Gladwin County Unclaimed Money Search
Gladwin County residents have two main paths to search for unclaimed money: the Michigan Department of Treasury's statewide unclaimed property database and the county's tax foreclosure surplus fund process under MCL 211.78t. Michigan currently holds more than $675 million in unclaimed funds for residents and businesses across the state, and some of that total belongs to people in Gladwin County who haven't yet come forward to claim it. Treasurer Christy VanTiem manages delinquent taxes and foreclosure surplus matters at 401 West Cedar Avenue in Gladwin, and Legal Services of Eastern Michigan serves the county for free legal help. Both programs are covered below.
Gladwin County Overview
Michigan State Unclaimed Property Search
Go to unclaimedproperty.michigan.gov to search the Michigan Treasury's unclaimed property database. The search is free. No login is required. Enter your name and review any results that match.
The database includes dormant bank accounts, uncashed payroll checks, insurance policy proceeds, stock dividends, utility deposit refunds, and other financial property that companies are legally required to report to the state after a set period of inactivity. The state holds these funds indefinitely. There is no expiration on your right to claim them.
When you find a match and file a claim, be ready to provide a government-issued photo ID and documentation linking you to the original property. An old bank statement, W-2, or utility bill from the relevant address usually works. Larger claims may need notarized forms. Processing generally takes 60 to 90 days once you submit a complete claim.
Call the Michigan Treasury at (517) 636-5320 or email TreasUPD@michigan.gov for help with a specific claim or to check on something you've already filed.
The Michigan Unclaimed Property portal is shown below. This is where Gladwin County residents should start their search.
New accounts are reported to the state every year, so it's worth checking more than once.
Gladwin County Treasurer
Gladwin County Treasurer Christy VanTiem handles all delinquent property tax matters and the county's tax foreclosure process. The office is at 401 West Cedar Avenue, Gladwin, MI 48624. Phone: 989-426-7251.
Gladwin County is located in central Michigan, bordered by Clare, Midland, Bay, Arenac, and Roscommon counties. The county operates under Michigan's General Property Tax Act, and standard state foreclosure procedures apply. If you receive a delinquency or forfeiture notice from the Treasurer's office, contact the office immediately to understand your payoff amount and remaining options.
Delinquent property taxes in Michigan transfer to the county treasurer on March 1. At that point, a 4% administrative fee is added and monthly interest starts accruing. If you are behind on taxes in Gladwin County, call the Treasurer at 989-426-7251 before sending any payment. The exact payoff figure changes each month due to interest, and an underpayment can leave the account open.
For property owners facing financial hardship, ask the Treasurer's office about payment plan options and hardship extension procedures. These options exist but are only available before the foreclosure judgment is entered in year three of the process.
Tax Foreclosure Surplus Funds in Gladwin County
When Gladwin County forecloses on a property for unpaid taxes and sells it at auction, any sale proceeds above what was owed in taxes, fees, and costs belong to the former owner or other parties with a legal interest in the property. This is Michigan law under MCL 211.78t, and it was reinforced by the Michigan Supreme Court's 2020 ruling in Rafaeli v. Oakland County. Counties can no longer keep surplus proceeds from tax foreclosure sales.
Gladwin County is included in class action litigation under Docket No. 349636, alongside Roscommon, Montmorency, Alpena, Oscoda, Alcona, Arenac, Ogemaw, and Clare counties. If your property was foreclosed before 2021, you may have rights under that class action. Consult an attorney to evaluate your specific situation before any applicable deadlines pass.
For properties foreclosed in 2021 and later, the MCL 211.78t surplus claim process works as follows:
Form 5743 filed by July 1. The Claim for Excess Proceeds must be filed with the circuit court no later than July 1 of the year following the foreclosure auction. This form notifies the court that you have a legal interest in any surplus from that sale.
Accounting notice received by January 31. The county treasurer sends a written accounting showing the total sale price, what was deducted for taxes and costs, and the net surplus that may be owed to you.
CC540 court motion filed between February 1 and May 15. If you need to pursue the claim through the circuit court, this is the window for filing the CC540 motion. Missing May 15 generally forfeits your right to those funds.
If you believe surplus funds were generated from a foreclosure sale involving property you owned or had a legal interest in, contact the Gladwin County Treasurer at 989-426-7251 and consider speaking with a lawyer about your rights under MCL 211.78t.
Michigan Tax Foreclosure Timeline
Michigan's property tax foreclosure process takes three years. Here is what happens at each stage and what options remain.
Year 1: Delinquency. Taxes go unpaid. On March 1 of the next year, they move to the county treasurer. A 4% fee is added and 1% monthly interest starts. The balance grows every month.
Year 2: Forfeiture. On March 1 of year two, the property is forfeited to the county treasurer. The owner still has the property. They can still redeem it by paying. But the interest rate jumps to 1.5% per month, retroactive to the original delinquency date. This causes the owed balance to increase sharply.
Year 3: Foreclosure judgment. On April 1 of year three, the circuit court enters the foreclosure order. After this point, the owner's right to pay and reclaim the property is generally gone. The property is transferred to the county land bank or public auction.
Call Treasurer VanTiem at 989-426-7251 as early in this process as possible. The sooner you act, the more options remain available to you.
Legal Aid Resources for Gladwin County
Legal Services of Eastern Michigan (Saginaw office) serves Gladwin County residents. Address: 301 E. Genesee Avenue, 5th Floor, Saginaw, MI 48607. Toll-free phone: 1-800-322-4512. The office handles civil legal matters for income-eligible residents including housing, tax foreclosure, and public benefits issues.
Phone intake hours for the Saginaw office: Monday through Wednesday from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM; Thursday from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Call during these hours to be screened for services.
The Legal Services of Eastern Michigan office is shown below as referenced from their website. The Legal Services of Eastern Michigan information page describes services available for residents in this region.
Call the toll-free number during intake hours to find out whether you qualify for free legal representation.
Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org offers free step-by-step guides on tax foreclosure, surplus fund claims, and unclaimed property. The guides explain every form and deadline in plain language.
State Bar of Michigan Lawyer Referral Service: Call (800) 968-0738 or visit lrs.michbar.org to find a licensed attorney who handles real estate or tax matters. A small fee applies for the initial consultation referral.
Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund (MIHAF) may provide up to $25,000 for eligible homeowners with past-due property taxes or mortgage costs. Visit michigan.gov/mihaf to review eligibility and apply. Funding is limited and availability changes.
Cities in Gladwin County
No cities in Gladwin County meet the 100,000-population threshold for a dedicated city page. Gladwin is the county seat. Residents of Gladwin, Beaverton, and other county communities should search the state portal at unclaimedproperty.michigan.gov and contact Treasurer VanTiem at 989-426-7251 for tax foreclosure surplus fund questions.