Michigan Construction Attorney — Find a Lien & Payment Lawyer (2026)
✓ Verified against Michigan statutes · Reviewed August 2026 · By Michael Evan — Founder · 50 states · 799 rules
Michigan mechanics lien deadlines at a glance
Preliminary Notice
20 days — Notice of Furnishing
Mechanics Lien
90 days — From last date of furnishing
Enforcement
1 year — From filing
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When Michigan Contractors Need a Construction Attorney
Michigan contractors should consult a construction attorney when (1) a payment dispute exceeds $25,000, (2) the 20-day Notice of Furnishing or 90-day Claim of Lien deadline is approaching, (3) a Sworn Statement under MCL § 570.1110 is in dispute or appears inaccurate, (4) a payment bond claim is required on a public project under the Michigan Public Construction Bonds Act (MCL § 129.201 et seq.), or (5) the dispute involves Michigan residential builder licensing under § 339.2412. Early advice on Construction Lien Act deadlines often prevents permanent forfeiture.
What Michigan Construction Attorneys Do
Michigan construction attorneys handle the full Construction Lien Act workflow plus public-project bond claims under the Public Construction Bonds Act — drafting and recording Claims of Lien under § 570.1111, preparing 20-day Notices of Furnishing, reviewing and responding to Sworn Statements under § 570.1110, filing Michigan lien foreclosure suits in circuit court within the 1-year window under § 570.1117, negotiating lien payoffs and settlements, reviewing Michigan construction contracts before signing, and prosecuting/defending Michigan construction claims in arbitration.
How to Find a Vetted Michigan Construction Attorney
Three reliable paths: (1) the State Bar of Michigan Lawyer Referral and Information Service at michbar.org provides a vetted directory by county and practice area; (2) the State Bar of Michigan Construction Law Section identifies attorneys actively practicing in the Construction Lien Act space; and (3) the Mechanics Lien Management attorney network connects contractors with vetted Michigan construction attorneys filtered by claim size, county, and matter type. Match attorney to claim size and complexity.
Michigan Construction Attorney Fees
Metro Detroit rates (Wayne, Oakland, Macomb) trend higher than Grand Rapids, Lansing, Kalamazoo, Flint, and the Upper Peninsula. Hourly rates run $250–$500 for associates and partners in most markets, with senior partners at construction-focused firms charging $350–$600 in metro Detroit. Flat fees for a single Claim of Lien run $400–$1,300. Contingency arrangements (25%–40%) are common on liquid collection cases. Michigan provides for attorney-fee recovery to the prevailing lienor in a foreclosure under MCL § 570.1118a, in the court's discretion — making Michigan one of the more lien-claimant-friendly fee jurisdictions in the Midwest.
Michigan-Specific Construction Law Issues
Michigan is an owner-filed Notice of Commencement state under § 570.1108 with a 20-day Notice of Furnishing under § 570.1109 and a Sworn Statement procedure under § 570.1110. Other Michigan-specific issues include the 90-day Claim of Lien deadline under § 570.1111, the 1-year enforcement window under § 570.1117, lien discharge by release-of-lien bond under § 570.1116 in twice the lien amount, the Michigan Public Construction Bonds Act for public projects under § 129.201 et seq., and residential builder licensing under § 339.2412.
Michael Evan's Michigan Network
Mechanics Lien Management is anchored by Michael Evan — founder of Mechanics Lien Management, a construction-payment software platform. For Michigan matters, the Mechanics Lien Management attorney review service connects contractors with vetted Michigan construction attorneys — including State Bar of Michigan Construction Law Section members in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Kent, and Washtenaw counties.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does a Michigan contractor need a construction attorney?
When a payment dispute exceeds $25,000, when the 20-day Notice of Furnishing or 90-day Claim of Lien deadline is approaching, when a Sworn Statement under § 570.1110 is in dispute, when a Public Construction Bonds Act bond claim is required, or when the dispute involves Michigan residential builder licensing under § 339.2412.
How much does a Michigan construction attorney cost?
Hourly rates run $250–$500 in most Michigan markets, with senior partners at construction-focused firms charging $350–$600 in metro Detroit. West Michigan, Lansing, Flint, and Upper Peninsula rates run $200–$425. Flat fees for a single Claim of Lien run $400–$1,300. Contingency arrangements (25%–40%) are common on liquid collection cases. Initial consultations are typically free.
What is unique about Michigan construction lien law?
Michigan uses an owner-filed Notice of Commencement under § 570.1108 with a 20-day Notice of Furnishing under § 570.1109. The Sworn Statement procedure under § 570.1110 ties payment to a verified itemization of subs and suppliers. The 90-day Claim of Lien deadline runs under § 570.1111 and the 1-year enforcement window runs under § 570.1117. The Construction Lien Act also provides for attorney-fee recovery to the prevailing lienor under § 570.1118a.
How do I find a vetted Michigan construction attorney?
Three paths: the State Bar of Michigan Lawyer Referral and Information Service at michbar.org, the State Bar of Michigan Construction Law Section member directory, and the Mechanics Lien Management attorney network filtered by county, claim size, and matter type.
Can a Michigan construction attorney work on contingency?
Yes, when (1) the underlying debt is liquid and well-documented, (2) the lien has been timely recorded under § 570.1111, and (3) the property has equity. Typical contingency rates are 25%–40%. Hybrid fee arrangements — reduced hourly plus contingency above a baseline — are also common.
Do I need a Michigan construction attorney to file a mechanics lien?
Not legally required, but strongly recommended above $25,000. The Construction Lien Act has multiple traps that can render a self-prepared lien defective — particularly the Sworn Statement procedure under § 570.1110, which carries fraud and personal-liability exposure. Attorney review of a lien before recording typically costs $400–$1,000.
What is the Michigan Construction Law Section?
The State Bar of Michigan Construction Law Section is a voluntary section for attorneys actively practicing construction law in Michigan. Members publish, attend specialty CLEs, and stay current on Michigan case law and statutory amendments. Membership is a strong (though not the only) signal of substantial Michigan construction-law experience.