---
title: California 20-Day Preliminary Notice
description: Generate a California 20-Day Preliminary Notice, review the PDF, and mail it by Certified Mail with PostalForm.
seotitle: California 20-Day Preliminary Notice
seo-description: Generate a California 20-Day Preliminary Notice, review the PDF, and mail it by Certified Mail with PostalForm.
group: resources
indexable: true
llms: true
schema: webpage
og-image: /forms/california-20-day-preliminary-notice/thumbnail
og-image-alt: California 20-Day Preliminary Notice generated form preview
published: 2026-04-26
updated: 2026-05-06
tags:
  - business
  - construction
  - contractors
  - collections
  - legal notices
  - california
path: /forms/california-20-day-preliminary-notice
---
# California 20-Day Preliminary Notice

Generate a California 20-Day Preliminary Notice, review the PDF, and mail it by Certified Mail with PostalForm.

## How it works
1. **Answer guided questions about your role, first furnishing date, claimant details, project, and recipients.** - 
2. **PostalForm generates the California preliminary notice packet and proof-of-notice summary.** - 
3. **Review the generated PDF and included attachments before continuing.** - 
4. **PostalForm creates one Certified Mail mailpiece for each recipient so you can check out and track proof.** -


## Form summary
California 20-Day Preliminary Notice helps subcontractors, suppliers, equipment lessors, and small contractors generate a preliminary notice packet, send it to the owner, direct contractor, and construction lender if known, and keep mailing proof.

## What you need
- Your claimant or business contact information
- The California project address and first furnishing date
- A short description of the labor, service, equipment, or materials furnished
- Owner or reputed owner mailing details unless you contracted directly with the owner
- Direct contractor mailing details unless you contracted directly with the owner
- Construction lender mailing details if known
- Optional contracts, invoices, delivery tickets, or project records you want attached
- Contracts, invoices, delivery tickets, or project records (optional) — Upload supporting PDFs or images you want appended behind the generated notice packet.

## Data collected
- Claimant business details, contact details, relationship to the project, and return address
- California private construction project address, first furnishing date, and work or materials description
- Owner, direct contractor, construction lender if known, and optional additional recipient mailing details
- Optional contracts, invoices, delivery tickets, project records, or other supporting documents

## Where it gets mailed
You will enter the recipient address during checkout.

## Packet order
- Cover page
- California 20-Day Preliminary Notice
- Project and recipient summary
- Proof-of-notice mailing summary
- Exhibit index
- Uploaded exhibits in normalized order

## Common mistakes
- Waiting too long after the first furnishing date to prepare and mail the notice.
- Leaving out a known owner, direct contractor, or construction lender recipient.
- Using a job site address when the recipient needs notice at a business or mailing address.
- Treating the deadline helper as legal advice instead of confirming the rule for the project.

## Agent summary
Collect claimant, California private-project, first-furnishing, recipient, and mailing details needed to generate a California 20-Day Preliminary Notice and prepare multi-recipient Certified Mail.

## For assistants
Use the Forms Draft API to prefill this form and generate a preview PDF.
- Endpoint: `POST /api/forms/california-20-day-preliminary-notice/drafts`
- Payload: `{ fields: { ... }, attachments: [{ id, label, base64 }] }`
- Required fields: project_in_california, private_construction_project, claimant_role, contracted_directly_with_owner, first_work_date, sender_name, sender_email, sender_address_line1, sender_city_state_zip, hiring_party_name, job_site_address_line1, job_site_city_state_zip, work_summary, owner_name, owner_address_line1, owner_city_state_zip, direct_contractor_name, direct_contractor_company_name, direct_contractor_address_line1, direct_contractor_city_state_zip, has_construction_lender, lender_name, lender_company_name, lender_address_line1, lender_city_state_zip, additional_recipient_name, additional_recipient_address_line1, additional_recipient_city_state_zip, information_accuracy_acknowledged, recipient_selection_acknowledged, not_legal_advice_acknowledged
- Attachment IDs: contracts_or_project_records
- Notes: This workflow is for private California construction preliminary notices. It does not discover owners or lenders, file liens, record county documents, or provide legal advice.

