Dividing up Proceeds
Joseph G. Ballstaedt801.365.1021joe@snjlegal.com In prior articles, I explained four general steps to preserving and enforcing a construction lien (also known as a mechanic’s lien) in Utah. These steps include: 1) filing a preliminary notice; 2) recording a notice of construction lien; 3) filing ...
Read More → Force Majeure Clauses and COVID-19
Many contracts include what is commonly known as a “Force Majeure” clause. “Force Majeure” translates literally as “superior strength.” Force majeure clauses may also be known as “Act of God” clauses. A force majeure clause is intended to reduce or ...
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