Find Unclaimed Money in Jackson County
Jackson County residents may have unclaimed money held by the State of Michigan or as surplus funds from tax foreclosure auctions. The Michigan Department of Treasury holds over $675 million statewide in dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance proceeds, and other abandoned property. The search is free. Jackson County follows Michigan's standard tax foreclosure process, and former property owners should check whether auction proceeds exceeded what they owed. The County Treasurer accepts online payments and uses Tax-Sale.info to manage real property foreclosure auctions.
Jackson County Overview
Michigan State Unclaimed Property Search
The Michigan Department of Treasury receives dormant funds from banks, insurance companies, utilities, employers, and other businesses operating in the state. When a business loses contact with an account holder and the account sits inactive past the dormancy period, the business must report those funds to the state. The state then holds them until the owner or an heir files a claim. The statewide total is over $675 million.
Search for free at unclaimedproperty.michigan.gov. Enter your name and see what comes up. If you find a match, file the claim online. Most claims are resolved within 90 days. Call (517) 636-5320 or email TreasUPD@michigan.gov with questions.
The official Michigan Unclaimed Property portal is shown below. It's the main tool for Jackson County residents looking for dormant accounts and other unclaimed funds.
Run a free search at unclaimedproperty.michigan.gov, the Michigan Department of Treasury's unclaimed property portal.
Search under every name you have used and check for deceased family members. Heirs can claim funds held in a deceased person's name in many situations.
What Types of Property Are Listed
Bank accounts are the most common type, but there are many others. Insurance policy payouts sit unclaimed when beneficiaries aren't located. Payroll checks that were never cashed, stock dividends, court-ordered refunds, security deposits from old rentals, and safe deposit box contents can all end up with the state. These funds don't expire. Search even for accounts that are decades old.
Jackson County Treasurer
The Jackson County Treasurer collects delinquent property taxes and manages the tax foreclosure process under Michigan law. Unpaid property taxes are turned over to the County Treasurer after March 2 of the first delinquent year. Late and delinquent personal property taxes may still be payable at local township offices in some cases, so check with your township if you're unsure where to pay.
As of January 1, 2022, postmarks are no longer accepted as the payment date for Jackson County tax payments. Payments must be received by the due date. Online payments are available through Point and Pay, which charges a 3% fee for credit cards and $3 for e-check transactions.
The Jackson County main website is shown below. It links to the treasurer's office, tax records, and other county services.
Visit mijackson.org for the full directory of Jackson County services, including the Treasurer's office.
The county site covers tax payment deadlines, delinquent tax lookup, and links to the foreclosure auction platform used by the county.
| Treasurer | Karen A. Coffman (elected 2024) |
|---|---|
| County Seat | Jackson, MI |
| Delinquent Taxes Transfer | After March 2 of first delinquent year |
| Online Payment | Point and Pay (3% credit card fee, $3 e-check) |
| Postmark Rule | Postmarks not accepted as of January 1, 2022 |
| Website | mijackson.org |
Tax Foreclosure Auctions
Jackson County uses Tax-Sale.info to manage real property foreclosure auctions. When a property is finally foreclosed after the three-year process, it is listed on the Tax-Sale.info platform for public bidding. You can view current and upcoming listings there. If you are a former owner whose property was sold through this platform, check whether the sale price exceeded what you owed in taxes. A surplus may be available to claim.
The Tax-Sale.info platform used by Jackson County is shown below. It's where buyers and former owners can find information about foreclosure auction listings and results.
View current foreclosure auction listings for Jackson County at tax-sale.info.
Former owners whose properties appear on this platform should check whether a surplus was generated after the sale. If so, the surplus claim process under MCL 211.78t applies.
Tax Foreclosure Surplus Funds in Jackson County
When a foreclosed property sells at auction for more than the taxes owed, the difference is a surplus. Michigan Compiled Laws section 211.78t gives the former property owner the right to claim it. Many people don't know this right exists. The deadlines are strict, and missing them ends the claim.
Claim Forms and Deadlines
Two forms apply to surplus claims:
- Form 5743 - Notice of intention to claim surplus proceeds. Must be filed by July 1 of the foreclosure year.
- Form 5744 - Petition to claim surplus proceeds. File by January 31 after the sale.
There is also a court motion option using form CC540. You can file it from February 1 through May 15. The motion goes to the Jackson County circuit court. A judge reviews your proof of ownership and orders the county to pay if the claim is valid. This is a useful fallback for people who missed the earlier form deadlines.
Rafaeli v. Oakland County (2020)
The Michigan Supreme Court ruled in Rafaeli v. Oakland County in 2020 that former property owners are entitled to surplus proceeds from tax foreclosure auctions. Counties cannot keep the excess. This ruling applies statewide and changed how surplus funds are handled across Michigan, including in Jackson County. If your property was foreclosed and sold for more than what you owed, you may be owed a surplus.
Michigan Tax Foreclosure Timeline
Michigan law requires three years before a property can be finally foreclosed. Here's what happens:
- Year 1: Taxes go unpaid. On March 2, the county treasurer takes over. A lien attaches and interest begins. The owner can still pay to stop the process at this stage.
- Year 2: The property is listed as delinquent. Notices go to the owner and lienholders. Redemption rights remain. Formal foreclosure proceedings begin.
- Year 3: If taxes are still unpaid, the circuit court enters a foreclosure judgment. The property is listed on Tax-Sale.info and sold at public auction.
After the auction, the tax debt, fees, and court costs are paid first. Whatever remains is the surplus. Former owners have a limited window to claim it under MCL 211.78t. The Jackson County Treasurer serves as the Foreclosing Governmental Unit (FGU) and manages the process from delinquency to auction.
Legal Aid Resources for Jackson County Residents
Free and low-cost legal help is available for Jackson County residents dealing with surplus claims, tax foreclosure, and unclaimed property.
Michigan Legal Help
Go to michiganlegalhelp.org for free guides on surplus fund claims, tax foreclosure, and unclaimed property. The site explains the forms you need, the deadlines you must meet, and what to do if you missed an earlier filing window. It also has guides for representing yourself in circuit court if needed.
State Bar of Michigan Lawyer Referral Service
The State Bar of Michigan runs a referral service at lrs.michbar.org. Call (800) 968-0738 to be matched with a local attorney. Attorneys handling property law, tax matters, and probate can assist with surplus claims. Initial consultations are often low-cost or free.
Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund
If you are behind on property taxes right now, visit michigan.gov/mihaf to check the Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund (MIHAF). The program can pay off delinquent balances and stop a foreclosure before it gets to the auction stage. Preventing the foreclosure is always better than filing a surplus claim after the fact.
Don't delay on surplus claims. The July 1 and January 31 form deadlines and the May 15 court motion cutoff are firm. Missing any one of them ends your right to recover funds from a past foreclosure sale.
Cities in Jackson County
The City of Jackson is the county seat and by far the largest city in the county. No cities in Jackson County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. Residents of Jackson and other communities in the county can use the state portal and county resources listed here to search for unclaimed funds and file surplus claims.