Not paid? Defect claim? Find out where you stand.
Maithalaw explains the building law that applies to your dispute, in plain English. Built for Australian tradies, subcontractors, builders and homeowners.
We're starting with Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
Example answer
A dispute about getting paid, in Queensland
- What kind of dispute it is
- Getting paid for work you've done
- The law that applies
- Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Act 2017 (Qld), with the date the text was current
- Time limits to watch
- Worked out from the dates in your case
- What to do next
- Gather your contract or quote, your invoice and proof of when you sent it.
An example of the layout only. General legal information, not legal advice.
What it helps with
The disputes that come up on building jobs every day.
Unpaid invoices
Sent the invoice and heard nothing? Security of payment laws can help you get paid, if you move fast.
Defect claims
The owner or builder says your work is faulty and wants you to fix it or pay.
Extra or changed work
You did the variation they asked for on site. Now they won't pay for it.
Contract trouble
Kicked off site, contract ended, or blamed for delays you didn't cause.
How it works
Tell us what happened
Pick the problem and your state, and describe it in your own words. Typing or talking into your phone is fine.
See where you stand
Get a plain-English answer: what kind of dispute it is, which law applies in your state, and the time limits to watch.
Get a full case check if you need one
Upload your contract, invoices and photos. We check them against the law and tell you what's strong, what's missing and what to do next.
Why you can rely on it
Australian law, from the source
Legislation is taken from official government registers. Every answer shows the date the law was current.
Your information stays in Australia
Your dispute data and AI processing stay in Australia.
Plain English
Written for people who build things, not for lawyers.
Honest about its limits
General legal information, not legal advice. If we can't match your situation, we say so and point you to help.
Questions
Is this legal advice?
No. Maithalaw gives general information about the law that applies to building disputes. It can help you understand your situation and get organised, but it is not a lawyer. Before you act, especially before you send or answer a legal notice, get advice from a lawyer.
How is this different from asking a general chatbot?
A general chatbot answers from whatever it picked up online, and it can make things up. Maithalaw only uses Australian building legislation taken from official registers, and shows you which law it used and the date it was current. It points out time limits that matter in your state. Legal content must be approved in a review step that includes a legal expert before we use it. If we can't match your situation, we tell you instead of guessing.
Which states and territories does it cover?
We're starting with Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory, and adding the other states and territories after that. Building law is different in each state, so you choose the state or territory where the work was done and we check against that place's law.
What will it cost?
The first check is free. A full case check is a one-off payment per case, with no subscription. We'll publish prices when we open.
Who can see my information?
Your dispute data and AI processing stay in Australia. Your account is protected with a one-time code from an authenticator app, and you choose what we keep and for how long.
How do I get early access?
Email contact@maithalaw.com and tell us your trade and the state you work in. We'll let you know when you can start.
Time limits can be short.
Building disputes often turn on dates. Be one of the first to check yours with Maithalaw.
Email us for early access