Levelset visitors can also get a free Procore account.

Michigan Lien Waivers Guide and FAQs

Ready? Build Your Free Michigan
Lien Waivers Now

Michigan Lien Waiver FAQs

Michigan Lien Waiver Overview

Michigan Lien Waiver Rules


  • Rules At A Glance
  • Top Links
lien waivers regulated
Specific Form Required

Michigan requires the use of a specific lien waiver form in order for it to be effective.


lien waivers do not need to be notarized
Notarization Not Required

Michigan lien waivers do not require notarization, only signature by the claimant.


icon-can't waive lien rights
Cannot Waive Rights in Contract

In Michigan, lien waivers prior to work are strictly prohibited by statute.


icon-can't waive lien rights
Cannot Waive Rights Before Payment

In Michigan, all lien waivers are only effective upon payment of the amount indicated in the waiver.

Lien waivers, sometimes called lien releases, act as a receipt for payment. They are exchanged by people at the time of payment on a construction project. It’s common for subcontractors and suppliers to include lien waiver documents with their pay applications or invoices. When a subcontractor signs and submits a valid lien waiver, it gives up – or waives – their right to file a mechanics lien for the amount listed in the form. General contractors, property developers, and construction lenders often have intricate lien waiver tracking and collection practices.

Michigan lien waiver rules

Michigan is one of the 12 states that provide statutory lien waiver forms. This means that everyone connected to a construction project must follow the rules outlined in Michigan’s mechanics lien laws. When exchanging lien waivers on a construction project in Michigan, it’s important to follow the statutory requirements and be sure to use the proper form. Failure to use the proper form will result in the lien waiver being invalid and unenforceable; as will any attempts to modify or add more provisions to the waiver.

Types of lien waivers in Michigan

It’s easy to make mistakes. Even if you use a mandatory form and fill it out completely right, it’s easy to mistakenly use the wrong form! After all, Michigan has 4 different lien waiver forms. So it’s important to use the right one at the right time to ensure your proper lien rights are intact.

For a full breakdown of the different types of Michigan lien waivers and how to fill them out see:

Michigan Lien Waiver Forms & Guide- All You Need to Know

Otherwise, the information on this page provides frequently asked questions, forms, guides, and other helpful information on Michigan’s Lien Waivers.

Free Michigan Lien Waivers Forms & Templates

Michigan has specific lien waiver forms that must be used by everyone on an Michigan construction project. Using these forms is safe, easy, stress-free, and fair for everyone involved.

The forms provided here for free by Levelset are compliant with the Michigan rules. You can download them free, or use our free system to send or request your compliant Michigan lien waiver form.

Free Michigan Lien Waiver Forms

These Michigan lien waiver forms are compliant with the state's requirements. Make it easy, and use forms from the source you can trust.

Michigan Final Conditional Lien Waiver Form - free from

Michigan Final Conditional Lien Waiver Form

This Michigan Full Conditional Lien Waiver form is for use on private construction projects. Michigan’s lien waiver laws specify the language required on all lien...

Get Form Now

Michigan Final Unconditional Lien Waiver Form - free from

Michigan Final Unconditional Lien Waiver Form

This Michigan Full Unconditional Lien Waiver form is for use on private construction projects. Michigan’s lien waiver laws specify the language required on all lien...

Get Form Now

Michigan Partial Conditional Lien Waiver Form - free from

Michigan Partial Conditional Lien Waiver Form

This Michigan Partial Conditional Lien Waiver form is for use on private construction projects. Michigan’s lien waiver laws specify the language required on all lien...

Get Form Now

Michigan Partial Unconditional Lien Waiver Form - free from

Michigan Partial Unconditional Lien Waiver Form

This Michigan Partial Unconditional Lien Waiver form is for use on private construction projects. Michigan’s lien waiver laws specify the language required on all lien...

Get Form Now

Michigan Lien Waivers FAQs

Michigan's lien waiver requirements and rules can be confusing, but everybody providing or requesting lien waivers in Michigan needs to make sure they are compliant with the statutory requirements. We have some answers to the most common questions about Michigan's lien waiver rules below.

