Arenac County Unclaimed Money

Arenac County residents may have unclaimed money held by the Michigan Department of Treasury or through tax foreclosure surplus claims managed by the county treasurer. Arenac County is notable for accepting partial delinquent tax payments of at least $50, which gives some property owners a path to stay current on overdue taxes and avoid foreclosure even when they cannot pay the full balance at once.

Michigan Unclaimed Property Search

The free state search is at unclaimedproperty.michigan.gov. Michigan has returned over $675 million in abandoned property to residents in the last five years. The database holds dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, old utility deposits, insurance payouts, and more. You can search by name. No login is required. You can also look up accounts for a deceased family member.

For questions about a result or about the claim process, reach the Michigan Department of Treasury at (517) 636-5320 or TreasUPD@michigan.gov. The Arenac County Treasurer's website is at arenaccountymi.gov/Treasurer for local tax and property matters.

The image below shows the Arenac County Treasurer's webpage, the local source for delinquent tax information and payment options.

The treasurer's page covers tax payment options, delinquency procedures, and contact details for the Standish office.

The image below shows the main Arenac County government site, which links to all county departments.

The county homepage provides contact information and links to public records, forms, and department pages.

Arenac County Treasurer Duties

The Arenac County Treasurer's role is defined by the Michigan State Constitution, Article VII Section 4. It is a four-year elected position. The treasurer is the custodian of all county funds and handles receipting, recording, and investing all money deposited with the county. The office maintains debt service accounts for all bonded indebtedness and starts delinquent tax collection on March 1 each year.

The treasurer also serves as an agent of the delinquent tax revolving fund. Properties more than 24 months delinquent can be sold through the foreclosure process. Beyond taxes, the Arenac County Treasurer handles dog licenses, deed certifications, real estate title transfers, and general ledger reconciliation. These are not just tax-collection duties. The office touches a wide range of county financial operations.

One detail that stands out in Arenac County: partial tax payments of at least $50 are accepted. This is not standard in every Michigan county. If you owe delinquent taxes and cannot pay the full balance at once, this policy may give you a way to start reducing the debt and potentially prevent a forfeiture or foreclosure from advancing. Call the office to confirm current policy before sending a partial payment.

Class Action Docket No. 349636

Arenac County is one of nine counties included in a class action lawsuit with docket number 349636. The other counties are Roscommon, Montmorency, Alpena, Oscoda, Alcona, Ogemaw, Clare, and Gladwin. This lawsuit involves questions about how surplus funds from tax foreclosure sales were handled. If you had property foreclosed in Arenac County and believe you may have been owed surplus proceeds that were not paid to you, this class action may affect your rights.

The Rafaeli, LLC v. Oakland County decision in 2020 confirmed that former property owners have a constitutional right to surplus proceeds. MCL 211.78t created the formal process to claim those funds. If your foreclosure happened in 2021 or later, you should follow the Form 5743 process. If it was before 2021, you may need legal advice on whether you still have options under the class action or other legal theories.

Note: Being part of the class action does not automatically recover money for you. You or an attorney need to take action on your behalf. Contact a lawyer to understand your specific situation.

Surplus Claim Process and Deadlines

To claim surplus from a post-2020 tax foreclosure in Arenac County, you start with Form 5743. File it with the county treasurer by July 1. The treasurer has until January 31 of the following year to respond using Form 5744. If there is still a dispute after that, you can file a motion with the 23rd Circuit Court between February 1 and May 15. The 23rd Circuit covers Arenac, Alcona, Iosco, and Oscoda counties.

Before filing, it helps to know the details of the sale. The treasurer can confirm whether a foreclosure sale occurred, the sale date, and the amount the property brought in. You compare that to the outstanding taxes, fees, and costs to see if there was a surplus. If you are not sure how to do that math, Michigan Legal Help's free guide at michiganlegalhelp.org walks through it clearly.

Legal Aid Through LSEM Saginaw

Legal Services of Eastern Michigan's Saginaw office specifically serves Arenac County residents. That office is at 301 E. Genesee Ave., 5th Floor, Saginaw, MI 48607. Their toll-free number is (800) 322-4512. Office hours are Monday through Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. LSEM provides free civil legal assistance to qualifying residents, including help with property and tax-related matters.

The State Bar of Michigan also offers a referral service at lrs.michbar.org or (800) 968-0738 if you need a private attorney. Many attorneys who handle tax foreclosure surplus cases work on contingency, so there may be no upfront cost if your claim has merit.

Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund

If your Arenac County property is delinquent but not yet foreclosed, the Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund at michigan.gov/mihaf may help. Grants up to $25,000 are available for past-due property taxes, mortgage payments, and utility costs. This is a grant, not a loan. Eligibility requirements and funding availability change over time. Check the site for current status.

Communities in Arenac County

Arenac County has no cities that exceed the 100,000-population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. Main communities include Standish (county seat), Omer, and Au Gres. All unclaimed money and tax foreclosure surplus matters are handled through the Arenac County Treasurer's office in Standish, regardless of which community you live in.

Nearby Counties

Arenac County is in Michigan's lower peninsula along Lake Huron. Bordering counties each have their own treasurer and delinquent tax processes.