Louisiana's Notice of Contract (often called the Notice of Commencement in everyday usage) is the cornerstone of the state's Private Works Act. For any private works contract of $25,000 or more, recording the Notice of Contract before work begins is essential — it limits subcontractor lien exposure to the unpaid balance owed by the owner. Available for private works contracts of $25,000 or more between an owner and a general contractor. The general contractor (with the owner's signature) records the Notice of Contract before work begins. Before the contractor begins work and before the contract is performed. In the mortgage records of the parish (Louisiana's equivalent of a county) where the property is located.