Sec. 53.206. PERFECTION OF CLAIM. (a) To perfect a claim against a bond in a manner other than that prescribed by Subchapter C or K for fixing a lien, a person must:

(1) give to the original contractor all applicable notices under the appropriate subchapter; and

(2) give to the surety on the bond, instead of the owner, all notices under the appropriate subchapter required to be given to the owner.

(b) To perfect a claim under this section, a person is not required to:

(1) give notice to the surety under Section 53.057, unless the claimant has a direct contractual relationship with the original contractor and the agreed retainage is in excess of 10 percent of the contract;

(2) give notice to the surety under Section 53.058(b) or, if the claim relates to a residential construction project, under Section 53.253(c); or

(3) file any affidavit with the county clerk.

(c) For the claim to be valid, a person must give notice in the time and manner required by this section, but the content of the notices need only provide fair notice of the amount and the nature of the claim asserted.

(d) A person satisfies the requirements of this section relating to providing notice to the surety if the person mails the notice by certified or registered mail to the surety:

(1) at the address stated on the bond or on an attachment to the bond;

(2) at the address on file with the Texas Department of Insurance; or

(3) at any other address allowed by law.

Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 3552, ch. 576, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1984. Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1138, Sec. 32, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 889, Sec. 6, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 380, Sec. 6, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.