u/MarzipanDeep3499

I am a freelance web developer operating under my own business name. In mid-2024 I entered into a signed contract with a client to design and develop a website at an agreed hourly rate, with an estimated number of hours and a fixed total project cost. The client paid a non-refundable deposit and I began work immediately. Later that year we executed an amended contract that tied the transfer of the domain and code repository to final deployment and payment. The client provided content inconsistently throughout the engagement and eventually ceased all communication without notice for approximately eleven months, making it impossible to complete and deploy the site.

The client reestablished contact earlier this year stating he no longer needed the website and wished to settle the outstanding balance. He acknowledged my invoice in writing and promised to process payment. He subsequently solicited a W-9 from me, which I provided. Since then he has repeatedly stalled, citing his attorney as the reason for delays while no communication from that attorney ever materialized. I sent a formal demand letter with a payment deadline and a stated filing date in Maricopa County specifically Anthem, Arizona. Upon receiving the demand letter the client directed me to contact his attorney and has made no payment. I am seeking advice on the strength of my position and any potential vulnerabilities before I file.

If only it came in a manual...