Houghton County Unclaimed Money

Houghton County residents can search for unclaimed money through Michigan's free state database and may be owed surplus funds from tax foreclosure sales that went above and beyond what was owed. This Upper Peninsula county has its own set of offices handling delinquent taxes, and knowing which office to contact makes the difference between a quick claim and a drawn-out process.

State Unclaimed Property Database

The Michigan Department of Treasury runs a free search at unclaimedproperty.michigan.gov. It holds dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, forgotten insurance payouts, utility deposits, and other abandoned assets. You search by name alone, and you can also search for a deceased family member's property. Michigan has returned over $675 million to residents in recent years, and many people find money they forgot they had.

To reach the unclaimed property division directly, call (517) 636-5320 or email TreasUPD@michigan.gov. Staff can help you figure out if a hit on the database is really yours and walk you through the steps to file a claim. The search is free and takes only a few minutes.

The state search portal below is the right starting point for any Houghton County resident. Visit the site, enter your name, and check results carefully.

After searching the state database, check your result list and follow the claim instructions linked from each entry.

City of Houghton Treasurer Office

The City of Houghton has its own Treasurer separate from the County Treasurer. Gail Kotajarvi-Gerard has served as City Treasurer since 2025. Her office handles city tax collection, billing, and the early stages of delinquent tax processing. On March 1 of every year, all unpaid real property taxes are turned over to the Houghton County Treasurer for collection. That transfer matters if you are trying to figure out who holds a lien or who might have proceeds from a past sale.

City of Houghton Treasurer contact information:

• Treasurer: Gail Kotajarvi-Gerard
• Phone: 906-483-4652
• Email: treasurer@cityofhoughton.com
• Website: cityofhoughton.com/treasurer

For questions about assessed values rather than taxes owed, contact the assessor at assessor@cityofhoughton.com. The two offices handle different things, and reaching the right one saves time.

The City Treasurer's page is shown below. It lists current tax payment options and contact details.

If you have questions about payments or prior-year balances, the Treasurer's office is the right starting point.

Note: The City of Houghton and Houghton County are separate taxing entities. Make sure you are contacting the correct office for your specific property address.

Tax Payment Deadlines in Houghton

City of Houghton tax bills follow a clear calendar. Summer tax bills are mailed on July 1 and due on September 14. Winter tax bills go out in late November and are due February 14. If you miss a deadline, interest and fees begin to accrue quickly. And on March 1 of each year, all unpaid real property taxes are certified and turned over to the Houghton County Treasurer for continued collection.

You can view and pay taxes online through the city's payment portal. That option is available year-round for current and prior amounts still held at the city level. Once taxes move to the county on March 1, you need to deal with the County Treasurer's office instead.

Knowing the March 1 transfer date is important for anyone trying to track down unclaimed surplus funds. If a property went through tax foreclosure, the county would have handled the foreclosure and would be the office that processed any auction proceeds.

Note: Assessing questions about your property value should go to the city assessor, not the treasurer. The two have separate contact channels.

Tax Foreclosure Surplus Funds

Michigan law changed how surplus proceeds from tax foreclosure auctions are handled, starting with foreclosures initiated in 2021 and later. Under MCL 211.78t, if a property sold at auction for more than the amount owed in back taxes, penalties, and costs, the former owner or other parties with a legal interest may claim those extra funds.

The process works like this: You file Form 5743 with the Foreclosing Governmental Unit (FGU) by July 1 of the year after the foreclosure. The FGU then responds by January 31 using Form 5744. If a dispute remains, you can file a motion with the circuit court between February 1 and May 15. The Houghton County circuit court handles local filings. You can also use Tax-Sale.info at tax-sale.info to search past auction results and check whether surplus funds were generated on a specific parcel.

This rule change followed the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 decision in Tyler v. Hennepin County and the Michigan Supreme Court's earlier 2020 decision in Rafaeli v. Oakland County, both of which confirmed that former property owners have a right to any proceeds that exceed what was owed. If you owned property that was foreclosed on and sold at auction after 2021, it is worth checking whether money is waiting for you.

Note: Claims for foreclosures that occurred before 2021 may follow different procedures. Consult the county treasurer or an attorney to understand your specific situation.

Houghton County Treasurer

The Houghton County Treasurer's office is the Foreclosing Governmental Unit for tax-delinquent properties in the county. After the March 1 transfer date, unpaid taxes are in the county's hands. If a property reaches foreclosure, the county treasurer manages the auction process and holds any surplus proceeds pending valid claims.

The Houghton County main website at houghtoncounty.org has experienced server issues, but contact information for the county's offices is typically available through directory listings or by calling the county building in Houghton. If you cannot reach the site, call the Michigan Department of Treasury at (517) 636-5320 for guidance on county-level surplus claims.

The county seat is the City of Houghton. The county courthouse and most county offices are located there. Upper Peninsula counties can vary in how accessible their records are online, so an in-person or phone inquiry may be needed.

Legal Help for Surplus Claims

If you need legal help with an unclaimed money claim or a tax foreclosure surplus in Houghton County, a few resources are available. Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org has a step-by-step guide on how to ask for leftover money after a tax foreclosure. It is written for people without legal training and covers the Form 5743 process clearly.

Legal Services of Eastern Michigan (LSEM) can also help eligible residents. Their toll-free number is (800) 322-4512. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. They serve a broad part of Michigan and may be able to provide guidance or connect you with a local attorney in the Upper Peninsula.

For attorney referrals, the State Bar of Michigan's Lawyer Referral Service is reachable at (800) 968-0738 or online at lrs.michbar.org. They can match you with someone who handles property or probate law in the area.

Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund

The Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund (MIHAF) helps eligible homeowners catch up on overdue housing costs, including delinquent property taxes. Grants of up to $25,000 are available for qualifying applicants. Visit michigan.gov/mihaf to check eligibility and apply. Houghton County residents are eligible to apply like anyone else in the state.

MIHAF assistance can prevent a property from reaching the tax foreclosure stage, which avoids the complications of surplus fund claims later. If you are behind on taxes now, this program is worth looking into before March 1 arrives.

Cities in Houghton County

Houghton County includes several small cities and villages, but none currently exceed the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. The largest community is the City of Houghton, followed by Hancock and Calumet. Residents of all these communities should use the state database at unclaimedproperty.michigan.gov and contact the City of Houghton Treasurer or Houghton County Treasurer directly for surplus fund questions.

Nearby Counties

If you have property interests or residence in a neighboring area, these counties are adjacent to Houghton County in the Upper Peninsula.