Michigan Lien Waivers & Sworn Statements
Michigan construction billing is not just about lien waivers. Many projects require lien waivers, sworn statements, and pay applications to align perfectly. When they don’t, payments get delayed.
Quick reality
- Michigan does not revolve around one waiver form
- Sworn statements are commonly required
- Everything must match: waiver, sworn statement, and pay app
How Michigan lien waivers actually work
Michigan lien waiver workflows are less about form structure and more about document coordination. A lien waiver is rarely reviewed on its own.
Instead, reviewers are comparing:
- Pay application
- Sworn statement
- Lien waiver(s)
If those documents don’t align, payment slows down.
What is a sworn statement (Michigan context)
A sworn statement is a document that lists subcontractors, suppliers, and payment amounts. It is commonly required in Michigan to help owners and GCs track who has been paid and who is still owed money.
What a sworn statement typically shows
- List of subcontractors and suppliers
- Amounts paid and unpaid
- Project payment breakdown
Why sworn statements and waivers must match
This is where most Michigan payment delays happen.
- Waiver amount ≠ sworn statement amount
- Subcontractor missing from sworn statement
- Names don’t match exactly
- Dates are inconsistent
Typical Michigan billing workflow
- Submit pay application
- Provide sworn statement
- Provide lien waivers (your own and/or subs)
- Reviewer cross-checks all documents
Approval depends on consistency across all of these.
Choosing the correct waiver in Michigan
Even with sworn statements, the core waiver decision still follows:
- Has payment cleared?
- Is this progress or final billing?
Common Michigan patterns
- Progress + Conditional → most common
- Progress + Unconditional → after payment clears
- Final + Conditional → requesting final
- Final + Unconditional → after final payment
Common Michigan lien waiver mistakes
- Mismatch between waiver and sworn statement
- Incorrect subcontractor listing
- Amounts not matching pay application
- Using unconditional waivers too early
- Missing or inconsistent dates
Why Michigan payments get delayed
Unlike strict statutory states, delays usually come from document coordination issues:
- Sworn statement doesn’t match waiver
- Waiver doesn’t match pay app
- Reviewer can’t reconcile numbers
Michigan vs other states
| State Type | Primary Risk |
|---|---|
| California | Wrong statutory form |
| Florida | Contract mismatch |
| Michigan | Document mismatch (waiver + sworn statement) |
How LienWaiverPro helps
- Aligns waiver data with billing data
- Reduces mismatch errors
- Supports clean document workflows
- Helps maintain consistency across submissions