Stop-Notice - Virginia
STOP-NOTICE — VIRGINIA CONSTRUCTION CLAIM
Va. Code § 43-11 preliminary notice and verified second notice
Notice 1 — preliminary notice of probable claim
Date: [__/__/____]
From claimant: [LEGAL NAME, ADDRESS, EMAIL, TELEPHONE]
To owner or owner's agent: [LEGAL NAME, MAILING ADDRESS]
To general contractor: [LEGAL NAME, MAILING ADDRESS]
Property and project: [STREET ADDRESS, CITY/COUNTY, VIRGINIA; PROJECT DESCRIPTION]
Claimant's contract: [CONTRACT DATE, CONTRACTING PARTY, AND CLAIMANT'S ROLE IN CONTRACT CHAIN]
Pursuant to Va. Code § 43-11(1), Claimant gives preliminary notice of the following contract and probable claim for labor or materials furnished to the project:
Nature and character of contract and work or materials: [DESCRIBE WORK, MATERIALS, CONTRACT TIER, AND PERFORMANCE PERIOD]
Probable amount of claim: $[AMOUNT]
Basis for estimate: [INVOICES, ORDERS, CHANGES, AND PAYMENTS]
Please direct questions and payment correspondence to the claimant address above. This notice does not itself compel an owner, lender, or other person to withhold payment and is not a recorded mechanic's lien.
Claimant or authorized representative: ______________________________
Printed name and title: [NAME AND TITLE] Date signed: [__/__/____]
Registered or certified-mail delivery records:
| Recipient | Mailing date and tracking number | Delivery date shown by return receipt |
|---|---|---|
| Owner or agent | [DATE; NUMBER] | [DATE] |
| General contractor | [DATE; NUMBER] | [DATE] |
Notice 2 — verified account and actual claim
Date: [__/__/____]
From claimant: [LEGAL NAME, ADDRESS, EMAIL, TELEPHONE]
To owner or owner's agent: [LEGAL NAME, MAILING ADDRESS]
To general contractor: [LEGAL NAME, MAILING ADDRESS]
Property and project: [STREET ADDRESS, CITY/COUNTY, VIRGINIA; PROJECT DESCRIPTION]
Prior preliminary notice: Dated [__/__/____]; mailed to [RECIPIENTS] by registered or certified mail; received on [DATES SHOWN BY RETURN RECEIPTS].
The claimant furnished the labor or materials described below under a contract with [GENERAL CONTRACTOR / NAMED SUBCONTRACTOR]. They were furnished on [DATES]. The building or structure was completed, or the work thereon otherwise terminated, on [__/__/____]. This second notice is furnished after the work or materials and before expiration of 30 days from that completion or termination date, as required by Va. Code § 43-11(2).
| Correct account | Amount |
|---|---|
| Labor or materials actually furnished (attach itemized account) | $[AMOUNT] |
| Approved changes included in that account | $[AMOUNT] |
| Less payments and credits | ($[AMOUNT]) |
| Actual amount due and unpaid | $[AMOUNT] |
Character of actual claim: [DESCRIBE WORK OR MATERIALS, CONTRACT TIER, AND PERSON WHO OWES CLAIMANT]
Attached account evidence: [INVOICES, DELIVERY RECORDS, TIMESHEETS, PAYMENT LEDGER, AND OTHER RECORDS]
Claimant requests payment of the actual amount due. Under § 43-11, any personal liability arising from these notices is limited by the applicable amount owed in the owner-to-general-contractor or general-contractor-to-subcontractor contract chain, and is subject to the section's delivery and other conditions. This notice does not order a construction lender to freeze funds.
Claimant or authorized representative: ______________________________
Printed name and title: [NAME AND TITLE] Date signed: [__/__/____]
Affidavit verifying the second notice
Commonwealth of Virginia, City/County of [LOCATION]
I, [NAME], being first duly sworn or affirmed, state that I am [POSITION] of [CLAIMANT]; I have personal knowledge of the attached account or have reviewed the claimant's business records; and the account above correctly states the labor or materials furnished, payments and credits, and actual amount due to the best of my knowledge.
Affiant signature: ______________________________ Date: [__/__/____]
Subscribed and sworn or affirmed before me on [__/__/____] by [NAME].
Notarial officer signature: ______________________________
Printed name/title: [NAME AND TITLE] Commission expiration: [__/__/____]
Registration number and seal, if required: [NUMBER / SEAL]
Registered or certified-mail delivery records:
| Recipient | Mailing date and tracking number | Delivery date shown by return receipt |
|---|---|---|
| Owner or agent | [DATE; NUMBER] | [DATE] |
| General contractor | [DATE; NUMBER] | [DATE] |
About this template
- Last updated
- October 3, 2026
- Citations checked
- October 3, 2026
- Jurisdiction
- Virginia
- Category
- Real Estate
Legal authority
- Va. Code § 43-11 (preliminary and verified notices; conditional personal liability)
- Va. Code § 43-7 (separate subcontractor lien-perfection route)
Real estate documents transfer ownership, define who can use a property, and record agreements between buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants. Deeds, purchase agreements, leases, and easements have to be drafted to meet state recording requirements, and mistakes show up at closing or years later in title disputes. Good real estate paperwork moves transactions forward quickly and avoids the kind of problems that only surface when it is time to sell or refinance.
Not legal advice
This template is provided for informational purposes. We recommend having an attorney review any legal document before signing, especially for high-value or complex matters.
Checked against the law it cites
A reviewer verified this template's legal citations against the official source on October 3, 2026.
Va. Code § 43-11(1) (checked October 3, 2026): "Any subcontractor or person furnishing labor or material to the general contractor or subcontractor, may give a preliminary notice in writing to the owner or his agent or the general contractor, stating the nature and character of his contract and the probable amount of his claim."
Va. Code § 43-11(2) (checked October 3, 2026): "before the expiration of thirty days from the time such building or structure is completed or the work thereon otherwise terminated furnish the owner thereof or his agent and also the general contractor, or the general contractor alone in case he is the only one notified, with a second notice stating a correct account, verified by affidavit, of his actual claim"
Va. Code § 43-11(4) (checked October 3, 2026): "the two notices herein required shall be mailed by registered or certified mail to and received by the owner or general contractor upon whom personal liability is sought to be imposed, and a return receipt therefor showing delivery to the addressee shall be prima facie evidence of receipt."
Va. Code § 43-7(A) (checked October 3, 2026): "Any subcontractor, in order to perfect the lien given him by § 43-3 shall comply with § 43-4, and in addition give notice in writing to the owner of the property or his agent of the amount and character of his claim."
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