Alcona County Unclaimed Money

Alcona County residents can search for unclaimed money through the Michigan Department of Treasury's free online database and may also have rights to tax foreclosure surplus funds held by the county. The county seat is Harrisville, and treasurer Cheryl L. Franks handles all delinquent tax collection and property foreclosure matters for this small Lake Huron county.

Michigan Unclaimed Property Search

The Michigan Department of Treasury runs the state's official unclaimed property program at unclaimedproperty.michigan.gov. This search is free. Over $675 million has been returned to Michigan residents in the past five years. The database holds dormant bank accounts, forgotten security deposits, uncashed checks, old insurance proceeds, and more. You can search by your name or a business name. There is no deadline to file a claim, and there is no fee to search or submit.

To reach the Treasury's unclaimed property unit directly, call (517) 636-5320 or email TreasUPD@michigan.gov. Staff can help you confirm whether a match is yours and walk you through the documentation needed to complete a claim.

The state image below shows the main Michigan Unclaimed Property portal. It is the starting point for any search.

The Michigan Treasury operates the state's main search portal for dormant accounts and abandoned property. Visit the site to start your search.

The portal accepts searches by first name, last name, or business name. Results show the type of property and the holder that reported it.

Alcona County Treasurer Contact

Treasurer Cheryl L. Franks handles all county fund management, delinquent tax collection, and property foreclosure in Alcona County. You can reach the office at:

• Address: 106 5th Street, Harrisville, MI 48740 (also P.O. Box 158)
• Phone: (989) 724-9420
• Fax: (989) 724-9429

The treasurer's office is the right place to start if you believe a property you or a family member owned was tax-foreclosed and resulted in a surplus. They can confirm whether a sale occurred and how much, if anything, was left over after taxes, fees, and costs were covered. Getting that information is step one before you file any claim forms.

Tax Foreclosure Surplus Claims

Michigan law MCL 211.78t gives former property owners and certain other parties the right to claim surplus proceeds when a tax foreclosure sale brings in more than the amount owed. This law applies to foreclosures that happened in 2021 and after. The 2020 Michigan Supreme Court ruling in Rafaeli, LLC v. Oakland County established that property owners have a constitutional right to any money left over after the government recovers what it is owed.

The process in Alcona County follows the standard state timeline. On March 1 each year, unpaid taxes become delinquent with a 4% administrative fee and 1% monthly interest added. If the taxes remain unpaid the following March 1, the property is forfeited. Interest jumps to 1.5% per month at that point. Foreclosure is complete on April 1 of the third year, when clear title passes to the county.

To claim surplus funds, you must file Form 5743 with the county treasurer by July 1. The county then responds using Form 5744 by January 31 of the following year. If the matter is not resolved, you may file a motion with the 23rd Circuit Court between February 1 and May 15. Missing these deadlines can mean losing your right to claim. Note: The 23rd Circuit Court covers Alcona along with Arenac, Iosco, and Oscoda counties.

Class Action and Legal Context

Alcona County is one of nine counties named in a class action lawsuit with docket number 349636. The other counties in this case are Roscommon, Montmorency, Alpena, Oscoda, Arenac, Ogemaw, Clare, and Gladwin. If you had property foreclosed in Alcona County and believe surplus proceeds were kept without proper notice or opportunity to claim, this lawsuit may be relevant to your situation.

Legal help is available. The State Bar of Michigan runs a lawyer referral service at lrs.michbar.org. You can also call (800) 968-0738. For those who may not be able to afford an attorney, Legal Services of Eastern Michigan provides free civil legal assistance and serves this region. Their number is (800) 322-4512.

Even if you do not have an attorney, Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org has step-by-step guides on how to file for leftover money after a tax foreclosure. The guides are free and written in plain language.

Delinquent Tax Timeline in Detail

Understanding the exact timeline matters if you are trying to protect property or recover money. In Alcona County, as in all Michigan counties, the process moves in three stages. First, March 1 is when any taxes from the prior year become delinquent. A 4% administrative fee is added right away, plus 1% interest per month going forward. Second, if the debt is not cleared by March 1 of the second year, the property is forfeited. Interest increases to 1.5% per month. Third, on April 1 of the third year, foreclosure is complete and the county gains clear title.

Once foreclosure is done, the county can sell the property. Sales are often handled through Tax-Sale.info, a platform used by over 74 Michigan counties. Their phone number is 800-259-7470. After a sale, any amount above what was owed becomes surplus. That surplus is what Form 5743 allows you to claim.

Note: The redemption deadline is March 31 of the foreclosure year, the day before title passes to the county. That is the last date to pay the debt and stop the foreclosure.

Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund

If your property is at risk of foreclosure right now and has not yet reached the final stage, you may qualify for help through the Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund at michigan.gov/mihaf. This program offers grants of up to $25,000 to help homeowners catch up on past-due mortgage payments, property taxes, and related costs. It is a grant, not a loan, so there is nothing to pay back. Funding is limited and availability changes, so check the site directly for current status.

Other Sources of Unclaimed Funds

Beyond the state Treasury database and tax foreclosure surplus, there are other places to look. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) holds records on failed bank accounts. The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators at unclaimed.org links to all 50 state databases. If you or a family member ever had accounts in another state, you can search there too.

Alcona County property tax records are public. If you need to look up a parcel, confirm ownership history, or check whether a property was ever foreclosed, the county has records going back many years. The treasurer's office at (989) 724-9420 can point you to the right records or assist with a specific parcel search.

Cities and Towns in Alcona County

Alcona County has no cities that meet the 100,000-population threshold for a dedicated page. The main communities are Harrisville (county seat), Lincoln, and Mikado. If you live in any of these towns, the Alcona County Treasurer's office in Harrisville handles all unclaimed money and tax foreclosure matters for the entire county.

Nearby Counties

Alcona County borders several other counties along Michigan's northeastern lower peninsula. Each has its own treasurer's office handling local unclaimed funds and foreclosure surplus claims.