If you're a contractor, subcontractor, or supplier in Texas, you sign lien waivers constantly, usually right when you want to get paid. The forms look similar, but the wrong one at the wrong time can waive rights you meant to keep, or hold up a payment that should have cleared. This is general information, not legal advice. Your attorney or title company is the right source for what your specific deal needs.
The four statutory waiver forms
Chapter 53 of the Texas Property Code sets out four lien-waiver-and-release forms, and a valid waiver has to substantially follow them. They come from combining two questions: is the waiver conditional or unconditional, and does it cover a progress payment or the final payment.
Conditional vs unconditional
A conditional waiver only takes effect once you actually get paid, typically once the check clears. An unconditional waiver takes effect the moment you sign it, paid or not. The safest shorthand is conditional before payment, unconditional after.
Progress vs final
A progress waiver covers work or payment through a specific date or draw while you're still on the job. A final waiver covers the entire project and signals you're done and squared up.
Do Texas lien waivers have to be notarized?
Whether a lien waiver needs notarization usually comes down to who is requiring it. Title companies and lenders frequently require notarized signatures on the waivers they collect, especially unconditional and final ones. A separate release of lien recorded in the county real property records has to be notarized to be recorded at all.
Getting one notarized fast
When a draw deadline is tight, mobile notary coverage keeps the waiver from becoming the bottleneck. NotaryHub365 provides same-day lien waiver notarization across Austin and Central Texas when scheduling allows.
Use the booking page and include the jobsite or office address plus your deadline.
Note: NotaryHub365 notarizes signatures. It does not draft waivers, decide which waiver type applies, or opine on lien rights, deadlines, or sufficiency. Those are questions for your attorney or title company.
Share the document type, signer city, timing window, and any witness requirements through the booking page so the right appointment lane can be confirmed.
Note: NotaryHub365 cannot provide legal advice or tell you which document to use. For legal questions, contact an attorney, lender, title company, or requesting agency.