## LLM field schema
```json
[
  {
    "id": "project_in_california",
    "label": "Is the project in California?",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": "yes_no",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "eligibility",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "private_construction_project",
    "label": "Is this a private construction project?",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": "yes_no",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "eligibility",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "claimant_role",
    "label": "Your role on the project",
    "type": "select",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "eligibility",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "contracted_directly_with_owner",
    "label": "Did you contract directly with the owner or reputed owner?",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": "yes_no",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "eligibility",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "first_work_date",
    "label": "First date you furnished labor, service, equipment, or materials",
    "type": "date",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": "date",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "eligibility",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "sender_name",
    "label": "Claimant or business name",
    "type": "text",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "sender",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "sender_email",
    "label": "Claimant email",
    "type": "text",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": "email",
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "sender",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "sender_phone",
    "label": "Claimant phone (optional)",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "phone",
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "sender",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "trade_profile",
    "label": "Trade, license, or business type (optional)",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "sender",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "sender_address_line1",
    "label": "Claimant mailing address line 1",
    "type": "text",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "sender",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "sender_address_line2",
    "label": "Claimant mailing address line 2 (optional)",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "sender",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "sender_city_state_zip",
    "label": "Claimant city, state, ZIP",
    "type": "compound",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "sender",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": [
      {
        "id": "city",
        "label": "City",
        "metaClass": "city",
        "required": true
      },
      {
        "id": "state",
        "label": "State",
        "metaClass": "state",
        "required": true
      },
      {
        "id": "zip",
        "label": "ZIP",
        "metaClass": "zip",
        "required": true
      }
    ]
  },
  {
    "id": "project_name",
    "label": "Project name (optional)",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "project",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "hiring_party_name",
    "label": "Person or company who hired you",
    "type": "text",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "project",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "job_site_address_line1",
    "label": "Project site address line 1",
    "type": "text",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "project",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "job_site_address_line2",
    "label": "Project site address line 2 (optional)",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "project",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "job_site_city_state_zip",
    "label": "Project city, state, ZIP",
    "type": "compound",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "project",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": [
      {
        "id": "city",
        "label": "City",
        "metaClass": "city",
        "required": true
      },
      {
        "id": "state",
        "label": "State",
        "metaClass": "state",
        "required": true
      },
      {
        "id": "zip",
        "label": "ZIP",
        "metaClass": "zip",
        "required": true
      }
    ]
  },
  {
    "id": "legal_description",
    "label": "Legal description or extra site description (optional)",
    "type": "textarea",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "project",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "work_summary",
    "label": "General statement of work, service, equipment, or materials",
    "type": "textarea",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "project",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "last_work_date",
    "label": "Last furnishing date (optional)",
    "type": "date",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "date",
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "project",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "estimated_contract_amount",
    "label": "Estimated total price of work (optional)",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "currency",
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "project",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "amount_due",
    "label": "Amount due or claimant demand, if any (optional)",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "currency",
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "project",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "owner_name",
    "label": "Owner contact name",
    "type": "text",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "owner",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "owner_company_name",
    "label": "Owner company or trust (optional)",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "owner",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "owner_address_line1",
    "label": "Owner mailing address line 1",
    "type": "text",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "owner",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "owner_address_line2",
    "label": "Owner mailing address line 2 (optional)",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "owner",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "owner_city_state_zip",
    "label": "Owner city, state, ZIP",
    "type": "compound",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "owner",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": [
      {
        "id": "city",
        "label": "City",
        "metaClass": "city",
        "required": true
      },
      {
        "id": "state",
        "label": "State",
        "metaClass": "state",
        "required": true
      },
      {
        "id": "zip",
        "label": "ZIP",
        "metaClass": "zip",
        "required": true
      }
    ]
  },
  {
    "id": "direct_contractor_name",
    "label": "Direct contractor contact name",
    "type": "text",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "direct_contractor",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "direct_contractor_company_name",
    "label": "Direct contractor company",
    "type": "text",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "direct_contractor",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "direct_contractor_address_line1",
    "label": "Direct contractor mailing address line 1",
    "type": "text",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "direct_contractor",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "direct_contractor_address_line2",
    "label": "Direct contractor mailing address line 2 (optional)",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "direct_contractor",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "direct_contractor_city_state_zip",
    "label": "Direct contractor city, state, ZIP",
    "type": "compound",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "direct_contractor",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": [
      {
        "id": "city",
        "label": "City",
        "metaClass": "city",
        "required": true
      },
      {
        "id": "state",
        "label": "State",
        "metaClass": "state",
        "required": true
      },
      {
        "id": "zip",
        "label": "ZIP",
        "metaClass": "zip",
        "required": true
      }
    ]
  },
  {
    "id": "has_construction_lender",
    "label": "Is there a construction lender or reputed construction lender you know about?",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": "yes_no",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "lender_question",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "lender_name",
    "label": "Lender contact name",
    "type": "text",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "lender",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "lender_company_name",
    "label": "Lender company",
    "type": "text",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "lender",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "lender_address_line1",
    "label": "Lender mailing address line 1",
    "type": "text",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "lender",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "lender_address_line2",
    "label": "Lender mailing address line 2 (optional)",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "lender",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "lender_city_state_zip",
    "label": "Lender city, state, ZIP",
    "type": "compound",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "lender",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": [
      {
        "id": "city",
        "label": "City",
        "metaClass": "city",
        "required": true
      },
      {
        "id": "state",
        "label": "State",
        "metaClass": "state",
        "required": true
      },
      {
        "id": "zip",
        "label": "ZIP",
        "metaClass": "zip",
        "required": true
      }
    ]
  },
  {
    "id": "include_additional_recipient",
    "label": "Add another recipient?",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "yes_no",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "additional",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "additional_recipient_name",
    "label": "Additional recipient contact name",
    "type": "text",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "additional",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": {
      "fieldId": "include_additional_recipient",
      "operator": "truthy"
    },
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "additional_recipient_company_name",
    "label": "Additional recipient company (optional)",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "additional",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": {
      "fieldId": "include_additional_recipient",
      "operator": "truthy"
    },
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "additional_recipient_address_line1",
    "label": "Additional recipient mailing address line 1",
    "type": "text",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "additional",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": {
      "fieldId": "include_additional_recipient",
      "operator": "truthy"
    },
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "additional_recipient_address_line2",
    "label": "Additional recipient mailing address line 2 (optional)",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "additional",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": {
      "fieldId": "include_additional_recipient",
      "operator": "truthy"
    },
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "additional_recipient_city_state_zip",
    "label": "Additional recipient city, state, ZIP",
    "type": "compound",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "additional",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": {
      "fieldId": "include_additional_recipient",
      "operator": "truthy"
    },
    "compound_subfields": [
      {
        "id": "city",
        "label": "City",
        "metaClass": "city",
        "required": true
      },
      {
        "id": "state",
        "label": "State",
        "metaClass": "state",
        "required": true
      },
      {
        "id": "zip",
        "label": "ZIP",
        "metaClass": "zip",
        "required": true
      }
    ]
  },
  {
    "id": "information_accuracy_acknowledged",
    "label": "I confirm the information I entered is accurate to the best of my knowledge.",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "acknowledgements",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "recipient_selection_acknowledged",
    "label": "I confirm I am responsible for selecting the correct recipients and mailing addresses.",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "acknowledgements",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "not_legal_advice_acknowledged",
    "label": "I understand PostalForm is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "acknowledgements",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  }
]
```

