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Genesee County, MI

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Genesee County, Michigan — Tax Sale & Surplus Procedure

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

C0. Identity

  • County seat: Flint
  • Population: ~406,207 (2020 Census)
  • Recording unit: county (County Clerk & Register of Deeds = Domonique D. Clemons)
  • FIPS: 26049
  • Parent legal framework: michigan — Michigan is a tax-deed, judicial in-rem foreclosure state under the General Property Tax Act (GPTA, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.78 series). The county treasurer is the Foreclosing Governmental Unit (“FGU”); Genesee County is a self-foreclosing county (the Genesee County Treasurer, not the State/DNR, forecloses and sells). Title vests by judgment of foreclosure in the 7th Judicial Circuit Court (Genesee County Circuit Court); there is no post-judgment redemption after March 31 and no tax-lien certificates. All statutory framework is inherited from michigan; the sections below are the local operational layer only.
  • Notable: Genesee County is one of 28 counties included in the Fox v. Saginaw County class-action settlement covering surplus proceeds retained on properties foreclosed between 2013 and 2020; a separate claims process with a July 16, 2026 deadline runs through surplusproceedssettlement.com (see C3 below).

C1. Local Tax Sale

  • Conducts own sale? Yes. The Genesee County Treasurer acts as FGU, forecloses under the GPTA through a Judgment of Foreclosure entered by the 7th Circuit Court, then sells the foreclosed parcels at public virtual auction. Source: https://www.geneseecountymi.gov/departments/treasurer/index.php
  • Platform: Tax-Sale.info (online; same Title Check, LLC platform used by many Michigan counties) at http://www.tax-sale.info — Genesee County’s auction platform. All auctions are conducted online. Source: https://www.geneseecountymi.gov/departments/treasurer/index.php
  • Calendar:
    • Frequency: Annual — properties with judgment of foreclosure (entered each year after the GPTA forfeiture cycle) are auctioned in the late summer / fall quarter, within the GPTA statutory window of the third Tuesday in July through the first Tuesday in November (MCL 211.78m(2)).
    • 2026 Scheduled Auction Dates:
      • September 3, 2026 — Minimum bid sale (10:00 a.m. EDT–7:00 p.m. EDT)
      • September 25, 2026 — Re-offer sale (unsold properties from Sept 3 round)
      • October 30, 2026 — No-reserve sale (further unsold properties)
    • Full property listings on tax-sale.info are “Coming Soon” as of 2026-06-02; check https://www.tax-sale.info/auctions for the Genesee catalog when posted. Sources: https://www.geneseecountymi.gov/departments/treasurer/index.php (2026 dates listed); https://www.tax-sale.info/auctions (retrieved 2026-06-02; Sept 3 confirmed with hours)
  • Rate within statutory range: N/A locally — forfeiture additional interest (1/2%/month, non-compounded) and the $175 forfeiture fee are set by state statute (MCL 211.78g). See michigan.
  • Registration & deposit / bidder requirements:
    • Online registration at tax-sale.info required; exact deposit amount and payment terms for Genesee County’s 2026 auction cycle are not yet published as of 2026-06-02 (catalog “Coming Soon”) → needs_verification.
    • Platform help line: (800) 259-7470 (Tax-Sale.info / Title Check).
    • Based on the platform-wide pattern and comparison with adjacent Michigan counties (e.g., Oakland), a $1,000 deposit (credit-card pre-authorization or certified funds) and a 10% buyer’s premium are typical on tax-sale.info — but Genesee County’s specific terms must be confirmed when the catalog is posted → needs_verification. Source: https://www.tax-sale.info/auctions
  • Delinquent list location:

