Business Contract Disputes & Unpaid Invoices Attorney in Houston, Texas
You finished the work, sent the invoice, and the due date passed. In Texas, a customer who refuses to pay what your contract requires has usually breached that contract, and you generally have four years to sue for the balance, often with your attorney’s fees added. The details still matter: your contract’s terms, how you demand payment, and the type of business that owes you can all affect what you can recover.
From my Houston office, I help businesses collect unpaid invoices and resolve contract disputes before they cost more than the debt itself. At Diab Law Firm, PLLC, that work can range from a firm written demand to a lawsuit, depending on how the other side responds once it sees you’re prepared to act. If an invoice goes unanswered, a free consultation is a practical way to determine which path fits your situation.
Laws Surrounding a Breach of Contract Due to an Unpaid Invoice
An unpaid invoice becomes a breach of contract when payment was due under an agreement and the customer failed to pay without a valid legal excuse. Texas enforces both written and oral agreements, so a signed services agreement, an accepted purchase order, or a verbal deal confirmed later by email can support a claim, though unwritten terms are harder to prove.
The customer’s reason for not paying often defines the real dispute. Some customers lack the cash. Others claim your work was defective, late, or outside the agreed scope, turning a collection matter into a fight over who performed and who didn't—knowing which situation you’re in shapes your next move, because a quality dispute requires different evidence than a customer who stops returning calls.
Texas generally gives you four years to file suit. The state sets a four-year deadline for debts and open-account claims, and its catch-all limitations period gives most other contract claims the same four years. The clock usually starts when you miss a payment, not when you first send the invoice.
Your contract can shorten that window. Texas lets businesses agree to a shorter filing deadline, but any period under two years is void. Check your agreement or standard terms before assuming you have time to wait, because months of friendly reminders can quietly use up a deadline you didn’t know you had.
What I Have to Offer My Clients in Business Contract Disputes & Unpaid Invoices
Collecting an unpaid invoice is partly a legal problem and partly a business decision, since every hour spent chasing a debt is an hour away from running your company. I approach these matters with both sides of that equation in mind. When you work with me, you can expect:
A free first conversation: You can talk through your contract, invoices, and the customer’s response in a free consultation before deciding how to proceed.
Direct access to your attorney: I make it a priority to stay reachable throughout your matter, so your questions go to the person handling your case.
A voice in every decision: Whether to send a demand, negotiate a payment plan, or file suit is your call. I explain your options and keep you informed at every stage.
A business owner’s perspective: I run a business myself, so I weigh a dispute's time and money costs against what you may recover.
Help with cross-border disputes: I speak English, French, Japanese, and Arabic and represent clients throughout the U.S. and around the globe, which matters when a customer or contract reaches beyond Texas.
Advice that outlasts the dispute: Beyond resolving the current invoice, I can help you tighten the contracts and payment terms that led to it.
The goal isn't just to recover what you’re owed, but to leave your business in a stronger position for the next contract you sign.
Other Business Law Services I Offer
An unpaid invoice often signals something bigger, like a vague contract, an unclear ownership structure, or a deal that was never properly documented. Beyond collections and contract disputes, I handle the following areas of business law:
Business Counsel & Contracts: I draft, review, and negotiate the agreements your business depends on, including purchase and sale agreements, and I can serve as outsourced general counsel for companies without an in-house lawyer.
Business Organization: I guide entrepreneurs in choosing and forming the right entity, so ownership, liability, and decision-making are clear from the start.
Commercial Litigation: When a dispute can’t be settled, I represent businesses in court on claims such as breach of contract, construction disputes, and other commercial conflicts.
Business Partnership & Ownership Disputes: I help owners, partners, and members resolve conflicts over control, profits, buyouts, and their obligations to the company and one another.
Mergers & Acquisitions: I represent businesses buying, selling, or combining with another company, from early negotiations through the final transaction documents.
These services often overlap. The contract governing today’s unpaid invoice may need revision before your next project, and a well-drafted agreement makes future disputes less likely and easier to resolve if one arises.