M03.03

Michigan liens, notices, and getting paid

Construction Lien Act timing is a calendar sport. Miss it and we work for free.

Treat notice dates as seriously as application dates
Know that residential and commercial paths differ
Never give legal advice — execute the calendar Eric sets

Michigan notice logic (training model — confirm live dates with counsel)

01Award: open notice log
02First furnishing date
03Serve what counsel requires
04Proof of delivery in file
05Last furnishing (incl. punch)
06Tickler to Eric
07Decision: wait / notice / file
08Never freelance a claim

How to think about it

Michigan's Construction Lien Act gives subcontractors and suppliers rights against the property — but only if notices are served and claims recorded inside statutory windows. Those windows are unforgiving. The training model on this page is a map, not a substitute for the firm's counsel. On Day One, Eric will show you the current notice procedure and any attorney we use. Your job is to open a lien/notice log on every job at award: first furnishing date, last furnishing date, amounts, notices sent, responses, and claim deadlines. Update it when we first show up and when we finish.

Job-file lien log (open at award)

01
Parties
Owner of record, GC, our contract party (they are not always the same).
02
First furnishing
Date we first provided labor or material. This date starts clocks.
03
Notices
What was sent, how, to whom, proof of delivery.
04
Last furnishing
Punch and warranty trips can matter. Ask before you assume the job is 'done.'
05
Decision
Eric / counsel: notice, wait, file, or stand down. Record the decision.

Takeaways

Lien rights are lost by lateness, not by lack of anger.
Admin owns the tickler. Counsel / Eric owns the strategy.
Friendly clients still get notices when the process requires them. Professional, not personal.

SOPSOP Section 2.14 / 4.9 — Legal, COI & Paid-if-Paid SOP Section 4 — Administrative & Financial Operations