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

  • Where/how to redeem locally: Pay all delinquent taxes, interest, penalties, and fees (including the $175 forfeiture fee and 1/2%/month forfeiture interest from the preceding March 1) to the Genesee County Treasurer’s Office at 324 S Saginaw St Ste 2A, Flint, MI 48502, by the March 31 deadline. Online payment is available via the BSA Online portal (above); mail and in-person payments also accepted Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Source: https://www.geneseecountymi.gov/departments/treasurer/index.php
  • Deadline: Inherited from state law — on or before March 31 immediately succeeding the judgment of foreclosure (or within 21 days if contested). After that date, the judgment is final and title vests absolutely in the Treasurer (MCL 211.78k). No post-auction redemption exists for tax deeds. See michigan.
  • Local fees: Statutory add-ons per MCL 211.78g ($175 forfeiture fee + 1/2%/month). Discrete Genesee County administrative cost itemization beyond state mandates → needs_verification.
  • Redemption contact: Genesee County Treasurer — (810) 257-3054; treasurer@geneseecountymi.gov. Source: https://www.geneseecountymi.gov/departments/treasurer/index.php
  • Deviations from state default: None identified — Genesee follows the GPTA March 31 cutoff with no post-auction redemption for tax deeds.

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

Business-critical module. Genesee County has TWO concurrent surplus tracks: (1) the MCL 211.78t / Form 5743 + CC 540 process for properties foreclosed in 2021 onward, and (2) the Fox v. Saginaw County class-action settlement covering 2013–2020 foreclosures.

Track A — Ongoing (2021+ foreclosures): MCL 211.78t two-step process

Step 1 — Notice of Intention (Form 5743):

  • Form: Michigan Department of Treasury Form 5743 — “Notice of Intention to Claim Interest in Foreclosure Sales Proceeds” — must be notarized.
  • Where to file (Step 1): Submit the notarized Form 5743 to the Genesee County Treasurer’s Office:

    324 S. Saginaw St., Ste. 2A, Flint, MI 48502 Phone: (810) 257-3054

  • Deadline (Step 1): July 1 immediately following the effective date of the foreclosure (MCL 211.78t(2)). For the 2026 foreclosure cycle, the Step 1 deadline is July 1, 2026. Missing this deadline forfeits all rights to remaining proceeds.
  • Form 5743 is referenced and available from the Genesee County Treasurer’s website. Source: https://www.geneseecountymi.gov/departments/treasurer/index.php

Step 2 — Circuit Court Motion (Form CC 540):

Note on Form 5744: The Genesee County Treasurer’s website references Form 5743 (Step 1) and Form CC 540 (Step 2 / motion) but does not mention Form 5744 (the “Notice to Claimant to File Motion” sent by some FGUs to timely Step-1 filers). Whether the Genesee Treasurer sends Form 5744 as a trigger for Step 2 or relies solely on the claimant’s knowledge of the Feb 1–May 15 window → needs_verification.

Track B — Historical (2013–2020 foreclosures): Fox v. Saginaw County Settlement

  • Claim: Class-action settlement in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (Fox v. Saginaw County) alleging that Genesee County (and 27 other Michigan counties) unconstitutionally retained surplus proceeds from foreclosures occurring 2013–2020.
  • Who qualifies: Former owners whose Genesee County property was foreclosed for taxes between 2013 and 2020 and sold for more than the taxes, fees, and costs owed.
  • Recovery: 125% of their property’s surplus proceeds, minus attorneys’ fees and costs (subject to adjustment).
  • Claim filing deadline: July 16, 2026 (this deadline supersedes the ordinary MCL 211.78t process for the covered period).
  • Filing portal: https://www.surplusproceedssettlement.com/
  • Fairness hearing: September 23, 2026, Bay City, Michigan.
  • Exclusion / objection deadline: April 30, 2026 (already passed). Sources: https://www.surplusproceedssettlement.com/ (retrieved 2026-06-02); https://www.geneseecountymi.gov/departments/treasurer/index.php (settlement reference)

▸ For Investors / Operators — Genesee County is a self-foreclosing county using the GPTA judicial in-rem process; title vests by court judgment in the 7th Judicial Circuit Court (900 S. Saginaw St., Flint) and the Genesee County Treasurer (Samuel E. Muma; 810-257-3054) acts as Foreclosing Governmental Unit. Auctions are conducted online via Tax-Sale.info in three rounds: minimum-bid (September 3, 2026), re-offer (September 25, 2026), and no-reserve (October 30, 2026). The March 31 redemption cutoff is absolute — there is no post-auction redemption for tax deeds once the judgment is final. Before any parcel reaches public auction, the state, municipality, and the Genesee County Land Bank hold a statutory right of first refusal at minimum bid (MCL 211.78m(1)); parcels taken by ROFR bypass the public sale and require an inverse-condemnation claim, not MCL 211.78t, for surplus recovery. See michigan and jackson-v-southfield-2025.

