USA Foreclosure Wiki

Delaware County, OH

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Delaware County, Ohio — Tax Sale & Surplus Procedure

Local operations layer. The legal framework (redemption periods, surplus rights, statutes, case law) lives on the parent page → ohio. This page covers how Delaware County actually runs it. Legal information, not legal advice. Last verified: 2026-06-02.

C0. Identity

  • County seat: Delaware, OH
  • Population: 214,124 (2020 Census)
  • Recording unit: county
  • FIPS: 39041
  • Parent legal framework: ohio
  • Governance structure: Standard Ohio three-commissioner structure with elected Treasurer, Auditor, Recorder, Sheriff, Clerk of Courts, and Prosecuting Attorney. The Prosecutor’s Civil Division handles tax foreclosure filings in Common Pleas Court.

C1. Local Tax Sale

Judicial / Mortgage Foreclosure Sheriff Sales (online platform)

Tax Lien Certificate Sales (Treasurer)

  • Conducts own certificate sales? Yes — the Delaware County Treasurer holds periodic tax lien certificate sales under R.C. 5721.30 et seq.
  • Platform / format: [needs_verification] The Treasurer’s sales page does not specify the platform or vendor (online vs. in-person); the sheriff’s page notes that tax sales are held in-person at 145 N. Union St. A separate “Tax Lien Certificate Sale Policy” PDF is published at https://treasurer.co.delaware.oh.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2018/03/Tax-Lien-Certificate-Sale-Policy-Delaware-County-OH.pdf but was not readable in text form on 2026-06-02. Contact the Treasurer at (740) 833-2480 to confirm current platform. Source: https://treasurer.co.delaware.oh.us/sales/ (retrieved 2026-06-02); https://sheriff.co.delaware.oh.us/sheriff-sales/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • Sale frequency / calendar: Sales occur multiple times per year; historical dates show approximately 2–4 per year. Recent sales: 08-28-2025, 01-16-2025, 12-31-2024, 12-30-2024. The county has held certificate sales at least once since 2011. Source: https://treasurer.co.delaware.oh.us/sales/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • Registration / deposit / bidder requirements: [needs_verification] Not detailed on the public web page; governed by the Tax Lien Certificate Sale Policy PDF (see above). Contact Treasurer at (740) 833-2480.
  • Interest rate: Per state law, up to 18%/yr bid-down at auction (R.C. 5721.30); Delaware County-specific rate range [needs_verification — confirm from policy PDF].
  • Delinquent list location: [needs_verification] Delaware County Auditor’s office holds delinquent-land records; no dedicated public delinquent list URL was identified as of 2026-06-02. Contact Auditor at (740) 833-2900.

Forfeited Land Sales (Auditor)

  • Platform / format: In-person. The Delaware County Auditor acts as selling agent for the State of Ohio under R.C. Ch. 5723 for properties that have been forfeited to the state.
  • Sale dates: The most recent forfeited land sales identified were March 15, 2022 and September 27, 2022. No upcoming 2026 sale dates are posted as of 2026-06-02. [needs_verification — contact Auditor for 2026 schedule] Source: https://auditor.co.delaware.oh.us/forfeited-land-sales/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • Forms: Purchaser Information Form and Forfeited Land Terms of Sale documents are available from the Auditor’s office. Source: https://auditor.co.delaware.oh.us/forfeited-land-sales/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • Contact: Delaware County Auditor, 145 N. Union St., Delaware, OH 43015; (740) 833-2900.

C2. Local Redemption → framework: right-of-redemption

  • Where to redeem (pre-sale): Pay all delinquent taxes, penalties, interest, and costs to the Delaware County Treasurer, 145 N. Union St., Delaware, OH 43015. Phone: (740) 833-2480. Online payment options available through the county’s Point & Pay system (credit/debit/eCheck) at https://co.delaware.oh.us/pnp/searchprod.asp or by phone at 1-888-891-6064. Source: https://treasurer.co.delaware.oh.us/ (retrieved 2026-06-02); https://treasurer.co.delaware.oh.us/methods/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • Post-sale redemption window (foreclosure): Per the sheriff’s sales FAQs, property owners may redeem before the judge signs the Confirmation document. If redemption occurs, the buyer’s deposit is refunded upon receipt of a Judgment Entry showing the sale is set aside. This aligns with R.C. 5721.25 (equity of redemption extinguished at confirmation); see ohio §2. Source: https://sheriff.co.delaware.oh.us/sheriff-sales-faqs/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • Local fees: [needs_verification] No local-specific fee schedule beyond state-mandated amounts was identified. Contact Treasurer at (740) 833-2480.
  • Deviations from state default: None identified. Standard Ohio redemption framework (R.C. 5721.25) applies; see ohio.
  • Tax payment options:
    • Credit/Debit (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Amex): 2.30% + $2.00 minimum
    • Debit (Visa): $3.95 flat
    • eCheck: $0.85 flat
    • ACH Automatic Deduction / Escrow program available
    • In-person, mail, or drop box (lower parking lot, east side of Union St.) Source: https://treasurer.co.delaware.oh.us/methods/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • Tax payment deadlines: 1st half taxes due February 10, 2026; 2nd half taxes due July 10, 2026. Source: https://treasurer.co.delaware.oh.us/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)

