Before any work (labor or furnishing of materials) starts on a project or improvement on real property susceptible to mechanics liens, the owner is required to record in the office of the county recorder a notice of commencement. This notice describes project, property, and the names/addresses of the primary individuals involved. The purpose of this notice is to provide a legal document substantiating the project and ultimately is the starting point of the formal mechanics lien process. A notice of furnishings often cannot be filed until the notice of commencement has been filed by the project owner. If a subcontractor files a written request for a copy of the notice of commencement, the owner must respond within a certain time period, often 10 days.