constructive change order

Constructive Change Orders: When You Have One Without Ever Signing One

A change order is normally a document everyone signs. A constructive change order is the legal concept that says when an owner forces the contractor into extra work — by direction, interpretation, or conduct — it counts as a change even without the paperwork. For contractors stuck doing unpriced work, the doctrine preserves the right to be paid. But only if the right notice and records exist.