C3. Local Surplus / Excess Proceeds → framework: surplus-funds

Judicial Foreclosure Surplus (Common Pleas Court / Clerk of Courts)

  • Claim filing venue: Delaware County Clerk of Common Pleas Courts (Legal Division), Delaware County Courthouse, 117 North Union Street, Level 300, Delaware, Ohio 43015. Phone: (740) 833-2500. The Clerk (Natalie Fravel) notifies former owners of any residue per R.C. 5721.20; the County Treasurer holds the funds. Source: https://clerkofcourts.co.delaware.oh.us/ (retrieved 2026-06-02); See ohio §3 for statutory framework (R.C. 5721.20).
  • Claim form: [needs_verification] No county-specific surplus claim form was identified on the Clerk of Courts or Treasurer website as of 2026-06-02. Contact the Clerk of Courts Legal Division at (740) 833-2500 for current claim procedures.
  • Local deadline notes: Under R.C. 5721.20, former owners have three years from the date the Treasurer receives residue funds to demand payment. After three years, unclaimed residue is forfeited to the delinquent tax and assessment collection fund (R.C. 321.261) or, if applicable, a land bank fund (R.C. 321.263). See ohio §3 for full statutory detail.
  • Unclaimed funds list published: The Delaware County Auditor publishes an unclaimed funds search at https://auditor.co.delaware.oh.us/ucfsearch/ and links to the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Unclaimed Funds at https://www.com.ohio.gov/unfd/. The Auditor’s unclaimed funds page directs inquiries to both the state portal and the Auditor at (740) 833-2900. Source: https://auditor.co.delaware.oh.us/unclaimedfunds/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • Court records / case search: The Clerk of Courts operates an eServices portal at court.co.delaware.oh.us/eservices for case records and eFiling. A public eFiling registration option is available. Source: https://clerkofcourts.co.delaware.oh.us/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • Contact: Natalie Fravel, Clerk of Common Pleas Courts; (740) 833-2500 (Legal Division).

Forfeited Land Sale Surplus (R.C. 5723.11)

  • Claim filing venue: Delaware County Auditor, 145 N. Union St., Delaware, OH 43015. Phone: (740) 833-2900.
  • Statutory deadline: Former owner must demand excess within one year from the day of the forfeited-land sale (R.C. 5723.11). See ohio §3 for note on the one-year vs. six-year ambiguity in older codifications.
  • Contact: Auditor’s office at (740) 833-2900.

▸ For Investors / Operators — Delaware County operates two sale tracks: judicial/mortgage foreclosure sales conducted online through RealAuction (delaware.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov) on Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m., and tax in-rem sheriff sales held in-person at 145 N. Union St. Minimum bid is two-thirds of appraised value (R.C. 2329.20); balance is due within 30 days of court-filed Confirmation, which typically takes 30–60 days. The Sheriff does not guarantee clear title; independent research at the Recorder’s Office (recorder.co.delaware.oh.us) and Clerk of Courts case records is required before bidding.

▸ For Former Owners — Judicial foreclosure surplus is held by the Delaware County Treasurer and distributed through the Clerk of Common Pleas Courts (Legal Division), 117 North Union Street, Level 300, Delaware, OH 43015; (740) 833-2500. Former owners have three years from the date the Treasurer receives residue funds to demand payment (R.C. 5721.20); after three years, unclaimed residue is forfeited. For forfeited-land sale surplus, the claim deadline is one year from the sale date (R.C. 5723.11) and is filed with the Delaware County Auditor at (740) 833-2900. The Auditor also maintains an unclaimed funds search at auditor.co.delaware.oh.us/ucfsearch/.

