A lien waiver is a receipt that also gives something up. In Texas, the law doesn't let you freelance the wording — there are four required forms, and a waiver that doesn't follow them may not be enforceable. That cuts both ways, so it pays to know which one you're signing.
The two questions that define every waiver
Every Texas lien waiver is a combination of two choices:
- Conditional or unconditional — does it take effect only once you're actually paid, or immediately?
- Progress or final — does it cover one payment/period, or everything through the end of the job?
Combine them and you get the four statutory forms:
The mistake that costs real money
Signing an unconditionalwaiver in exchange for a check that hasn't cleared — or a promise of payment. Unconditional means your rights are gone the moment you sign, paid or not. If the check bounces, you may have waived the very lien that would have protected you.
Practical rules
- Default to conditional waivers unless the funds have truly landed.
- Match the form to the payment — don't sign a final waiver for a progress payment.
- Read the amount and the “through” date; a waiver can quietly release more than the payment covers.
RevnuPros generates all four statutory forms with the correct language pre-filled from the job, so the one you hand over says exactly what you intend — and nothing more.
This article is general information for Texas trade contractors, not legal advice. Statutes change and every project is different — confirm the exact deadlines and requirements for your job with a licensed Texas attorney. RevnuPros provides deadline tracking and document preparation, not legal representation.
Let RevnuPros track this deadline for you.
Enter a job once and every Texas notice and filing date computes on its own clock — with the documents staged and ready to send.