How to File a Mechanics Lien in Michigan
Step 1 — Confirm you have lien rights in Michigan
Michigan's recorded rules cover general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers, design professionals (MCL § 570.1108). Each of those roles has its own filing window — see Step 3. Michigan rule detail: REQUIRED: Serve 'Notice of Furnishing' on owner and GC within 20 days of first furnishing. Late service only covers work done after notice is served.
Step 2 — Send the Michigan preliminary notice
Michigan requires a preliminary notice 20 days, notice of furnishing (MCL § 570.1111). It is a precondition, not a formality. It must reach County Register of Deeds and Owner and GC and Prime Contractor and Surety and Prime Contractor and Contractor / Owner (personally liable). Delivery: Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested. Michigan rule detail: File claim of lien within 90 days of last furnishing of labor or materials.
Step 3 — Your Michigan filing deadline
Michigan sets the window by claimant role: • General contractors: within 90 days of your last day of work or materials. • Subcontractors and suppliers: within 90 days of your last day of work or materials. • Design professionals: within 90 days of your last day of work or materials. The clock runs from last date of furnishing — not your invoice date. Punch-list and warranty callbacks generally do not restart it. Michigan rule detail: File claim of lien within 90 days. Must have served Notice of Furnishing first.
Step 4 — Prepare and record the lien in Michigan
Record in the county where the property sits, under MCL § 570.1117. The document must identify the property, the owner of record, the amount actually owed, and what you furnished. Overstating the amount can void the claim outright. Michigan rule detail: File suit to enforce lien within 1 year of recording. Lien expires after 1 year without enforcement.
Step 5 — Serve the recorded Michigan lien
Michigan requires service on County Register of Deeds and Owner and GC and Prime Contractor and Surety and Prime Contractor and Contractor / Owner (personally liable). Use Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested and keep the receipt. In many states an unserved lien is unenforceable even though it appears on title. Michigan rule detail: Written notice within 90 days of last furnishing on public works projects. No mechanic's lien on public property in Michigan.
Step 6 — Enforce before the Michigan deadline expires
You must sue to foreclose within 1 year (filing) (MCL § 129.201). Miss it and the lien expires and title clears, leaving only a contract claim. Michigan rule detail: File suit on payment bond within 1 year of last furnishing.
Retainage rules that affect your Michigan claim
Michigan treats retainage on its own schedule (MCL § 570.1115), so money still held back may have a different due date than your progress billings. Michigan rule detail: Second-tier claimants only. No notice = no bond claim.
Other Michigan requirements that void liens
• File no sooner than 90 days AND no later than 1 year. • Prime must pay sub within 7 days of receiving payment from owner. Interest at 2%/month on amounts wrongfully withheld. • Retainage released within 30 days of substantial completion. 10% maximum retainage on private projects. • MI Design Professional Lien: Licensed architects, engineers, and surveyors are 'contractors' under Michigan Construction Lien Act. Must serve Notice of Furnishing within 20 days of first furnishing services. File claim of lien within 90 days of last furnishing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a mechanics lien in Michigan?
Michigan requires the lien to be recorded within 90 days, measured from last date of furnishing. The exact window depends on your role — general contractors: within 90 days of your last day of work or materials.
Do I need to send a preliminary notice before filing in Michigan?
Yes. Michigan requires a preliminary notice 20 days (notice of furnishing). Failing to send it on time generally forfeits your lien rights entirely, regardless of how much you are owed.
Where do I file a mechanics lien in Michigan?
File with the county recorder's office in the county where the property is located. Filing in the wrong county does not preserve your deadline, and re-filing in the correct county after the deadline will not save the claim.
What happens if I miss the Michigan filing deadline?
Your lien rights are extinguished. Michigan courts do not grant extensions for missed mechanics lien deadlines. You would be left with a breach-of-contract claim against whoever hired you, which carries no security interest in the property and is far harder to collect.
How long does a mechanics lien last in Michigan?
Once recorded, you must file suit to enforce within 1 year (filing). If you do not, the lien expires automatically and no longer clouds the property's title.