C4. Offices & Contacts

OfficeOfficeholderAddressPhoneURL
Treasurer / Tax CollectorKen O’Brien (term expires 9/2/2029)145 N. Union St., Delaware, OH 43015(740) 833-2480https://treasurer.co.delaware.oh.us/
AuditorGeorge Kaitsa (term expires 3/7/2027)145 N. Union St., 1st Floor, Delaware, OH 43015(740) 833-2900https://auditor.co.delaware.oh.us/
Clerk of Courts (Common Pleas)Natalie Fravel117 N. Union St., Level 300, Delaware, OH 43015(740) 833-2500https://clerkofcourts.co.delaware.oh.us/
Recorder / Register of DeedsMelissa Jordan145 N. Union St., Delaware, OH 43015(740) 833-2460https://recorder.co.delaware.oh.us/
SheriffJeff Balzer1776 State Route 521, Delaware, OH 43015(740) 833-2810 (admin)https://sheriff.co.delaware.oh.us/
Sheriff (Sales Coordinator)—Same as sheriff(740) 833-2868sheriffsales@co.delaware.oh.us
Prosecutor (Civil Division)Melissa Schiffel145 N. Union St., 3rd Floor, Delaware, OH 43015(740) 833-2690https://prosecutor.co.delaware.oh.us/
Common Pleas Court (General)Judges Hemmeter & Schuck117 N. Union St., Level 500, Delaware, OH 43015(740) 833-2530 / (740) 833-2550https://commonpleas.co.delaware.oh.us/

Additional Clerk of Courts locations:

  • Title Division (Delaware): Frank B. Willis Government Building, 2079 U.S. Route 23 North, Suite #1, Delaware, OH 43015; (740) 833-2490
  • Title Division (Lewis Center): 8647 Columbus Pike, Lewis Center, OH 43035; (740) 657-3945

Sources:

C5. Local Procedure Notes

  • Sales split by type: Delaware County runs two distinct sale tracks: (1) judicial/mortgage foreclosure sales conducted online through RealAuction (https://delaware.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov/); and (2) tax (in-rem) sheriff sales conducted in-person at 145 N. Union St. Both are scheduled on Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. Source: https://sheriff.co.delaware.oh.us/sheriff-sales/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)

  • No guaranteed title: The Sheriff’s Office does not guarantee title free and clear of liens; buyers must independently research encumbrances at the Recorder’s Office (https://delaware.dts-central-oh.com/PaxWorld/) and Clerk of Courts case records. Source: https://sheriff.co.delaware.oh.us/sheriff-sales-faqs/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)

  • No interior access: The Sheriff’s Office has no access to the interior of properties for sale and cannot arrange inspections. Room details available from the Auditor’s office printouts. Source: https://sheriff.co.delaware.oh.us/sheriff-sales-faqs/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)

  • No keys provided: Buyers are advised to hire a locksmith after receiving the deed; Sheriff does not provide keys. Source: https://sheriff.co.delaware.oh.us/sheriff-sales-faqs/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)

  • Forfeited land sales: The Auditor holds forfeited land sales under R.C. Ch. 5723 separately from the sheriff’s sales. The most recent sale notices identified were from 2022; no 2026 forfeited land sale has been announced as of 2026-06-02. Contact Auditor for current schedule. Source: https://auditor.co.delaware.oh.us/forfeited-land-sales/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)

  • Land bank: [needs_verification] Delaware County’s participation in a county land reutilization corporation (land bank) under R.C. Ch. 1724 / R.C. 323.65 has not been confirmed from an official source as of 2026-06-02. If a land bank operates, the R.C. 323.78 direct-transfer-without-sale path may apply; see ohio §0 and land-bank-direct-transfer.

  • Delinquent tax publication: Required once annually in a newspaper of general circulation under R.C. 5721.03. [needs_verification] The specific newspaper used by Delaware County was not identified from official pages as of 2026-06-02.

  • Prosecutor’s Civil Division: The Prosecuting Attorney (Melissa Schiffel) handles tax foreclosure filings in Common Pleas Court on behalf of the Treasurer/Auditor (R.C. 5721.18). Phone: (740) 833-2690. Source: https://prosecutor.co.delaware.oh.us/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)

C6. Records Access

ResourceURL
Parcel / GIS search (Auditor)https://auditor.delco-gis.org/
Recorded document search (Recorder, 1990–present)https://delaware.dts-central-oh.com/PaxWorld/
Recorder records search pagehttps://recorder.co.delaware.oh.us/records-search-page/
Tax payment portal (Point & Pay)https://co.delaware.oh.us/pnp/searchprod.asp
Sheriff foreclosure sales (RealAuction)https://delaware.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov/
Sheriff sales listing pagehttps://sheriff.co.delaware.oh.us/sheriff-sales/
Forfeited land sales (Auditor)https://auditor.co.delaware.oh.us/forfeited-land-sales/
Unclaimed funds search (Auditor)https://auditor.co.delaware.oh.us/ucfsearch/
State unclaimed funds portalhttps://www.com.ohio.gov/unfd/
Clerk of Courts eServiceshttps://court.co.delaware.oh.us/eservices
Treasurer tax lien sales calendarhttps://treasurer.co.delaware.oh.us/sales/
Auditor property info downloadshttps://auditor.co.delaware.oh.us/propinfo/

