You are pretty much financing these companies to stay in business when you go over 40 days...I really prefer within 30 days, that's so if you are out substantial copy fees or you have to advance recording fees etc..you are not hanging out there too long. Some of these companies act like they are doing you a favor by doing their work and how dare you question the time-frame of payment! I really love it when they ask for all these copies with their search and don't pay you for what you billed...I certainly have never made excessive copies unless requested (as I had to pay for them up-front!)  but then you don't know what they aren't paying for, as I could never get a straight answer on what copy they didn't need or didn't think they had to pay for. Fortunately, I no longer do work for this kind of company anymore. Got to be too much of a hassle for what it was worth! You may have to decide if it is worth continuing a relationship with your company and as Patrick said, these new payment habits maybe a warning flag..so look out for yourself..they surely aren't looking after you!