How Long Does Adjudication Actually Take?

Adjudication is the enforcement mechanism built into the Security of Payment Act, designed to be far faster than going to court.

The general timeline

Before the adjudicator's clock even starts, a respondent may lodge an adjudication response within the later of 5 business days after receiving a copy of the application, or 2 business days after receiving notice of the adjudicator's acceptance. From there, an adjudicator generally has 10 business days to determine a matter — running from the date the adjudication response is lodged, or if none is lodged, from the end of the response period, or from the date the adjudicator's acceptance is notified — though this can be extended if both parties agree.

Lodging the application itself is also time-limited: depending on the circumstances, a claimant generally has either 10 or 20 business days to apply. And if an adjudicator fails to determine within the allowed time, the claimant can withdraw and make a fresh application within 5 business days of becoming entitled to withdraw.

Why it's faster than litigation

Unlike court proceedings, which can drag on for a year or more, adjudication is designed around strict statutory timeframes at every stage — from serving the payment claim through to a binding determination.

Once a determination is made, it's enforceable like a judgment debt.