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Subcontract review in plain English

Subcontracts decide whether you get paid, when you get paid, and who eats the cost when a job goes sideways. Most of that lives in a handful of clauses that read like boilerplate. ShieldMyDoc reads yours and points them out before you sign.

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No account required • Informational use only — not legal advice

What we look for in this document

  • Pay-if-paid vs. pay-when-paid payment conditions
  • Retainage amount, and what releases it
  • Change order procedure and written-approval requirements
  • Indemnification and additional-insured requirements
  • Scope of work, exclusions, and “means and methods” language
  • Backcharges, liquidated damages, and no-damage-for-delay clauses
  • Lien waivers and notice deadlines
  • Termination for convenience and suspension of work

How it works

  1. 1

    Upload

    Upload your PDF.

  2. 2

    We review it

    ShieldMyDoc identifies important terms and potential concerns.

  3. 3

    Understand it

    Get explanations in plain English.

  4. 4

    Decide what to do next

    Use the information to decide what you want to clarify or discuss with a licensed attorney.

What the review looks like

Attention levels tell you how closely to read a term.

  • HIGH ATTENTIONWorth reading closely and asking about.
  • REVIEW CAREFULLYCommon, but the details matter.
  • NO MAJOR CONCERN IDENTIFIEDNothing unusual identified.
See a full example report (5 items)

Questions people often ask about this document

  • Do I only get paid if the owner pays the general contractor?
  • How much retainage is held, and what has to happen before it is released?
  • Do I have to start extra work before the change order is signed?
  • What am I agreeing to indemnify the general contractor for?
  • What is specifically excluded from my scope of work?
  • Am I giving up my lien rights, and when?
ShieldMyDoc is an informational tool, not a law firm. It does not provide legal advice, represent you, or determine whether an agreement is enforceable. Think of it as your first look — not your final legal decision.

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