Mackinac County Unclaimed Money
Mackinac County residents can search for unclaimed money through Michigan's free state database and may be owed surplus funds from tax foreclosure sales where the auction price exceeded the total taxes and fees owed. Treasurer Tina Massey manages county funds, delinquent tax collection, and the annual auction of foreclosed properties in this Upper Peninsula county.
Mackinac County Overview
Michigan State Unclaimed Property Search
Michigan's Department of Treasury runs a free unclaimed property database at unclaimedproperty.michigan.gov. The system holds dormant bank accounts, forgotten insurance payouts, uncashed checks, utility deposits, safe deposit box contents, and other abandoned financial assets. Search is free and requires only a name. No account or registration needed. Michigan has returned more than $675 million to residents and continues to receive new assets each year.
To speak with the state unclaimed property division, call (517) 636-5320 or email TreasUPD@michigan.gov. Staff can confirm whether a result is yours and walk you through the claim steps. Most claims can be filed online.
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 family members is permitted. If a parent or other relative once held Michigan accounts, those funds may still be available with no deadline to claim.
Mackinac County Treasurer
Tina Massey serves as Mackinac County Treasurer. The office is located on the second floor of the courthouse in St. Ignace. The Treasurer's responsibilities include receiving, maintaining, and disbursing all county funds, managing county investments, collecting and distributing delinquent property taxes, selling dog and kennel licenses, and handling Public Act 123 duties including the annual summer auction of foreclosed properties.
| Treasurer | Tina Massey |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 S. Marley, Room 30, St. Ignace, MI 49781 |
| Phone | (906) 643-7318 |
| Fax | (906) 643-6745 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (excluding holidays) |
| Location | Second floor of the Courthouse |
| Treasurer Website | mackinaccounty.net/departments/treasurer |
| County Website | mackinaccounty.net |
The Mackinac County Treasurer page lists current office functions, contact details, and information about the annual property auction.
Check the Treasurer's page for current hours and any changes to how payments are accepted.
The Mackinac County main website links to all departments and services available to county residents.
Use the main site to find any department in the county, including the Treasurer, courts, and health services.
Tax Foreclosure Surplus Claims
When a property is sold at tax auction for more than the taxes, fees, and interest owed, the surplus belongs to the former owner. Under Michigan law MCL 211.78t, former owners of properties foreclosed in 2021 or later can file a formal claim for that surplus through a specific process involving the county's Foreclosure Government Unit and the circuit court.
The claim process requires these steps:
- File Form 5743 with the Mackinac County FGU (the Treasurer's office) by July 1 of the year the property was sold at auction.
- Receive a response from the FGU via Form 5744 by January 31 of the following year.
- If the claim is unresolved, file a motion in the Mackinac County Circuit Court between February 1 and May 15.
- Attend a court hearing. If the claim is approved, payment follows according to the court order.
The July 1 deadline for Form 5743 is a hard cutoff. Missing it forfeits your right to the surplus for that sale under the current statute. Act early if you think you may have a qualifying claim.
For foreclosures before 2021, the Rafaeli v. Oakland County (2020) ruling from the Michigan Supreme Court established that retaining surplus without compensating former owners was unconstitutional. Earlier foreclosures may still be eligible for a claim depending on the facts. An attorney or legal aid organization can assess your situation.
Property Auction in Mackinac County
The Mackinac County Treasurer conducts a summer auction of foreclosed properties each year under Public Act 123. The auction is managed through Tax-Sale.info, the platform used by many Michigan counties. You can search available properties and register to bid at tax-sale.info, or call 800-259-7470 for assistance.
Mackinac County uses tax-sale.info to list and manage its annual foreclosure property auction.
Browse listed properties, review minimum bids, and register to participate in the auction at Tax-Sale.info.
Before any property goes to public auction, Michigan's Right of First Refusal process applies. The state gets first access, followed by local units of government. Only properties not claimed through that process proceed to public bidding. Foreclosed property lists are typically available around July 1 ahead of the auction.
Michigan Tax Foreclosure Timeline
Michigan's three-year tax foreclosure process works the same way in Mackinac County as it does across the state. The process has three distinct stages, each with its own fees and options for the property owner.
Year one: Unpaid taxes become delinquent on March 1 of the year after they are due. A 4% administrative fee is added right away, and interest runs at 1% per month from the original due date. The county treasurer takes over collection from the local unit.
Year two: If still unpaid by the next March 1, the property enters forfeiture. The interest rate climbs to 1.5% per month. Title search and recording fees are added to the balance. Despite the word "forfeiture," the owner has not yet lost the property. There is still time to pay the full amount and keep it. Most people who act during forfeiture manage to retain their property.
Year three: If nothing is paid, the county files for foreclosure in circuit court. Once the judge enters a foreclosure judgment, the owner's rights end. The county takes title. The property goes into the auction pipeline. Any surplus from the sale is available to the former owner if the foreclosure occurred in 2021 or later.
Help Resources for Mackinac County Residents
Free legal help and guidance are available for Mackinac County residents dealing with tax foreclosure, surplus claims, or unclaimed money questions.
Michigan Legal Help provides plain-language guides at michiganlegalhelp.org that walk through the Form 5743 process, the FGU response, and what to expect at a circuit court hearing.
Legal Services of Eastern Michigan (LSEM) serves Upper Peninsula counties at (800) 322-4512 or lsem-mi.org. Free civil legal help is available for qualifying individuals on housing, foreclosure, and surplus fund matters.
The State Bar of Michigan Lawyer Referral Service can connect you with a local attorney. Call (800) 968-0738 or visit lrs.michbar.org. An initial consultation is typically available at a low flat fee.
The Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund (MIHAF) at michigan.gov/mihaf may have programs to help homeowners at risk of tax foreclosure. Check the site for current program availability.
Cities in Mackinac County
Mackinac County has no cities with populations above 100,000. St. Ignace is the county seat and serves as the main population center. Mackinac Island is a well-known community within the county but has a small year-round population. All residents use the same county Treasurer's office for tax and property matters.
Nearby Counties
Mackinac County sits at the southern edge of the Upper Peninsula, near the Mackinac Bridge, and borders several other UP counties as well as Emmet County in the Lower Peninsula.