Find Unclaimed Money in Ontonagon County
Ontonagon County residents in Michigan's Upper Peninsula may have unclaimed money sitting at the state Treasury or surplus funds from past property tax foreclosures. This page covers the Michigan statewide search, the Ontonagon County Treasurer's contact details, how delinquent property taxes and surplus claims work under Michigan law, and where to find free legal help if you need it.
Ontonagon County Overview
Michigan State Unclaimed Property Search
The Ontonagon County Treasurer's page at ontonagoncounty.org has local tax information, payment options, and contact details for delinquent tax questions.
The treasurer's office handles delinquent property tax payments, tax foreclosure proceedings, and related surplus claim documentation for Ontonagon County.
For the statewide search, visit unclaimedproperty.michigan.gov. The Michigan Treasury holds over $675 million in unclaimed funds collected from dormant accounts, uncashed checks, insurance payouts, and other financial property. Searching is free. There is no deadline to claim. Contact (517) 636-5320 or TreasUPD@michigan.gov with questions.
The main county website at ontonagoncounty.org gives access to all county offices and services.
Use the county site to locate department contacts, board meeting information, and links to online services.
Ontonagon County Treasurer
The treasurer's office is on the first floor of the Ontonagon County Courthouse. Treasurer Michele Smith oversees delinquent tax collection, foreclosure proceedings, and property deed certification following any tax sale.
| Treasurer | Michele Smith |
|---|---|
| msmith@ontonagoncounty.org | |
| Chief Deputy | Karen Morris |
| Deputy Email | kmorris@ontonagoncounty.org |
| Phone | 906-884-4665 |
| Location | First Floor, Ontonagon County Courthouse |
| Website | ontonagoncounty.org |
A note about current versus delinquent taxes: if you owe 2025 property taxes that have not yet become delinquent, those must be paid to your township treasurer, not to the county. The county treasurer only handles taxes that have already gone delinquent from prior years. Contact your township office first if you are not sure which office to call.
Online Delinquent Tax Payments
Ontonagon County accepts delinquent property tax payments online via credit and debit card. The online portal covers 2024 and prior delinquent years. This lets you pay without making a trip to the courthouse, which can matter a lot in a rural Upper Peninsula county where distances are significant.
Tax Foreclosure Surplus Funds in Ontonagon County
When a tax-foreclosed property sells at auction for more than the amount owed, the difference is surplus. MCL 211.78t gives former owners and other parties with a legal interest the right to claim those surplus proceeds. The Michigan Supreme Court's 2020 Rafaeli v. Oakland County decision made clear that counties cannot simply keep the surplus after paying off the tax debt.
Michigan Legal Help has a guide specifically for this situation: "How to Ask For Your Leftover Money After a Tax Foreclosure." That guide walks through each form and deadline in plain language. You can find it at michiganlegalhelp.org.
Surplus Claim Forms and Deadlines
| Form 5743 | Notice of Intent to Claim Interest in Foreclosure Surplus - due by July 1 in the foreclosure year |
|---|---|
| Form 5744 | Claim for Foreclosure Surplus Proceeds - due by January 31 in the year after foreclosure |
| Form CC540 | Circuit Court petition for surplus distribution - file February 1 through May 15 |
| Statute | MCL 211.78t - the exclusive legal mechanism for surplus claims in Michigan |
These deadlines are firm. If you miss them, you may lose your right to claim the money entirely. Do not wait to see what happens. If a property you owned was foreclosed and sold, check whether a surplus exists and file the correct form before the deadline passes.
Tax Auction in Ontonagon County
Ontonagon County conducts its tax property auction through the Michigan Public Land Auction system. Sales are run through Tax-Sale.info, an online platform the state uses for tax-foreclosed property sales.
If you are a buyer, you can search available properties and place bids through the Tax-Sale.info website. If you are a former owner or lien holder, monitor auction results to determine whether a surplus exists after your property sold. The auction price minus the outstanding tax debt and sale costs equals any potential surplus.
Contact the Ontonagon County Treasurer for specific information about upcoming or past auctions, including the final sale price and tax amounts applied. This information is needed before you can calculate what surplus, if any, might be available to claim.
Michigan Tax Foreclosure Timeline
Michigan's tax foreclosure process takes three years. Here is what happens at each stage.
| Year 1 - Delinquency | Taxes go unpaid to the township; county treasurer takes over the account on March 1 of the next year and begins adding fees and interest |
|---|---|
| Year 2 - Forfeiture | Property is forfeited on March 1; county records a forfeiture certificate; owner can still redeem by paying all amounts owed |
| Year 3 - Foreclosure | County files a foreclosure petition in circuit court; Show Cause hearing scheduled; if taxes remain unpaid, a foreclosure judgment is entered and title vests in the county on March 31 |
| Post-Foreclosure | County may sell at auction; any surplus above tax debt available to claim under MCL 211.78t |
Forfeiture is just a certificate filing. It does not transfer ownership. You still own the property during forfeiture and have time to pay what you owe. Only after a court enters a foreclosure judgment does the county gain title. That is the point of no return for keeping the property itself, though you may still have rights to surplus proceeds from any later sale.
Other Sources of Unclaimed Money
The state Treasury database and tax foreclosure surplus are the two main sources for most people, but a few others are worth checking.
Federal courts hold unclaimed funds from cases where winning parties or creditors could not be located. If you were owed money in a federal lawsuit or bankruptcy case in the Western District of Michigan, the court may still hold funds in your name. PACER provides access to federal court records online.
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation holds retirement benefits from terminated pension plans. If a former employer's defined benefit pension was shut down, the PBGC may be holding money for you. Search is free at pbgc.gov.
Veterans benefits sometimes go unclaimed. The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency can help determine whether you are eligible for benefits that have not been collected. Contact them at 1-800-MICH-VET.
Life insurance proceeds are often turned over to the Michigan Treasury when insurers cannot find beneficiaries. Search the state database with the deceased person's name to check.
Legal Aid and Help for Ontonagon County Residents
Free and low-cost legal resources are available even in rural Upper Peninsula counties.
| Michigan Legal Help | michiganlegalhelp.org - plain-language guides and tools for property tax and surplus claims |
|---|---|
| Lawyer Referral | lrs.michbar.org - State Bar of Michigan: (800) 968-0738 |
| Michigan HAF | michigan.gov/mihaf - Homeowner Assistance Fund for mortgage and property tax help |
The State Bar of Michigan's Lawyer Referral Service can connect you with an attorney who handles property tax matters. If you cannot afford legal fees, Michigan Legal Help also has a directory of legal aid organizations by county. Many offer free consultations for qualifying individuals.
Cities in Ontonagon County
Ontonagon County's main community is the village of Ontonagon, the county seat. Other communities include White Pine, Rockland, and Mass City. None of these communities meet the 100,000-population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All Ontonagon County residents can use the resources listed above.