▸ For Former Owners — Genesee County has two concurrent surplus tracks: (1) for 2021+ foreclosures, file notarized Form 5743 with the Genesee County Treasurer (324 S. Saginaw St., Ste. 2A, Flint) by July 1 of the year of foreclosure, then file Form CC 540 (SCAO) in the 7th Circuit Court in rem case between February 1 and May 15 of the year after the sale; (2) for 2013–2020 foreclosures, file through the Fox v. Saginaw County class-action settlement portal at surplusproceedssettlement.com by July 16, 2026 (125% recovery of surplus). Missing Form 5743’s July 1 deadline forfeits all rights to proceeds under the MCL 211.78t track.

Unclaimed Surplus

  • No dedicated public list of unclaimed remaining proceeds was located on Genesee County’s official website at verification → needs_verification.
  • Under MCL 211.78t(2), failure to timely file Form 5743 forfeits the claim and the FGU retains the proceeds.

C4. Offices & Contacts

OfficeNameAddressPhoneURL
Treasurer / Tax Collector (FGU)Samuel E. Muma, Genesee County Treasurer324 S. Saginaw St., Ste. 2A, Flint, MI 48502(810) 257-3054 · Fax (810) 257-3885 · treasurer@geneseecountymi.gov · Hours M–F 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.https://www.geneseecountymi.gov/departments/treasurer/index.php
County Clerk (court records)Domonique D. Clemons324 S. Saginaw St., Flint, MI 48502(810) 257-3225https://www.geneseecountymi.gov/departments/county_clerk/index.php
Register of Deeds (deeds, mortgages, sheriff’s deeds)Domonique D. Clemons (combined with County Clerk)324 S. Saginaw St., Flint, MI 48502(810) 257-3060 · [email protected]https://www.geneseecountymi.gov/departments/register_of_deeds/index.php
Circuit Court — 7th Judicial (in-rem foreclosure; 78t motions)7th Judicial Circuit Court900 S. Saginaw St., Flint, MI 48502needs_verification (no direct phone confirmed from retrieved pages)https://7thcircuitcourt.com/
Sheriff (mortgage foreclosure sales)Genesee County Sheriff’s Office1002 S. Saginaw St., Flint, MI 48502(810) 257-3422 (non-emergency) · (810) 257-3406 (administration)https://www.gcsomichigan.com/
Land BankGenesee County Land Bank452 S. Saginaw St., 2nd Fl., Flint, MI 48502(810) 257-3088 · Fax (810) 257-3090https://www.thelandbank.org/

Notes:

  • In Genesee County, the County Clerk and Register of Deeds is a combined office (Domonique D. Clemons); the Register records deeds, mortgages, liens, sheriff’s deeds, and other documents affecting real estate. The Clerk also handles court records.
  • Tax-sale FGU: Genesee County Treasurer (not the Sheriff or State/DNR).
  • Sheriff’s role: The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office handles mortgage foreclosure-by-advertisement (sheriff’s sales); phone and exact civil-unit contact for sheriff’s-sale inquiries → needs_verification.
  • Land Bank’s role: The Genesee County Land Bank acquires vacant and abandoned properties, including those that flow from the tax foreclosure pipeline (right-of-first-refusal or post-auction transfer). It manages and sells properties through various programs. Where a local unit (including the Land Bank, acting as or alongside a land-bank authority) exercises the right of first refusal at minimum bid with no public auction, the surplus remedy is not MCL 211.78t — the former owner’s remedy is inverse condemnation under Rafaeli. See jackson-v-southfield-2025 and michigan. Source: https://www.thelandbank.org/