Michigan Lien Waiver FAQs

Does Michigan require specific lien waiver forms?

Yes, everyone working on a construction project in Michigan must exchange the same lien waiver forms. These forms are provided under Michigan’s mechanics lien laws and explicitly states that you must use these forms.

While this may seem frustrating for some job stakeholders, this makes things easier for contractors and suppliers. Using statutory forms helps prevent the inclusion of additional language and the potential to waive more rights than intended. This helps speed up the already notoriously slow payments in the construction industry, by avoiding disputes over waiver language

What are the requirements for an Michigan lien waiver? What makes a lien waiver binding?

In order to effectively waive lien rights in Michigan, the waiver must be in the statutory form provided under Mich. Comp. Laws. §570.1115(9) and signed by the claimant or their authorized agent.

→ Download free Michigan lien waiver forms here:

• Michigan Partial Conditional Waiver form

• Michigan Partial Unconditional Waiver form

• Michigan Final Conditional Waiver form

• Michigan Final Unconditional Waiver form

Are unconditional lien waivers prohibited in Michigan?

No, a full unconditional waiver is actually required by a lien claimant once full payment is received.  A partial unconditional waiver is required for claimants who receive partial payments.

• Dive deeper: Unconditional vs. Conditional Lien Waivers

Can Michigan contractors or suppliers waive their lien rights in their contract?

No, lien rights in Michigan cannot be waived by contract. These so-called “no-lien clauses” are against public policy, and explicitly prohibited under Michigan’s lien laws, “A waiver obtained as part of a contract for an improvement is contrary to public policy, and shall be invalid, except to the extent that payment for labor and material furnished was actually made to the person giving the waiver.”

Can Michigan contractors or suppliers waive their lien rights in advance of performance or payment?

Lien waivers in advance of work performed or materials furnished are strictly prohibited under Michigan’s lien laws. Furthermore, lien rights cannot be waived in Michigan prior to payment. They are only effective upon payment of the amount indicated in the waiver.

Do Michigan lien waivers need to be notarized?

No, the Michigan statutory lien waiver forms do not require notarization in order to be valid, only a signature by the claimant or the claimant’s authorized agent is required.

In fact, an argument can be made that notarizing a Michigan lien waiver is an alteration of the statutory form and could potentially invalidate the waiver.

• See: Can Notarizing a Lien Waiver Actually Invalidate It?

Need More Help With Michigan Lien Waivers? We're Here.

Ask an expert for free

Check out our payment experts
Construction attorneys: Courtney Stricklen, Christopher Ng, Andrea Goldman, and Peter Ryan

Recent Questions & Answers
About Michigan Lien Waivers

How to fill out a sworn statement as a subcontractor that has no one under them, just providing tree removal services.

Hello! I am a subcontractor working under a contractor. I do not do construction work, but provide tree removal services. In order to get paid,...

Can we eliminate paragraph regarding residential contracts that require verification verbally or via phone.

Can we eliminate the paragraph regarding calling the contractor to verify if the signature is valid? This appears to only be referring to residential work...

Should I sign this type of waiver?

“Full unconditional waiver (Roofing)” – we still have to complete siding labor (only) on this unit. Are we waiving our rights to the entire unit,...

How to file a lien in Michigan

Need to file a Michigan mechanics lien? File your mechanics lien with Levelset, the lien experts quickly and easily. Or you can follow the 3 steps below to file a lien yourself with Levelset's free information.
File with the Mechanics Lien Experts
We’re the Mechanics Lien experts. With us it’s fast, easy, affordable, and done right!
File Now

Want to Learn More about How Michigan Contractors Pay?
Environmental Management Mark Showalter
Rating 5.0
Crystal Glass Inc.
Rating 5.0
D.R. Horton
Rating 5.0
Summit Contracting Group
Rating 5.0
See other Lists of Contractors and How to Best Work With Them

Helping Thousands Of Contractors
Like You With Michigan Lien Waivers