Lenawee County Unclaimed Money

Lenawee County residents can search for unclaimed money through Michigan's free state database, and former property owners may have surplus funds available from tax foreclosure sales where the auction price exceeded what was owed. Lenawee County was also named in a class action lawsuit related to tax foreclosure surplus funds, which may be relevant to homeowners who lost property between 2015 and recent years.

Michigan State Unclaimed Property Search

The Michigan Department of Treasury holds unclaimed assets in a free searchable database at unclaimedproperty.michigan.gov. The database includes dormant bank accounts, forgotten savings bonds, uncashed checks, insurance payouts, utility refunds, and other abandoned financial assets. Search by name at no cost. No registration required. Michigan has returned over $675 million to residents and accepts new claims year-round.

Call (517) 636-5320 or email TreasUPD@michigan.gov to speak with the state unclaimed property division. Staff can confirm ownership and explain exactly what documentation you need to file a claim. Most claims are processed within a few weeks of submission.

Michigan's free statewide unclaimed property search is available at unclaimedproperty.michigan.gov.

Search by name at no cost. No account required.

Searching for deceased relatives is also permitted. Old accounts from family members who lived in Michigan may still be in the system with no time limit on filing a claim.

Lenawee County Government

Lenawee County is based in Adrian in southeastern Michigan and borders Ohio to the south. The county website at lenawee.mi.us provides access to county departments including the Treasurer's office. The Treasurer handles delinquent property tax collection, serves as the Foreclosure Government Unit (FGU), and manages the annual property auction.

The Lenawee County main website provides access to all departments and current contact information for the Treasurer and other offices.

Use the county site to find office hours, forms, and direct contact information for the Treasurer's office in Adrian.

For property tax questions, delinquent tax account information, or questions about the foreclosure process in Lenawee County, the Treasurer's office in Adrian is the right contact. The standard redemption deadline in Lenawee County is March 31 of the foreclosure year.

Class Action Lawsuit Background

Lenawee County was named as a participant in a class action lawsuit (Docket No. 350406) along with Monroe, Washtenaw, and Hillsdale counties. The suit centered on whether these counties had improperly retained surplus proceeds from tax foreclosure sales without compensating former property owners.

The legal basis for these suits stems from the Michigan Supreme Court's 2020 ruling in Rafaeli v. Oakland County. The Court held that retaining surplus proceeds from a tax foreclosure sale, beyond what was owed, violated the Michigan Constitution's prohibition on unconstitutional takings. That ruling opened the door for former owners across Michigan to pursue claims for money that should have been returned to them.

The class action and individual claims under MCL 211.78t are separate processes. Even if you were included in or affected by the class action, you may have additional rights under the 2021 statute for any more recent foreclosure. These two paths do not cancel each other out.

Note: Court proceedings in class action cases move slowly. The Docket No. 350406 case involving Lenawee County has been active in Michigan courts. For the most current status, contact a legal aid organization or check public court records through the Michigan court system.

Tax Foreclosure Surplus Claims (MCL 211.78t)

For foreclosures that happened in 2021 or later, Michigan's MCL 211.78t provides a clear statutory process for claiming surplus funds. The process requires specific forms and court involvement.

Steps to claim surplus under MCL 211.78t:

• File Form 5743 with the Lenawee County FGU by July 1 of the auction year.
• Receive a response from the FGU via Form 5744 by January 31.
• If unresolved, file a motion in the Lenawee County Circuit Court between February 1 and May 15.
• A court hearing is scheduled. If the claim is valid, the judge orders payment.

The July 1 filing deadline is critical. Missing it forfeits your right to claim under this process. If your deadline is approaching, prioritize filing Form 5743 even if you are still gathering other documents.

Michigan's Three-Year Foreclosure Timeline

Michigan runs a three-year process before any property is formally foreclosed. Each stage has its own set of fees and a window in which the owner can still pay and retain the property.

Year one begins with delinquency. If real property taxes go unpaid by March 1 of the year after they are due, a 4% administrative fee is added immediately along with 1% per month interest from the original due date. The county treasurer takes over from the local unit and begins collection efforts.

Year two brings forfeiture. If the balance is still unpaid by the next March 1, the property is forfeited to the county treasurer. This is a legal status change, not a loss of the property. The owner still has roughly two years from original delinquency to pay. However, the interest rate increases to 1.5% per month during forfeiture, and title search and recording fees are added to the balance.

Year three ends with the potential for a foreclosure judgment. The county files a petition in circuit court. Once the court enters a judgment of foreclosure, ownership transfers to the county. The former owner loses all rights to the property. For foreclosures in 2021 or later, any surplus from the auction belongs to the former owner under MCL 211.78t.

Tax Auction Process

Foreclosed properties in Lenawee County are auctioned through the standard Michigan auction process. Many Michigan counties use Tax-Sale.info to list and manage property auctions. You can browse available properties and register to bid at tax-sale.info, or call 800-259-7470. Foreclosed property lists typically become available around May to July ahead of the summer auction season.

Michigan's Right of First Refusal rules apply. The state gets first access to any property, then local units of government. Only properties that neither the state nor any local unit takes proceed to public auction.

Legal Help for Lenawee County Residents

Free and low-cost legal help is available to Lenawee County residents for tax foreclosure and surplus claims.

Michigan Legal Help provides plain-language guides at michiganlegalhelp.org covering the full surplus claim process including Form 5743 filing and circuit court procedures.

Legal Services of Eastern Michigan (LSEM) serves Lenawee County at (800) 322-4512 or lsem-mi.org. Free civil legal help is available for qualifying individuals on housing and tax foreclosure matters.

The State Bar of Michigan Lawyer Referral Service connects you with local attorneys. Call (800) 968-0738 or visit lrs.michbar.org. An initial consultation is typically available at a low flat rate.

The Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund (MIHAF) at michigan.gov/mihaf may provide help for homeowners at risk of tax foreclosure. Check current availability on their site.

Cities in Lenawee County

Lenawee County has no cities with populations above 100,000. Adrian serves as the county seat and the largest population center. Residents in Tecumseh, Blissfield, and other communities in the county use the same county Treasurer's office for tax and foreclosure matters.

Nearby Counties

Lenawee County is in southeastern Michigan and shares borders with Michigan counties and the state of Ohio. Each neighboring county handles its own foreclosure proceedings separately.