$50 oil

If oil hits $50 and you haven’t filed your lien—you may already be behind.

When the market drops, cash dries up. Operators delay payments.

Subcontractors get cut off. And the ones who filed liens on time? They move to the front of the line.

I’m sharing this because I’ve seen contractors and mineral suppliers lose everything they were owed—not because they didn’t deserve to get paid, but because they waited too long to protect themselves.

Here’s why filing a contractor or mineral lien fast is non-negotiable when prices crash:

Time limits are strict.

Deadlines depend on project type.

Oilfield services have specific lien rules.

Filing late can void your claim.

Notices must be sent before filing.

You need property descriptions that are accurate.

You must know who owns the mineral interest.

You must track when the last work was done.

You must follow county-specific recording rules.

You must act before bankruptcy is filed.

You must perfect your lien to keep your rights.

You must be prepared to enforce it in court.

A lien can stop payment to others until you're paid.

A lien can give you real leverage in negotiations.

When oil falls, payments get political. The squeaky wheel doesn’t just get the grease—it gets the check.