The Notice of Assignment, or NOA, is commonly used in business, including the construction industry. Let’s learn about the definition and how it protects us, construction businesses.
A Notice of Assignment is used when rights or obligations under a contract are transferred from one party to another. For example, if a company assigns its rights to payment under a construction contract to a third party like a factoring company, a Notice of Assignment would be sent to the party owing the payment to inform them of the new payee. The NOA helps to ensure that a construction company’s actions are transparent and that it has taken the necessary steps to inform and coordinate with all parties who may be impacted by its activities.
How does the “Notice of Assignment” protect construction trades?
Being a formal document, the Notice of Assignment states that a contract or obligation has been transferred from one party (the assignor) to another (the assignee). Here’s how it protects a construction company:
- Clarity of Responsibility: An NOA clearly delineates the transfer of rights or obligations under a contract, such as the right to receive payment or the duty to perform work, ensuring that all parties know who is now responsible.
- Proof of Notification: In the event of any disputes arising regarding the assignment, the NOA serves as legal proof that all parties were properly informed. This can be crucial in the event there is litigation or arbitration.
- Protection of Payment Rights: For a construction company that has sold or assigned its right to receive payment for work performed, the NOA informs the client or project owner of the Factoring company to which payments should be made, thus protecting the company’s financial interests.
- Avoidance of Duplication: The NOA prevents the original client from making payments to the assignor when the right to receive payment has been assigned to another entity, thus avoiding duplicate payments or financial confusion.
- Legal Requirement: In some jurisdictions, a NOA is a legal requirement to enforce the assignment against third parties. Without it, the assignee may not be able to legally claim their rights under the contract.
- Maintaining Business Relationships: By formally notifying clients of the assignment, the NOA provides the construction company transparency and trust in its business relationships, which is essential for ongoing and future business.
In summary, the Notice of Assignment ensures that all parties are informed about where contractual rights and obligations lie after an assignment has taken place.
If you have questions about NOAs or any other aspect of the invoice factoring process, feel free to reach out. We are glad to help.
Back to blog