Find Unclaimed Money in Montmorency County

Montmorency County residents can search for unclaimed money through the free Michigan Treasury database and may have rights to tax foreclosure surplus funds handled through the county treasurer in Atlanta. Montmorency County is one of nine counties named in class action Docket No. 349636 over surplus funds from prior foreclosure sales. For 2021 and later foreclosures, the standard MCL 211.78t surplus claim process applies. Circuit court filings for Montmorency County go through the 26th Circuit Court, which covers both Montmorency and Alpena counties. This page covers all of these details.

Michigan State Unclaimed Property Search

The Michigan Department of Treasury maintains a free unclaimed property search at unclaimedproperty.michigan.gov.

Anyone can search by name for free. No account needed.

More than $675 million in unclaimed funds is held by the Michigan Treasury. The database includes dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, forgotten utility refunds, insurance proceeds, and uncollected stock dividends. Michigan law requires all holders of these assets to transfer them to the state after a set dormancy period, typically three to five years. The funds stay in the system indefinitely. There is no filing fee and no claim deadline.

For help, call Treasury at (517) 636-5320 or email TreasUPD@michigan.gov. Staff can verify a match, explain what documents to include, and walk you through the online or paper claim process. If you are filing on behalf of a deceased relative, they can explain what estate documentation is needed.

Montmorency County is one of the smaller counties in Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula, with a largely seasonal and recreational population. People who owned vacation property or a second home in the Atlanta area and have since moved away may have unclaimed funds tied to former addresses in the county. Check the database using any name or address you used in the area.

Montmorency County Treasurer

The Montmorency County Treasurer's office in Atlanta handles delinquent property tax collection, tax foreclosure proceedings, and surplus fund matters for the county. For small northern Michigan counties like Montmorency, the treasurer's office often handles inquiries directly by phone. Call before visiting to confirm hours and availability.

The treasurer can tell you whether a specific parcel in Montmorency County has a delinquent balance, how much is owed, and what stage of the foreclosure process it is currently in. This information is useful whether you are trying to redeem a property you own or investigating a past foreclosure for a potential surplus claim.

26th Circuit Court

Surplus fund motions for Montmorency County are filed with the 26th Circuit Court. This court serves both Montmorency and Alpena counties, with the courthouse located in Alpena. If you file a CC540 motion for a Montmorency County foreclosure, you will file it with the 26th Circuit Court in Alpena. The court address is 720 W Chisholm Street, Alpena, MI 49707. Call the court clerk at (989) 354-9547 to confirm current filing procedures and fees.

Filing in the right court matters. A motion filed in the wrong venue may be rejected or cause delays. If you are not sure which court to use, call the Montmorency County Treasurer's office or consult an attorney before filing. Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org also has guidance on where to file based on which county your foreclosure occurred in.

Class Action Docket No. 349636

Montmorency County is one of nine counties named in class action Docket No. 349636. The other counties are Roscommon, Alpena, Oscoda, Alcona, Arenac, Ogemaw, Clare, and Gladwin. This class action follows from the 2020 Rafaeli ruling and concerns surplus foreclosure funds that may have been kept by county treasurers before MCL 211.78t took effect. If you had property foreclosed in Montmorency County before 2021 and believe surplus proceeds were withheld, this case may apply to your situation.

Consult an attorney before acting. Class action cases can take time to resolve and the legal requirements for class membership vary. An attorney who handles Michigan tax foreclosure cases can review your situation and advise on whether to join the class action, file a separate claim, or pursue another legal path. Do not assume automatic inclusion without getting advice specific to your case.

Tax Foreclosure Surplus Claims in Montmorency County

For foreclosures in 2021 and later, MCL 211.78t provides the claim process. File Form 5743 with the Montmorency County Treasurer by July 1 in the year of the auction. The form is a notice of intent to claim any surplus proceeds. Missing this deadline generally means losing the right to claim surplus from that cycle. The county sends you Form 5744 by January 31, showing the sale details and any surplus. File a CC540 motion with the 26th Circuit Court in Alpena between February 1 and May 15. The court issues an order and the county pays within 21 days.

Form 5743 must be filed before the auction even takes place and before you know whether any surplus will exist. Think of it as preserving your option. If no surplus materializes, nothing happens. If a surplus exists and you failed to file, there is no way to claim it after the fact. File early and keep a copy of the filed form.

Michigan Tax Foreclosure Timeline

Michigan's three-year cycle under MCL 211.78 applies in Montmorency County the same as everywhere else. March 1 of year one, taxes go delinquent with a 4% fee and 1% monthly interest. March 1 of year two, property is forfeited to the treasurer and interest rises to 1.5% per month. The administrative show cause hearing in year two gives property owners an opportunity to appear before the county. March 31 of year three is the final redemption deadline. April 1, the county takes title. The property goes to auction and any surplus above the debt is available to claim through the forms process.

Legal Help and Resources

Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org has free step-by-step guides for filing surplus claims. The State Bar's Lawyer Referral Service is at (800) 968-0738 or lrs.michbar.org. The Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund at michigan.gov/mihaf offers grants up to $25,000 for homeowners behind on property taxes. These are grants that do not need to be repaid. Check current availability as funding levels change.

Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency may also serve Montmorency County residents with low-income assistance. Call them to ask about housing and foreclosure support programs in the Atlanta area.

Cities in Montmorency County

Montmorency County has no cities that meet the 100,000-population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. The county seat is Atlanta. The county is primarily rural with a seasonal population. All unclaimed money matters and tax foreclosure surplus claims for any Montmorency County address are handled through the treasurer's office and the 26th Circuit Court in Alpena for court motions.

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