Learn how payment claims work in the Northern Territory and how PayClaim helps prepare and serve unpaid construction invoice claims for a fixed $79.
Security of Payment laws are designed to help contractors and subcontractors claim payment for construction work without waiting months for unpaid invoices to be resolved. The process and deadlines vary by state, so it is important to use the correct rules for where the work was completed.
PayClaim helps make the process easier by collecting the key information, preparing the claim documents and serving them electronically based on the details you provide.
Eligibility depends on the work, contract, location and circumstances. For complex matters, seek legal advice.
You must serve it in time: The Act sets no longstop for making a payment claim. The practical limit is the adjudication window below.
The Northern Territory has no payment schedule. Where the contract does not deal with the matter, the implied terms in Schedule 1 give the respondent 10 working days to give a notice of dispute and pay any undisputed part, or 20 working days to pay the claim in full. Where the contract does deal with it, the contract governs.
There is no deemed liability for the claimed amount. Non-payment or rejection creates a payment dispute under section 8, and that is what opens the door to adjudication.
65 working days after the payment dispute arises, counted from the day after it arises (section 28). The application is made to a registered adjudicator or prescribed appointer agreed by the parties, or otherwise a prescribed appointer chosen by the applicant.
Keep copies of invoices, evidence, service records and correspondence. Proof of when and how the claim was served is what the timeframes above run from.
The Northern Territory follows the west coast model, so much of the east coast language does not apply. Either party may apply for adjudication, not only the party owed money, and the Act uses working days with a 25 December to 7 January exclusion. It applies only to contracts entered into after the Act commenced.
Statutory references on this page were checked against the consolidated Construction Contracts (Security of Payments) Act 2004 (NT) on the official Northern Territory legislation website in July 2026. Timeframes interact with your contract and with the statutory due date for payment, so check your own contract. This is general information, not legal advice.
PayClaim prepares and serves formal Security of Payment claims in the Northern Territory under the Construction Contracts (Security of Payments) Act 2004 (NT) — for a flat $79.
Start Your $79 Claim →the Northern Territory is covered by the Construction Contracts (Security of Payments) Act 2004 (NT). Like every Australian state and territory, the Northern Territory has its own Security of Payment legislation giving contractors, subcontractors and suppliers a statutory right to recover money owed for construction work — without first going to court.
The Northern Territory uses a Western Australia-style adjudication model rather than the east-coast SOP Act model — timeframes are set by the contract or, where the contract is silent, by the Act. PayClaim accounts for these differences when preparing your claim.
Whatever your trade — electrician, plumber, concreter, carpenter, roofer, painter, tiler, scaffolder, formworker, earthmover or supplier — if you’ve performed construction work in the Northern Territory and you’ve issued an invoice that hasn’t been paid, the NT Construction Contracts Act is the legal lever built for your situation.
You don’t need to know the legislation to use PayClaim — you just need a few details about the job and the unpaid invoice:
For a flat $79, PayClaim:
Response deadlines depend on the state, the contract and the type of claim — PayClaim calculates the relevant deadline from the information you provide so you don’t have to.
Once served, the respondent has a statutory window under the NT Construction Contracts Act to either pay the claimed amount or formally respond setting out what they’re paying and what (if anything) they’re withholding. If they pay in full, you’re done. If they don’t respond, the unpaid amount may become a statutory debt enforceable through the courts. If they dispute the claim, you have the option to apply to a prescribed appointer for adjudication — a fast, lower-cost alternative to court.
PayClaim is built for the prepare-and-serve step. For complex disputes, adjudication strategy, court enforcement or insolvency-related matters, you should seek advice from a qualified construction lawyer in the Northern Territory.
Flat $79. Preparation, electronic service and proof of service included.
Start Your $79 ClaimEnter who owes you money, the amount unpaid, the work completed and the project location.
Add invoices, quotes, contracts, messages, photos and supporting documents.
PayClaim prepares the payment claim documents based on the information provided.
PayClaim electronically serves the claim and gives you a record of what was sent.
If the other party does not pay, they may respond, dispute the claim or ignore it. Your next options depend on the state, the contract, the amount claimed and the circumstances.
Some respondents pay once a formal claim is served.
They may reply, including with a payment schedule stating what they propose to pay.
You can consider adjudication, legal advice or other options.
If the deadline passes with no response, you may have further options depending on your state.
PayClaim does not provide legal advice, adjudication representation or court enforcement.
Start your claim, upload your evidence and only pay $79 when you're ready for PayClaim to prepare and serve it.