Clinton Township Unclaimed Money
Clinton Township residents can search for unclaimed money through Michigan's free statewide database and through Macomb County for any tax-related funds. Common sources include dormant bank accounts, forgotten insurance payouts, uncashed refund checks, old utility deposits, and payroll funds from past employers. Clinton Township has no city income tax and no separate unclaimed property database. The state program is the main search tool, and Macomb County handles delinquent taxes and any surplus from foreclosure sales.
Clinton Township Overview
Michigan State Unclaimed Property
The Michigan Department of Treasury runs the state unclaimed property program. Banks, employers, insurance companies, and other businesses must report funds to the state when they can no longer reach the owner. The state holds the money indefinitely with no filing deadline. Over $675 million has been returned to Michigan residents so far.
The statewide database is at unclaimedproperty.michigan.gov. Searching is free and takes only a few minutes.
Enter your last name on the website to see any matching records. If you find one, click through to file a claim and verify your identity. For larger amounts, the state may ask for documents such as prior address history or account statements. Call (517) 636-5320 or email TreasUPD@michigan.gov with any questions.
Clinton Township's large population means many residents have worked across Macomb County or the Detroit metro area and may have left accounts at former employers or banks. Searching under all past names and previous addresses is worth doing.
What Gets Reported to the State
Businesses report accounts dormant for three years. This covers checking and savings accounts, payroll checks, stock dividends, security deposits, and more. Life insurance proceeds are reported after three years of no contact with the beneficiary. Safe deposit box contents arrive at the state after five years of no rental payment.
Clinton Township Finance Office
Clinton Township handles its own property tax billing and collections through the Township's finance office. There is no income tax in Clinton Township. The Township bills property taxes twice a year. Summer taxes are typically due around July 31 and winter taxes around February 14. Payments that are never collected or refund checks that go uncashed are eventually turned over to the state's unclaimed property program.
The township's website is at clinton-macomb.com.
| Department | Charter Township of Clinton |
|---|---|
| General Phone | (586) 286-8000 |
| Website | clinton-macomb.com |
If you believe you have an overpayment or unclaimed refund from the township, contact the finance office directly. Be prepared to provide your parcel ID or property address and any relevant tax years. If the township mailed a refund check that you never received, it may now appear in the state's unclaimed property database under your name.
Clinton Township also handles utility billing for some areas. If you moved and had a utility deposit that was never returned, check with the township's finance office and also search the state database.
Macomb County Treasurer
Property taxes in Clinton Township that remain unpaid after March 1 transfer to Macomb County Treasurer Lawrence Rocca's office. The county adds interest to the balance. If taxes stay unpaid for three years, the property can enter foreclosure under MCL 211.78.
See the full Macomb County unclaimed money page for more county-level resources. For direct contact:
| Treasurer | Lawrence Rocca |
|---|---|
| Address | 1 South Main St., 2nd Floor, Mount Clemens, MI |
| Phone | (586) 469-5190 |
| treasurer@macombgov.org |
You can look up delinquent tax balances online and make payments through the county's portal at macombgov.org/treasurer. If you are behind on taxes and concerned about foreclosure, contact the county early to ask about payment plans or hardship options.
The Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund at michigan.gov/mihaf may also help if you fell behind on taxes due to pandemic-related hardship. Grants of up to $25,000 may be available.
Tax Foreclosure Surplus Funds
If a Clinton Township property was foreclosed for unpaid taxes and then sold at a Macomb County tax auction for more than the amount owed, the former owner can claim the excess funds. The 2020 Michigan Supreme Court decision in Rafaeli LLC v Oakland County, decided July 17, 2020, established that former owners have a legal right to those surplus proceeds.
Macomb County follows the standard MCL 211.78t process. Here is what to do:
- Get Form 5743 (Notice of Intention to Claim Interest in Foreclosure Sale Proceeds) from the Macomb County Treasurer or download it from the state website.
- Complete the form and submit it to the Macomb County Treasurer by July 1 of the year following the foreclosure sale.
- Use Form 5744 to respond and assert your claim by January 31.
- If the county confirms a surplus but does not resolve the claim, file a motion in the Macomb County Circuit Court between February 1 and May 15.
The July 1 deadline is firm. Missing it means losing your claim for that cycle. If you are not sure whether your former property sold at auction or whether any surplus exists, call the Macomb County Treasurer at (586) 469-5190. Ask them to look up the sale record for your parcel and confirm whether funds are being held.
Do not assume there was no surplus without checking. Properties in the Clinton Township area can sell at auction for well above the tax debt, especially where the home had equity.
Michigan Tax Foreclosure Timeline
Michigan uses a three-year process before a property is foreclosed for unpaid taxes. Knowing where you stand matters.
- Year 1, March 1: Taxes become delinquent. A 4% administration fee is charged, plus 1% per month in interest.
- Year 2, March 1: The property enters forfeiture. Formal proceedings begin and the owner's options to redeem become more limited.
- Year 3, April 1: Foreclosure is finalized. The county takes title and can sell the property at auction.
At any stage before the final foreclosure date, the owner can pay the full balance owed to stop the process. Once the property sells, a surplus claim is the only remaining remedy. Acting early is always the better path.
Legal Aid Resources
Clinton Township residents have access to free and low-cost help for unclaimed money and tax foreclosure issues.
- Michigan Legal Help: michiganlegalhelp.org has plain-language guides on unclaimed property, delinquent taxes, and surplus fund claims. A good starting point if you are not sure where to begin.
- State Bar of Michigan Lawyer Referral Service: Call (800) 968-0738 or visit lrs.michbar.org to find a local attorney who handles property or tax matters.
- Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund (MIHAF): Visit michigan.gov/mihaf for grants up to $25,000 for homeowners who fell behind on taxes or mortgage payments due to hardship.
- Macomb County Community Services: Can refer Clinton Township residents to local legal aid and housing assistance programs in the area.
If your claim involves a significant surplus amount, a private attorney who handles tax foreclosure cases may be worth consulting. Many take these cases on contingency with no upfront cost.