G-Series Payment Forms: Applications (G702/G703), Substantial Completion (G704), and Final Payment (G706/G707)

The AIA G-Series forms that govern payment applications, certification of substantial completion, and final payment closeout during construction administration, including the architect's certification authority, contractor obligations, and the legal significance of each document in the payment chain.

ARE · Project Management

Overview

Money drives construction. And the G-Series forms from AIA are the documents that control how it flows from owner to contractor, from first application to final payment. If you're sitting for the PjM exam, you need to know these forms cold, because the architect sits right in the middle of every payment decision.

The payment chain works like this: the contractor submits an application for payment using the G702 form, supported by a G703 continuation sheet that breaks down completed work by line item. The architect reviews both, verifies progress and quality, then certifies the amount due. That certification triggers the owner's legal obligation to pay.

But payment is only part of the story. When construction reaches a point where the owner can occupy and use the facility for its intended purpose, the architect issues a G704 Certificate of Substantial Completion. This single document shifts major responsibilities, including maintenance, insurance, and utilities, from the contractor to the owner. It also starts the clock on warranty periods.

At the end of the project, the G706 Contractor's Affidavit of Payment and G707 Consent of Surety to Final Payment close out the financial obligations. These forms confirm that all debts, liens, and claims have been settled before the owner releases the final payment.

Getting any of these wrong creates real liability. The ARE tests whether you understand not just what each form does, but when and why the architect uses it.

Essential

Construction payment isn't one transaction. It's a chain of documents, certifications, and legal triggers that repeat every billing cycle and culminate in a formal closeout. The AIA G-Series forms standardize this entire process. Here's how each one works and where the exam will test you. ## The Application for Payment: G702 and G703 Every payment cycle starts with the contractor. Using the G702 form (Application and Certificate for Payment), the contractor requests payment for work completed during the billing period. The G703 Continuation Sheet accompanies the G702, providing a detailed line-by-line breakdown of every work item, its scheduled value, the percentage completed, and the amount being requested. Think of the G702 as the cover page and the G703 as the spreadsheet behind it. The G703 lists each portion of work with its scheduled value, so the architect can compare claimed progress against observed progress during site visits.

Professional

The G-Series payment forms are straightforward on paper. In practice, they demand professional judgment at every stage. Consider these scenarios that mirror the kinds of decisions architects face during construction administration. ## Scenario: The Disputed Progress Claim An architect on a $4.2 million renovation project receives the contractor's monthly G702 application claiming 72% completion of structural framing. During the most recent site visit two days earlier, the architect observed that while framing members were delivered and partially erected, the connections were incomplete and temporary bracing was still in place. The architect's assessment puts completion closer to 58%. The architect has several options. Certifying the full 72% would be a misrepresentation. Refusing to certify anything would be unreasonable since substantial work has been completed. The appropriate response is to certify the amount the architect believes is accurate, at 58% completion, and communicate the discrepancy to the contractor.

TLDR

G702 = contractor's payment application + architect's certification that work has progressed as claimed. Architect certifies "to best knowledge, information and belief."
G703 = continuation sheet attached to G702, breaking down every work item by scheduled value and percentage complete.
Architect's certificate for payment triggers the owner's obligation to pay (A201 Section 9.6.1). Architect has 7 days to issue or the contractor can send written notice, then stop work after another 7 days.
7 reasons the architect can withhold or nullify a certificate: defective work, third-party claims, unpaid subs, can't complete for remaining balance, damage to owner, anticipated delay costs, repeated contract failures.
G704 = Certificate of Substantial Completion. Establishes the date, attaches the punch list, and shifts maintenance/utilities/insurance to the owner.
Architects certify substantial completion. They do not certify final completion.
G706/G706A = contractor swears under oath all debts paid and all liens released. G707 = surety consents to final payment.
Final payment requires all three: affidavit (G706), lien releases (G706A), and surety consent (G707) before retainage is released.

ELI5

Imagine you're a kid doing a massive yard project for your neighbor. You've agreed to mow the lawn, trim the hedges, plant flowers, and build a new garden path. The total job is $100, but your neighbor doesn't want to pay it all at once. They want proof you're actually doing the work before they hand over money. So every week, you fill out a form showing what you finished. "Mowed the front yard (done), trimmed half the hedges (50% done), haven't started the flowers yet (0%)." That's your G702 and G703. The G702 is like your invoice, and the G703 is the detailed list showing exactly what's done and what isn't. But your neighbor doesn't just trust your form. They ask a trusted adult, like a parent, to go look at the yard and confirm you actually did what you said.

AREProject Management

G-Series Payment Forms: Applications (G702/G703), Substantial Completion (G704), and Final Payment (G706/G707)

2 min read238 words

Why G-Series Payment Forms Matter on the ARE

Getting any of these wrong creates real liability. The ARE tests whether you understand not just what each form does, but when and why the architect uses it.

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