Sources:

C7. Meta

sources:

needs_verification:

  • Tax lien certificate sale platform / vendor and format (online vs. in-person): the Treasurer’s sales page does not specify; the “Tax Lien Certificate Sale Policy” PDF was retrieved but was binary-encoded and not readable as text as of 2026-06-02. Call Treasurer at (740) 833-2480 or request the policy document directly.
  • Tax lien certificate registration requirements, deposit amounts, and interest rate range (confirm from policy PDF or Treasurer’s office).
  • Delinquent tax list publication: the specific newspaper (or web) used by Delaware County for the annual R.C. 5721.03 delinquent publication was not identified from official pages as of 2026-06-02.
  • Delaware County land bank existence and participation: whether a county land reutilization corporation (R.C. Ch. 1724) operates in Delaware County, and whether R.C. 323.78 direct-transfer-to-land-bank path is used.
  • Surplus claim form for judicial foreclosure residue: no Delaware County-specific form was found on the Clerk of Courts or Treasurer website as of 2026-06-02; contact Clerk of Courts (740) 833-2500.
  • Unclaimed surplus / excess funds list specific to foreclosures: the Auditor’s ucfsearch portal may cover county-held unclaimed funds broadly; whether it specifically lists R.C. 5721.20 residue funds was not confirmed.
  • Third-party surplus-recovery-agent rules: no Delaware County-specific ordinance found; governed by state law as described in ohio needs_verification.
  • 2026 forfeited land sale date: not posted on Auditor’s page as of 2026-06-02.
  • Whether “tax sales” conducted in-person at 145 N. Union St. refers to in-rem tax foreclosure sales or to tax lien certificate sales (or both): language on sheriff’s page is ambiguous; verify with Sheriff’s sales coordinator at (740) 833-2868.

cross_links: ohio, right-of-redemption, surplus-funds, third-party-recovery-rules, tyler-v-hennepin-county, land-bank-direct-transfer, sheriff-sale, treasurer-sale, due-process-notice, heirs-property, bankruptcy-automatic-stay, federal-tax-lien-redemption

changelog:

  • 2026-06-02 — Initial population. All local facts sourced from official Delaware County government pages (treasurer, auditor, sheriff, recorder, clerk of courts, prosecutor, common pleas court). Verified: RealAuction platform URL, Wednesday 10 a.m. sale schedule, 2/3 minimum bid, deposit modalities (wire/ACH for online; cash/certified check for in-person), balance-due-30-days-from-confirmation, sale dates through July 2026, all officeholder names and office contacts, recorder deed search portal (1990–present), GIS portal, tax payment options.

▸ For Investors / Operators — Delaware County operates two sale tracks: judicial/mortgage foreclosure sales conducted online through RealAuction (delaware.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov) on Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m., and tax in-rem sheriff sales held in-person at 145 N. Union St. Minimum bid is two-thirds of appraised value (R.C. 2329.20); balance is due within 30 days of court-filed Confirmation, which typically takes 30–60 days. The Sheriff does not guarantee clear title; independent research at the Recorder’s Office (recorder.co.delaware.oh.us) and Clerk of Courts case records is required before bidding.

▸ For Former Owners — Judicial foreclosure surplus is held by the Delaware County Treasurer and distributed through the Clerk of Common Pleas Courts (Legal Division), 117 North Union Street, Level 300, Delaware, OH 43015; (740) 833-2500. Former owners have three years from the date the Treasurer receives residue funds to demand payment (R.C. 5721.20); after three years, unclaimed residue is forfeited. For forfeited-land sale surplus, the claim deadline is one year from the sale date (R.C. 5723.11) and is filed with the Delaware County Auditor at (740) 833-2900. The Auditor also maintains an unclaimed funds search at auditor.co.delaware.oh.us/ucfsearch/.

Legal information only — not legal advice. This page describes legal procedures as they exist based on publicly available official sources retrieved on the date noted. Laws, procedures, deadlines, and office information change; verify everything against current primary sources before acting. If you are a property owner, investor, or claimant, consult a licensed Ohio attorney. Nothing on this page creates an attorney-client relationship.

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