I don't recall if I told this story before or not, but at the risk of being repetitious ...here goes. I had a billing dispute with a TC a while back. I won't waste your time with the details of the usual excuses for non payment. We have all heard the same tired reasons before. When I approached them with a contract breach argument (although probably the easiest and most effective way to get paid) they seemed to take an "I'll see you in court" attitude. However, when I phrased it in terms of a conversion of property matter...it seemed to register with them, and they immediately wanted to discuss payment.

I think a notation on the abstract to the effect that it remains your property until you are paid, and use of its content is expressly conditioned upon timely payment might be a good idea.

The biggest problem that exists with a delinquent client is not moving fast enough to obtain payment after you have determined that they are intolerably delinquent.