This website is managed on behalf of the Wayne County Treasurer's Office and there are no fees or charges associated with filing a Claim.
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Next Steps after Filing the Notice of the Intent to Claim Auction Proceeds Pre-2020
If you have submitted a Notice of Intent Claim Auction Proceeds Pre-2020, you will receive the Notice to Claimant to File Motion (the “Motion Notice”). The Motion Notice was sent via USPS Certified Mail prior to July 1, 2025.
The Motion Notice will contain information important to your claim, including:
- If there is any money to claim (the law calls this "remaining proceeds"),
- If anyone else has filed a claim for the remaining proceeds,
- A notice that you must file a motion with the Wayne County 3rd Circuit Court to claim the remaining proceeds, and
- The case number(s), judge, and contact information for the Wayne County 3rd Circuit Court. In Wayne County, the Motion Notice will contain two (2) case numbers for claims related to pre-2020 auctions as all claims are being consolidated by the Court.
The motion must be filed by October 1, 2025. The motion form can be found here: CC 541, Motion to Claim Remaining Proceeds From Tax Foreclosure Sale Before July 18, 2020. Please be sure to include both case numbers as listed on the Motion Notice.
There are numerous self-help sites to assist you in completing the motion form or you may wish to engage legal counsel. The State Bar of Michigan provides instructions on completion the motion form that can be found on their Mortgage Foreclosure and Tax Foreclosure Resource Page.
After you file and serve the motion, the County will file a response, and the court will then set a hearing date to decide the motion. You will get a notice from the court with that hearing date, time and location.
Please note: The Wayne County Treasurer’s Office and its staff cannot provide legal advice or assistance with completing the motion form.
If you have not yet received the Motion Notice, please email the Wayne County Treasurer to request a copy of the Motion Notice at [email protected].
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Right to Claim Foreclosure Auction Proceeds From Sales Prior to December 22, 2020
If you owned, or had an ownership interest, in a Wayne County property that was foreclosed and was sold at auction during the period of 2015 through 2020 with remaining proceeds.
You may be entitled to any remaining proceeds.
Pursuant to MCL 211.78t and the requirements set forth in Schafer v Kent County and Hathon v State of Michigan, a party with an interest in the property at the time of a judgment of foreclosure may claim interest in any remaining proceeds from sales. "Remaining proceeds" are those proceeds from the auction sale left over, if any, after the total amount due to the foreclosing governmental unit (including all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the sale) is paid.
To be eligible to receive any remaining sale proceeds, you must complete, sign, notarize, and submit the Notice of Intent to Claim Interest in Foreclosure Sales Proceeds (Form 6156) no later than March 31, 2025.
Completed forms must be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, or hand delivered to:
The Wayne County Treasurer
400 Monroe, 5th Floor
Detroit, MI 48226