Subcontractor Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Subcontractor.

Subcontractor (noun): A subcontractor is an individual or business that a general contractor, or someone else working on a construction project, hires to perform a specific task as part of the overall project. Subcontractors have a legal agreement with the contractor, not with the original client. Therefore, their responsibilities and liabilities are defined by their contract with the main contractor and they are only liable for their unpaid bills to the extent of a mechanic's lien. They are not involved in the terms of the original contract.