C5. Local Procedure Notes

  • Platform: Genesee County uses Tax-Sale.info (Title Check, LLC) for all tax foreclosure auctions — all auctions are conducted online. The 2026 auction cycle includes three rounds (minimum bid → re-offer → no reserve).
  • Three-round auction cycle: Genesee County’s 2026 schedule (Sept 3, Sept 25, Oct 30) follows a more structured multi-round pattern than some counties, with a dedicated no-reserve date to clear remaining inventory. This structure has been confirmed on the Treasurer’s website and corroborated by the tax-sale.info listings.
  • Right of first refusal: Before any parcel reaches the public auction, the State, then city/village/township, then the county may purchase at the greater of fair market value or minimum bid (MCL 211.78m(1)). The Genesee County Land Bank and local municipalities regularly exercise this right for strategic properties. Where a unit exercises ROFR with no public auction, MCL 211.78t does not supply the surplus remedy — see jackson-v-southfield-2025 and michigan.
  • Dual surplus tracks: As of 2026-06-02, Genesee County former owners face TWO simultaneous processes: the ongoing MCL 211.78t / CC 540 process for 2021+ foreclosures, and the Fox v. Saginaw County federal court settlement for 2013–2020 foreclosures. Both have imminent deadlines in 2026.
  • Foreclosure postponement / hardship: The Treasurer offers a Foreclosure Postponement Form (Homestead) and a Commercial Property Foreclosure Postponement Form for qualifying owners, alongside Foreclosure Hardship Policy documentation. Available at the delinquent real property page. Source: https://www.geneseecountymi.gov/departments/treasurer/delinquent_real_property.php
  • No upset bid / no judicial confirmation of the tax-auction sale. Finality comes from the March 31 redemption cutoff; no post-sale redemption.
  • Delinquent tax transfer: Under GPTA, taxes become delinquent March 1 with a 4% administrative fee + 1% monthly interest (these are the local tax collector’s add-ons); after one year, property is forfeited to the county treasurer, adding the $175 forfeiture fee and 1.5%/month (0.5%/month additional interest per MCL 211.78g). Note: the county’s website states 1% monthly and 1.5% monthly for the two stages, which may represent the combined state/local rates; the MCL 211.78g controls for the forfeiture/foreclosure stage. Source: https://www.geneseecountymi.gov/departments/treasurer/delinquent_real_property.php

C6. Records Access

ResourceURL
Parcel search / GIS viewer (FetchGIS)https://app.fetchgis.com/genesee
GIS Resource Hub (ArcGIS)https://gis-resources-gccountymi.hub.arcgis.com/
Register of Deeds — deed/document search (per-name search)https://www.landrecords.net (redirects to Fidlar/tapestry; $8.75/name)
Register of Deeds — subscription searchhttps://fidlar.com/LaredoAnywhere (subscription agreement required)
Delinquent tax payment portal (BSA Online)https://bsaonline.com/OnlinePayment/OnlinePaymentSearch?PaymentApplicationType=5&uid=304
Automated delinquent tax payment line1-877-805-2856
Auction platform (Tax-Sale.info)https://www.tax-sale.info/auctions
Recording fee schedule (Register of Deeds)https://www.geneseecountymi.gov/departments/register_of_deeds/fee_schedule.php
Fox v. Saginaw County settlement (2013–2020 surplus claims)https://www.surplusproceedssettlement.com/
Form CC 540 (SCAO — Motion to Claim Remaining Proceeds)https://courts.michigan.gov/administration/scao/forms/courtforms/cc540.pdf

