Calhoun County Unclaimed Money

Calhoun County residents can search for unclaimed money in Michigan's free state database and may have rights to tax foreclosure surplus funds managed through the county treasurer in Marshall. With a population of around 134,000, Calhoun County follows standard Michigan procedures under MCL 211.78 for delinquent property taxes and surplus fund claims, and the elected county treasurer serves a four-year term as established by the Michigan State Constitution.

Michigan Unclaimed Property Search

The Michigan Department of Treasury's free unclaimed property database is at unclaimedproperty.michigan.gov. The program has returned over $675 million to Michigan residents in the past five years. Dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, old security deposits, insurance proceeds, and other types of property are all included in the database. You search by name, and no account is needed to get results.

If you find a match, you start a claim right from the search portal. There is no deadline and no fee. To get direct help, call the Treasury unclaimed property unit at (517) 636-5320 or email TreasUPD@michigan.gov. Staff can walk you through what documents you need to complete a claim.

The Calhoun County website at calhouncountymi.gov lists the treasurer's services and contact information. The screenshot below shows the Michigan Unclaimed Property main portal, which is the best starting point for any search.

Start your search at unclaimedproperty.michigan.gov to look up funds that may be held in your name.

The portal shows what type of property was reported and who reported it, giving you enough detail to confirm whether it belongs to you before filing.

Calhoun County Treasurer Contact

The Calhoun County Treasurer is elected on a partisan basis for a four-year term, with duties set by Michigan state law. This structure is the same across all Michigan counties, established in the state constitution. The treasurer is the county's main officer for delinquent property tax collection, fund management, and foreclosure administration.

To reach the Calhoun County main office, call 269-781-0700. The county website at calhouncountymi.gov provides direct links to the treasurer's services including delinquent property tax search, property tax payment, foreclosure prevention resources, and dog license information.

The treasurer's office in Marshall handles these services:

• Delinquent Property Tax Search and payment
• Tax foreclosure administration and surplus claims
• Foreclosure prevention guidance
• Dog license issuance
• Deed certification
• County fund management and investment

If you are unsure whether to contact the county treasurer or the Michigan Department of Treasury about an unclaimed property matter, a good rule is this: for dormant accounts and uncashed checks, go to the state. For property tax foreclosure surplus, go to the county treasurer first.

Note: The State Bar of Michigan referral service at lrs.michbar.org can connect you with a local attorney in the Calhoun County area who handles property tax and foreclosure matters.

Tax Foreclosure Surplus Claims

When a Calhoun County property sells at tax foreclosure for more than the total owed in back taxes, fees, and costs, the extra money is called the surplus. Michigan law MCL 211.78t gives former owners and certain lienholders the right to claim that surplus. This law applies to foreclosures that took place in 2021 and after, following the Rafaeli, LLC v. Oakland County decision from the Michigan Supreme Court in 2020.

The claim process uses a set calendar. File Form 5743 with the Calhoun County Treasurer by July 1 in the year of the foreclosure sale. The treasurer then issues an accounting using Form 5744 by January 31. If the matter is not resolved at that point, you have until May 15 to file a circuit court motion with form CC540. Filing starts February 1 and ends May 15. A court must approve any payment.

The Michigan Legal Help site at michiganlegalhelp.org has a full walkthrough of this process in plain language. It is free to use and explains every form and deadline in detail. If you want to hire an attorney, the State Bar referral line is (800) 968-0738.

Delinquent Tax Timeline

Michigan's General Property Tax Act (MCL 211.78) sets the same three-stage timeline in every county. In Calhoun County, the process runs like this. March 1, year one: unpaid taxes from the prior year become delinquent. A 4% administrative fee is added right away, plus 1% monthly interest. March 1, year two: if the debt is still unpaid, the property is forfeited to the county. Interest increases to 1.5% per month. April 1, year three: foreclosure is complete and the county holds clear title. The last date to pay and stop the foreclosure is March 31.

Once the county has clear title, the property can be sold. Tax foreclosure auctions in Michigan are often run through Tax-Sale.info, a platform active in over 74 Michigan counties. If you want to research past sales or check whether a former property was sold, call Tax-Sale.info at 800-259-7470.

A surplus only exists if the sale price is higher than the total the county was owed. That surplus is held and can be claimed under MCL 211.78t.

Homeowner Assistance and Prevention

The Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund at michigan.gov/mihaf offers grants of up to $25,000 for homeowners who are behind on mortgage payments, property taxes, and related costs. These are grants, not loans. No repayment is required. Calhoun County residents who are in the early stages of the delinquency process should check MIHAF availability before the situation reaches forfeiture or foreclosure.

The county's website also lists foreclosure prevention resources. If you want to explore payment arrangements or hardship options with the county directly, start at calhouncountymi.gov or call 269-781-0700.

Legal Help for Calhoun County Residents

Several resources are available if you need help with a surplus claim or foreclosure matter in Calhoun County. Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org is free and has guides on tax foreclosure surplus. The State Bar of Michigan referral service at lrs.michbar.org or (800) 968-0738 connects you with attorneys. Legal Services of Eastern Michigan at lsem-mi.org or (800) 322-4512 provides free help for qualifying residents who cannot afford an attorney.

Even without a lawyer, the forms for surplus claims are available through the county and through the state courts website. You can file Form 5743 yourself and monitor the process through the circuit court if needed.

Cities and Towns in Calhoun County

Calhoun County has no cities that meet the 100,000-population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. The county seat is Marshall, and other communities include Battle Creek, Albion, Homer, and Tekonsha. If you live anywhere in the county, the Calhoun County Treasurer in Marshall handles all tax foreclosure and unclaimed money matters for the entire county.

Nearby Counties

Calhoun County is in south-central Michigan, surrounded by several other counties. Each has its own treasurer handling local foreclosure surplus and unclaimed fund matters.