Michigan Notice of Furnishing
This is the document most subcontractors have never heard of until the day they find out it cost them their lien. The clock is 20 days, and it starts the first day you show up.
Important: Clear Path Document Services is a non-attorney document preparation service and cannot provide legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created. Read full disclaimer
Quick Answer
Under Michigan's Construction Lien Act, a subcontractor or supplier that contracts to provide an improvement to real property must provide a notice of furnishing to the designee and the general contractor named in the notice of commencement, personally or by certified mail, within 20 days after first furnishing labor or material. If no designee is named, service goes to the owner or lessee named in the notice of commencement. A laborer's notice runs on a different trigger — within 30 days after wages were contractually due but unpaid. A contractor holding a direct contract with the owner or lessee does not need a notice of furnishing to preserve lien rights arising from that contract. Failing to serve on time can limit or eliminate lien rights. Clear Path prepares and addresses the notice and gives you written service instructions; we are not a law firm and cannot advise you on your lien rights.
Who qualifies for this service?
This document preparation service is a fit for Michigan residents who match the criteria below. If your situation is different, contact us and we'll tell you whether we can help or whether you should speak with an attorney.
- Subcontractors starting work on a residential or commercial project
- Material suppliers delivering to a job site
- Equipment providers furnishing to an improvement
- Laborers whose contractually due wages went unpaid
- Second-tier subs hired by another subcontractor
- Trades that just received a notice of commencement and are not sure what to do with it
How the process works
Clear, predictable steps from intake to court-ready paperwork.
Send us the job information
Property address, who hired you, the notice of commencement if you have it, and your first furnishing date.
Same-day review
We look at your dates first, because if the 20 days is nearly gone everything else can wait.
Written quote
Flat preparation fee. Certified mail costs are separate. Nothing is purchased online.
Preparation
We prepare the notice with the correct parties, property description, and your contract details.
Service instructions
Exactly who must be served, how, and by what date — with addresses pulled from the notice of commencement.
Proof of service
We tell you what to keep and how to record proof so it is available later if a lien is recorded.
Paperwork we organize for you
Document preparation only. We do not represent you in court.
Documents and information you'll need
- The notice of commencement, if it was provided or posted
- Property address and legal description or parcel number
- Name of the party who hired you and your contract or purchase order
- The date you first furnished labor or materials
- Your business name, address, and contact information
- Contract amount, including known extras
Common mistakes to avoid
Small errors can cost you weeks. Here's what we see most often.
- Waiting until payment is late. The 20-day clock runs from first furnishing, not from the first missed check.
- Never asking for the notice of commencement, which names who must be served.
- Serving only the owner when a designee and general contractor are named.
- Regular mail instead of certified mail or personal service.
- Throwing away the certified mail receipt, which is your proof of service.
- Assuming a direct contract with the owner means nothing is required — it is worth confirming rather than guessing.
- Serving a notice with the wrong legal description or the wrong owner name.
Local Michigan considerations
MCL 570.1109 requires a subcontractor or supplier to serve a notice of furnishing on the designee and general contractor named in the notice of commencement within 20 days after furnishing the first labor or material, personally or by certified mail, with service by certified mail complete on mailing. A laborer serves within 30 days after wages were contractually due and unpaid. A contractor with a direct contract with the owner or lessee is not required to provide a notice of furnishing to preserve lien rights arising from that contract. The consequences of a late or missed notice are set by statute and depend on the facts — that analysis is a legal question for an attorney, not something we can answer for you.
Key Terms
- Notice of furnishing
- The early notice a subcontractor, supplier, or laborer serves to preserve Michigan construction lien rights.
- Notice of commencement
- The project document naming the owner, general contractor, and designee, and describing the property.
- Designee
- The person named in the notice of commencement to receive notices on the owner's behalf.
- First furnishing
- The first date you provided labor or materials to the improvement — the date the 20-day clock starts.
People Also Ask
Reviewed and updated by the Clear Path document team. Informational only — not legal advice.
Ready to get your paperwork started?
Start the guided intake, or call or text us — we review every matter before quoting a price, and nothing is purchased online.