C7. Meta

  • parent_state: michigan
  • last_verified: 2026-06-02
  • confidence: 0.84
  • completeness_score: 0.88
  • gap_score: 9
  • sources:
    • {type: official, url: “https://www.geneseecountymi.gov/departments/treasurer/index.php”, retrieved: 2026-06-02} # Treasurer Samuel E. Muma; 324 S Saginaw Ste 2A; (810) 257-3054; (810) 257-3885 fax; treasurer@; M-F 8am-4pm; tax-sale.info; 2026 auction dates (Sept 3/25, Oct 30); Form 5743; Form CC 540; BSA Online portal; 1-877-805-2856; Fox/surplusproceedssettlement.com July 16 2026 deadline; Land Bank link
    • {type: official, url: “https://www.geneseecountymi.gov/departments/treasurer/delinquent_real_property.php”, retrieved: 2026-06-02} # GPTA forfeiture timeline (delinquency Mar 1, forfeiture after 1 yr, foreclosure thereafter); postponement forms; hardship policy; interest rates
    • {type: official, url: “https://www.geneseecountymi.gov/departments/county_clerk/index.php”, retrieved: 2026-06-02} # Domonique D. Clemons, County Clerk & Register of Deeds; 324 S Saginaw; (810) 257-3225 (clerk); combined clerk/ROD office; online deed search (landrecords.net / fidlar); electronic recording (CSC, ePN, Simplifile)
    • {type: official, url: “https://www.geneseecountymi.gov/departments/register_of_deeds/index.php”, retrieved: 2026-06-02} # Domonique D. Clemons; (810) 257-3060; [email protected]; landrecords.com name search $8.75; subscription fidlar.com/LaredoAnywhere; property fraud alert; electronic recording
    • {type: official, url: “https://www.tax-sale.info/auctions”, retrieved: 2026-06-02} # Genesee County Sept 3 2026 auction listed (10am-7pm EDT); “Full Listings Not Yet Available”; platform registration info; (800) 259-7470 helpline
    • {type: official, url: “https://courts.michigan.gov/administration/scao/forms/courtforms/cc540.pdf”, retrieved: 2026-06-02} # SCAO Form CC 540 — “Motion to Claim Remaining Proceeds From Tax Foreclosure Sale On or After July 18, 2020”; confirms 7th Circuit Court filing venue for Genesee
    • {type: official, url: “https://www.gcsomichigan.com/”, retrieved: 2026-06-02} # Genesee County Sheriff’s Office; 1002 S Saginaw St; (810) 257-3422 non-emergency; (810) 257-3406 admin; sheriff handles mortgage foreclosure (sheriff’s sales)
    • {type: official, url: “https://7thcircuitcourt.com/general_information/contact.php”, retrieved: 2026-06-02} # 7th Judicial Circuit Court; 900 S Saginaw St, Flint MI 48502; departments include Circuit Court Clerk’s Office/Legal Records Division; no direct phone confirmed
    • {type: official, url: “https://www.geneseecountymi.gov/departments/gis/”, retrieved: 2026-06-02} # GIS dept; app.fetchgis.com/genesee (FetchGIS parcel viewer); gis-resources-gccountymi.hub.arcgis.com (ArcGIS hub); (810) 257-3163
    • {type: official, url: “https://www.thelandbank.org/”, retrieved: 2026-06-02} # Genesee County Land Bank; 452 S Saginaw St 2nd Fl Flint MI 48502; (810) 257-3088; acquires/sells vacant/abandoned properties; role in foreclosure pipeline
    • {type: official, url: “https://www.surplusproceedssettlement.com/”, retrieved: 2026-06-02} # Fox v. Saginaw County class-action; 28 counties incl. Genesee; 2013–2020 foreclosures; claim deadline July 16 2026; 125% of surplus; fairness hearing Sept 23 2026 Bay City MI
  • needs_verification:
    • 7th Circuit Court direct phone number and clerk of court name — the official contact page (https://7thcircuitcourt.com/general_information/contact.php) confirmed the address (900 S. Saginaw St.) but did not display a phone number; verify by calling the courthouse directly or via the SCAO court directory.
    • Registration deposit and buyer’s premium for Genesee County’s 2026 tax-sale.info auction — catalog was “Coming Soon” at verification; check https://www.tax-sale.info/auctions once the Genesee County catalog is published (typical deposit: $1,000 credit-card pre-auth or certified funds; typical buyer’s premium: 10%, based on platform norm at other Michigan counties).
