Find Macomb County Unclaimed Money
Macomb County residents can search for unclaimed money through Michigan's free state database, and former property owners in this major Detroit-area county may be owed surplus funds from tax foreclosure sales that brought in more than the taxes and fees owed. Treasurer Lawrence Rocca manages the county's delinquent tax collection and surplus claim process under Michigan's MCL 211.78t framework.
Macomb County Overview
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 insurance proceeds, uncashed checks, utility deposits, safe deposit box contents, and other abandoned financial property. Search is free and open to anyone. Just enter a name. Michigan has returned over $675 million to residents, and with Macomb County's large population, the number of potential matches is significant.
Contact the state unclaimed property division at (517) 636-5320 or TreasUPD@michigan.gov. Staff can confirm ownership and explain what documents to gather before submitting 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.
You can also search for deceased relatives. Old accounts from family members who lived in Macomb County may still be in the state system with no deadline to file a claim.
Macomb County Treasurer
Lawrence Rocca serves as Macomb County Treasurer. The office is located in the Macomb County Administration Building in Mount Clemens. The Treasurer handles all county funds, delinquent property tax collection, and the MCL 211.78t surplus claim process for foreclosures in 2021 and later.
| Treasurer | Lawrence Rocca |
|---|---|
| Address | Macomb County Administration Building, 1 South Main St., 2nd Floor, Mount Clemens, MI |
| Phone | 586-469-5190 |
| treasurer@macombgov.org | |
| Treasurer Website | macombgov.org/treasurer |
| County Website | macombgov.org |
The Macomb County Treasurer page provides current information on services, payment options, and surplus claim procedures.
Verify current office hours and contact details on the Treasurer's page before visiting in person.
The Macomb County main website connects to all departments, including the Treasurer, courts, and other services for residents.
Use the main county site to find any department or service, including property records and public meeting information.
Tax Foreclosure Surplus Claims in Macomb County
Macomb County follows MCL 211.78t for surplus fund claims on properties foreclosed in 2021 or later. When a tax foreclosure auction brings in more than the total amount owed in taxes, fees, and interest, the surplus belongs to the former owner. The claim process requires filing specific forms and, in many cases, a circuit court motion.
Here is how the process works:
- File Form 5743 with the Macomb County FGU (the Treasurer's office) by July 1 of the auction year. This is the initial claim form and must be filed on time.
- Receive Form 5744 from the FGU by January 31 of the following year. This is the county's response to your claim.
- If the claim is not resolved, file a motion in the Macomb County Circuit Court between February 1 and May 15.
- Attend a court hearing. If the judge approves the claim, the county must pay within 21 days of the court order.
The 21-day payment deadline after a court order is specific to Macomb County's surplus claim process. If the county does not pay within that period, additional legal options may be available. An attorney can advise you on next steps if payment is delayed.
For pre-2021 foreclosures, the 2020 Michigan Supreme Court ruling in Rafaeli v. Oakland County may provide a legal basis for a claim. That ruling held that counties could not constitutionally retain surplus proceeds without compensating former owners. Whether it applies to your specific earlier foreclosure depends on the facts of your case.
Note: Macomb County Senator Peter J. Lucido (R-Macomb) sponsored Senate Bill 676 related to tax foreclosure legislation in Michigan. The bill addressed some of the policy questions that arose following the Rafaeli decision. Understanding the legislative background can help you follow the ongoing changes to surplus claim law in Michigan.
Michigan Tax Foreclosure Timeline
Michigan's three-year foreclosure process applies uniformly across all counties, including Macomb. Each stage has specific fees and gives the owner a window to pay and keep the property.
Delinquency starts March 1. If real property taxes go unpaid by that date in the year after they are due, a 4% administrative fee is added and interest begins at 1% per month from the original due date. The Macomb County Treasurer takes over collection from the local municipality.
Forfeiture follows if the balance is still unpaid by the next March 1. Interest rises to 1.5% per month. A title search fee and recording fees are added to the total balance. Forfeiture does not mean the property is gone. It means the county has formally flagged the property for potential foreclosure. The owner still has time to pay and keep it. Many people in forfeiture do manage to pay off the balance before foreclosure is filed.
Foreclosure is the final step. If nothing is paid, the county files a petition in circuit court. Once the court enters a foreclosure judgment, the owner loses all rights. The county takes title. In Macomb County, a metropolitan area with significant property values, auction prices often exceed the amount owed, creating surplus that former owners can claim under MCL 211.78t.
Tax Auction in Macomb County
Foreclosed properties in Macomb County are auctioned through the standard Michigan tax sale process. Tax-Sale.info manages the auction platform for many Michigan counties. You can search available properties and register to bid at tax-sale.info, or call 800-259-7470. Property lists are typically published around July 1 ahead of the summer auction season.
Michigan's Right of First Refusal process applies before any property reaches public auction. The state gets first access, followed by local governments including cities and townships. Given Macomb County's size and mix of suburban communities, local governments sometimes acquire parcels before they go to public bidding. Only properties not claimed through the Right of First Refusal process are offered to the general public.
Legal Help for Macomb County Residents
Several resources are available to Macomb County residents for unclaimed money, tax foreclosure, and surplus claim matters.
Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org provides free step-by-step guides on claiming surplus money after a tax foreclosure. The guides cover Form 5743, the FGU response, and how to file and prepare for a circuit court hearing.
Legal Services of Eastern Michigan (LSEM) serves Macomb County residents at (800) 322-4512 or lsem-mi.org. Free civil legal help is available for qualifying individuals on tax foreclosure and surplus fund claims.
The State Bar of Michigan Lawyer Referral Service at (800) 968-0738 or lrs.michbar.org can connect you with a local attorney handling surplus claims or tax foreclosure matters. 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 facing delinquent tax situations before they reach foreclosure. Check the site for current program status.
Cities in Macomb County
Macomb County includes several large cities and townships with dedicated records pages.
Other communities in Macomb County include Roseville, St. Clair Shores, Utica, and Eastpointe. Residents in those areas use the same Macomb County Treasurer's office for delinquent tax and surplus claim matters.
Nearby Counties
Macomb County is in the northeastern Detroit metro area and borders several other significant Michigan counties.