Newaygo County Unclaimed Money

Newaygo County residents can search for unclaimed money through Michigan's state portal and can claim tax foreclosure surplus funds through the county treasurer's office in White Cloud. The county publishes detailed foreclosure timelines and makes Form 5743 and Form CC540 available directly on its website, which makes it easier for former property owners to understand and meet filing deadlines.

Michigan State Unclaimed Property

The Michigan Department of Treasury manages the state unclaimed property program at unclaimedproperty.michigan.gov. The search is free. You can look up funds by your name, a business name, or a property ID number. Michigan has returned over $675 million to residents, and the database grows each year as businesses report accounts that have gone dormant.

Types of unclaimed property held by the state include dormant bank accounts, uncashed payroll checks, security deposits that were never returned to tenants, insurance proceeds, and dividends from stocks or mutual funds that the owner stopped tracking. Once funds reach the state, there is no time limit on claiming them. You can search and file at any point, for free, without hiring anyone to help you.

Contact the state treasury office at (517) 636-5320 or TreasUPD@michigan.gov if you have questions about a claim you filed or need help understanding what documentation is required to verify your identity or relationship to the property.

The screenshot below is from the Newaygo County Treasurer's main page at newaygocountymi.gov, which provides access to foreclosure forms, tax payment information, and poverty exemption applications.

The treasurer's page is the starting point for anyone looking to file a surplus claim or request help with a delinquent tax situation in Newaygo County.

Newaygo County Treasurer

The Newaygo County Treasurer is Jason O'Connell. The office is located at 1087 Newell Street, PO Box 885, White Cloud, MI 49349. The main phone number is (231) 689-7230 and the fax is (231) 689-7292. Julia Bird serves as the Tax Reversion Coordinator and is the primary contact for questions about tax foreclosure surplus claims.

The treasurer's office handles delinquent tax collection, the three-year foreclosure cycle, poverty exemption applications, and Principal Residence Exemption (PRE) verification. The office publishes a detailed timeline chart on its website that outlines each stage of the foreclosure process and the fees and interest rates that apply at each step. That chart is a useful reference if you are trying to understand where a property stands in the process or figure out what it would cost to redeem it before foreclosure.

Forms available through the treasurer's office include Form 5743 (Notice of Intention to Claim Proceeds) and Form CC540 (circuit court motion for surplus proceeds). Both are needed at different stages of the surplus claim process. You can find these forms and instructions at newaygocountymi.gov/departments/county-treasurer/foreclosure-auction-claimants/.

The county's main website gives an overview of all departments and services available to Newaygo County residents.

The homepage at newaygocountymi.gov links directly to treasurer resources including delinquent tax information and foreclosure assistance programs.

Tax Foreclosure Surplus Funds

When a Newaygo County property sells at a tax foreclosure auction for more than the total owed in taxes, interest, and fees, the former owner has the right to claim that surplus under MCL 211.78t. This law took effect for foreclosures on or after July 17, 2020, following the Michigan Supreme Court's ruling in Rafaeli LLC v. Oakland County.

The Newaygo County Treasurer's office maintains a dedicated page for foreclosure auction claimants. The screenshot below shows that page, which lists the forms you need and the steps you must take to file a valid surplus claim.

This page is the most direct source for the forms and instructions you need to make a surplus claim in Newaygo County.

Form 5743 Deadline: July 1

The deadline to file Form 5743 with the Newaygo County Treasurer is July 1 of the year following foreclosure. This deadline is strict. Courts across Michigan have upheld it and rejected late filings. You must file Form 5743 even if you do not yet know whether a surplus will exist. The law requires filing the notice of intent first, and the county then reports the outcome after the auction.

After the auction, the county completes Form 5744 and notifies claimants of the proceeds by January 31. If your claim is valid and a surplus exists, you have from February 1 through May 15 to file Form CC540, a motion with the circuit court. The court determines the order of payment among valid claimants and issues an order. The county must pay within 21 days of that court order.

Delinquent Tax Information and Foreclosure Help

Newaygo County publishes detailed delinquent tax information on a dedicated page of the treasurer's website. The screenshot below shows that resource page, which covers what happens to delinquent accounts at each stage of the three-year process and what fees are applied.

Residents who are behind on taxes can use this page to see exactly where they stand and what it will cost to get current before forfeiture or foreclosure.

Newaygo County also partners with Community Neighborhood Housing (CNH) to offer free foreclosure counseling. If you are facing foreclosure or are worried about losing your home, you can call CNH at (231) 924-0641. They offer guidance on payment options, poverty exemptions, and other programs that may help you keep your property.

Poverty Exemption applications are available through the county treasurer's office. The exemption can reduce or eliminate your property tax liability if your income falls below the state threshold. You must apply through your local assessor, but the treasurer's office can direct you to the right place. Principal Residence Exemption (PRE) issues can also be addressed through the office if your property is incorrectly classified.

Michigan Tax Foreclosure Timeline

Michigan uses a three-year process to foreclose on properties with unpaid taxes. Newaygo County publishes a detailed chart of this timeline on the treasurer's website. Here is a summary of how it works.

Year One - Delinquency: Taxes that go unpaid by the due date become delinquent on March 1 and transfer to the county treasurer. A 4% administrative fee is added immediately, plus 1% interest per month on the balance. Notices go out by certified mail in June and September. A $15 notification fee is added October 1.

Year Two - Forfeiture: If taxes remain unpaid, the property is forfeited to the county treasurer on March 1. A minimum $235 fee is added, and the interest rate rises to 1.5% per month retroactively from March 1 of the prior year. Additional fees for property visits, lienholder notices, and newspaper publication add up through the year. A show cause hearing gives the owner one more chance to respond before the judicial foreclosure process moves forward.

Year Three - Foreclosure: March 31 is the last day to pay everything owed and stop the foreclosure. On April 1, title transfers to the county treasurer. The property is then scheduled for auction. If it sells for more than what was owed, the surplus claim process begins.

Legal Aid Resources

Newaygo County residents have access to several free resources for help with unclaimed money claims and foreclosure-related questions.

Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org provides step-by-step instructions for filing surplus claims, including how to fill out Form 5743 and what to include in a circuit court motion. The site also covers ways to avoid foreclosure before it happens.

Community Neighborhood Housing (CNH) offers free foreclosure counseling to Newaygo County residents. Call (231) 924-0641 to speak with a housing counselor. They can help you understand your options at every stage of the process.

State Bar of Michigan Lawyer Referral Service can connect you with an attorney who handles property tax and foreclosure cases. Reach them at (800) 968-0738 or visit lrs.michbar.org.

Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund (MIHAF) at michigan.gov/mihaf provides financial assistance for homeowners facing foreclosure due to pandemic-related hardship. Check the eligibility criteria on the site before applying.

Cities in Newaygo County

No cities in Newaygo County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. White Cloud is the county seat. For unclaimed money searches related to any city in Newaygo County, use the state portal at unclaimedproperty.michigan.gov and contact the Newaygo County Treasurer's Office at (231) 689-7230 for questions about tax foreclosure surplus funds.

Nearby Counties

Newaygo County borders several other counties in west-central Michigan. Each follows the same MCL 211.78t surplus claim process and has its own treasurer's office.