## Sources
- [California Civil Code sections 8200-8216](https://www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?article=&chapter=2.&division=4.&lawCode=CIV&part=6.&title=2.)
- [California Civil Code sections 8100-8119](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?article=&chapter=2.&division=4.&lawCode=CIV&part=6.&title=1.)
- [Official instructions](https://www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?article=&chapter=2.&division=4.&lawCode=CIV&part=6.&title=2.)

## Last verified
2026-04-26


## FAQs
- **Does PostalForm decide who must receive the California preliminary notice?** No. The workflow suggests owner, direct contractor, and construction lender roles from California Civil Code section 8200, but you are responsible for confirming the correct recipients.
- **Can I send to more than one recipient?** Yes. The workflow collects multiple recipients and creates one addressed Certified Mail piece for each selected recipient.
- **Is this legal advice?** No. PostalForm helps generate, print, mail, and track the packet based on information you provide. It is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.


## Related
- [Arizona 20-Day Preliminary Notice](/forms/arizona-20-day-preliminary-notice)
- [Florida Notice to Owner / Notice to Contractor](/forms/florida-notice-to-owner)
- [Texas Notice of Claim for Unpaid Labor or Materials](/forms/texas-notice-of-claim-unpaid-labor-materials)
- [Payment Demand Packets](/forms/payment-demand-packets)
- [Debt Validation Packets](/forms/debt-validation-packets)
- [Collections forms](/forms/topic/collections)
- [California 20-Day Preliminary Notice online guide](/resources/california-20-day-preliminary-notice)
- [Mail a pre-lien notice online](/demand-letters/mail-pre-lien-notice-online)
- [What to include in a pre-lien notice packet](/demand-letters/what-to-include-in-a-pre-lien-notice-packet)
- [Certified Mail online](/certified-mail-online)