Auctions & Claims

2025 Tax Foreclosure Auction Schedule(PDF, 386KB)

Notice of Intent to Claim Interest in Foreclosure Proceeds

Notice of Intent Claims Form(PDF, 136KB)

Info & Help with Notice of Intent Form(PDF, 382KB)

The Wayne County Treasurer's Office will hold auctions of foreclosed properties and vacant lots in September and October 2025. If you win a bid, please follow the instructions given to you by the Wayne County Treasurer's Office. Any other instructions are not authorized.

Auction Website

SPECIAL AUCTION:  The Wayne County Treasurer’s Office will be holding a special auction of certain properties beginning Friday, October 3, 2025, at 10:00AM. This auction will be conducted online through Tax-Sale.info. To view property listings, FAQs, and video tutorials, please visit www.tax-sale.info. 

We encourage all interested participants to review the site and become familiar with the process in advance.

2025 Foreclosed Parcels as of May 7, 2025(PDF, 990KB)

Foreclosure and Auction

State law requires that properties subject to tax foreclosure be made available to the State, the local community, and the County offered to the State of Michigan, city, village, township, city authority, county, or county authority for purchase prior to auction. Properties that are not taken by a government entity are offered for auction in September and October. Please be aware that state law does not allow the owner of a property that has been foreclosed to purchase that property at auction for anything less than the taxes, fees, and interest that were outstanding at the time of foreclosure.

Claims

Beginning with the 2021 foreclosures, in accordance with MCL 211.78t, persons who hold title or equity interest in a property at the time of foreclosure may file a "Notice of Intent to Claim" to claim any potential remaining sales proceeds associated with the parcels that exceed the amount of the outstanding delinquency. Claiming potential proceeds begins with filing the below form 5743 Notice of Intention to Claim Interest in Foreclosure Sales Proceeds with the Wayne County Treasurer's Office ("WCTO") by the July 1 immediately following the effective date of the foreclosure.

You must submit the completed Form 5743 by certified mail or personal delivery to The Wayne County Treasurer, 400 Monroe, 5th Floor, Detroit, MI 48226 no later than July 1, 2025. The WCTO will respond by January 31 following the foreclosure auctions, with a form 5744 Notice to Claimant to File Motion with the Circuit Court. Provided there actually are surplus proceeds remaining for the property, the claimant may then file a motion with the 3rd Circuit Court between February 1 and May 15, following the notice from the WCTO. The court will then set a hearing date and time to determine claim payments. A claim may be made for pre-2021 foreclosure sales only if the Michigan Supreme Court orders that its decision in Rafaeli, LLC v Oakland County, docket no. 156849, applies retroactively. Information on the pre-2021 claims process will be provided upon the final ruling in that case.

If your property is being tax foreclosed, Michigan foreclosure law stipulates that you are entitled to information about legal assistance that is available from the State Bar of Michigan's Legal Referral Center. Please go to Irs.michbar.org or call (800) 968-0738 for more information.

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 will be sent by the following July 1.

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 c Wayne County 3rdCircuit 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 17, 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.

Auctions

For auction questions please send an email to WCTauction@waynecounty.com.

Properties sold in the Tax Foreclosure Auction are sold "as is and "where is" with no warranties, either expressed or implied. Prior to the auction, purchasers are advised to research the property(s) condition and to perform careful due diligence to understand any potential issues with the property, including but not limited to, special assessment, environmental issues or demolition status. Please read the auction rules and regulations before you register for the auction.

When Property Auctions Are Held

Property auctions are held in September and October of the year foreclosed. Properties are offered for a minimum bid that consists of all delinquent taxes, penalties and interest. Properties not sold at the September auction are then offered at our October auction. Successful bidders will receive a Quit Claim deed to the property.

Contact Us

Wayne County Treasurer's Office
(313) 224-2864
support@waynecountytreasurermi.com

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