Michigan Mechanics Lien
File a Michigan construction lien, the state's mechanics lien. Learn the 90-day recording deadline, the 20-day Notice of Furnishing, and enforcement.
Introduction
A Michigan construction lien, often called a mechanics lien, is a legal claim recorded against real property by a contractor, subcontractor, or supplier who improved the property and was not paid. Once recorded, the lien attaches to the property, clouds the title, and can be enforced by a court-ordered sale, and that security is what gives the lien its leverage. Michigan sets the rules in the Construction Lien Act, MCL 570.1101 and following. A subcontractor or supplier must serve a Notice of Furnishing within 20 days after first furnishing labor or material. Every claimant must record a claim of lien within 90 days after their own last furnishing, and serve a copy on the owner within 15 days after recording. You must then bring proceedings to enforce and foreclose the lien no later than one year after the claim of lien is recorded. DocDraft prepares a Michigan claim of lien and its notices from your project details, and attorney review is available before you record.
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Key Things to Know
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A Michigan construction lien, commonly called a mechanics lien, secures payment against the improved property. Contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and laborers who furnished labor or material and were not paid can claim one under the Construction Lien Act, MCL 570.1101 and following.
- 2
Subcontractors and suppliers must serve a Notice of Furnishing. Under MCL 570.1109(1) it is due within 20 days after first furnishing labor or material; a laborer has 30 days after wages are due. A general contractor in direct contract with the owner is exempt.
- 3
The recording deadline is 90 days. Under MCL 570.1111(1) the claim of lien must be recorded within 90 days after the lien claimant's last furnishing of labor or material, and a copy must be served on the owner within 15 days after recording under 570.1111(5).
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You must sue to enforce within one year. MCL 570.1117(1) requires proceedings to enforce the lien and foreclose to be brought no later than one year after the date the claim of lien was recorded.
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Michigan reads the Construction Lien Act strictly. Missing the Notice of Furnishing, the 90-day recording deadline, the 15-day owner service, or the one-year enforcement window can defeat the lien, though a separate contract claim for the debt may remain.
- 6
The notice and lien follow prescribed forms. MCL 570.1109 sets out the Notice of Furnishing form, and MCL 570.1111 sets out the Claim of Lien form, including the required contents the recorded claim must contain.
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Residential work requires a written contract. Under MCL 570.1114 a contractor has no construction lien on an owner's residential structure unless the improvement was provided under a written contract between the owner and contractor that states the contractor's residential builder license.
Key decisions before you file
Before you file a Mechanics Lien in Michigan, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Mechanics Lien guide walks through them.
Open the Mechanics Lien guideCustomize your Mechanics Lien Template with DocDraft
Michigan Requirements for Mechanics Lien
Michigan Filing Deadline and Office
File the Michigan mechanics lien in the correct office, a county recorder or court as Michigan requires, within the state's deadline after you last furnish labor or materials. Michigan applies the deadline strictly, so filing late or in the wrong office can void the lien.