    • Public delinquent-parcel roster (downloadable PDF or searchable list of all parcels currently in forfeiture or scheduled for foreclosure in Genesee County) — the treasurer’s website references a delinquent real property page but no direct URL for a downloadable list was confirmed.
    • Sheriff Civil Unit contact for mortgage foreclosure-by-advertisement (sheriff’s sales) — the main GCSO page confirms address/general phone but a dedicated civil unit contact was not retrieved.
    • Form 5744 (“Notice to Claimant to File Motion”) — it is unclear whether the Genesee County Treasurer sends Form 5744 to timely Step-1 filers to trigger the Step 2 motion, or whether claimants must independently monitor the Feb 1–May 15 window; the Treasurer’s website lists only Form 5743 and CC 540.
    • Unclaimed remaining-proceeds roster / fate of unclaimed surplus — no public list of unclaimed MCL 211.78t proceeds found on official Genesee County pages; whether proceeds forfeited under 78t(2) are retained by the FGU or escheated is an open question (see michigan open questions).
    • Discrete Genesee County administrative costs added to the redemption payoff amount beyond the state-mandated forfeiture fee and interest (MCL 211.78g) — county itemization not pinned from retrieved sources.
    • Land Bank right-of-first-refusal exercise rate — the Land Bank’s role in purchasing foreclosed parcels at ROFR before public auction is confirmed generally; the volume/frequency and whether any such transfers trigger jackson-v-southfield-2025-type inverse condemnation claims is not documented from a primary source.
    • eFiling / MiFILE availability for CC 540 motions in the 7th Circuit Court in-rem foreclosure proceedings — in-person vs. electronic filing not confirmed.
  • cross_links: michigan, surplus-funds, right-of-redemption, third-party-recovery-rules, treasurer-sale, sheriff-sale, due-process-notice, rafaeli-v-oakland-county-2020, jackson-v-southfield-2025, barry-county-treasurer-foreclosure-2024, tyler-v-hennepin-county
  • changelog:
    • 2026-06-02 — Initial Genesee County page built from the Treasurer’s Office official pages (index, delinquent real property), tax-sale.info auction listings, County Clerk/Register of Deeds page, SCAO Form CC 540, 7th Circuit Court contact page, GCSO website, GIS department, Genesee County Land Bank, and the Fox v. Saginaw County settlement website. Treasurer Samuel E. Muma confirmed. County Clerk/Register of Deeds Domonique D. Clemons confirmed. Sale platform confirmed as Tax-Sale.info with 2026 dates (Sept 3/25, Oct 30). Dual surplus track documented: MCL 211.78t / CC 540 (2021+ foreclosures) and Fox v. Saginaw County settlement (2013–2020; July 16, 2026 claim deadline).

▸ For Investors / Operators — Genesee County is a self-foreclosing county using the GPTA judicial in-rem process; title vests by court judgment in the 7th Judicial Circuit Court (900 S. Saginaw St., Flint) and the Genesee County Treasurer (Samuel E. Muma; 810-257-3054) acts as Foreclosing Governmental Unit. Auctions are conducted online via Tax-Sale.info in three rounds: minimum-bid (September 3, 2026), re-offer (September 25, 2026), and no-reserve (October 30, 2026). The March 31 redemption cutoff is absolute — there is no post-auction redemption for tax deeds once the judgment is final. Before any parcel reaches public auction, the state, municipality, and the Genesee County Land Bank hold a statutory right of first refusal at minimum bid (MCL 211.78m(1)); parcels taken by ROFR bypass the public sale and require an inverse-condemnation claim, not MCL 211.78t, for surplus recovery. See michigan and jackson-v-southfield-2025.

▸ For Former Owners — Genesee County has two concurrent surplus tracks: (1) for 2021+ foreclosures, file notarized Form 5743 with the Genesee County Treasurer (324 S. Saginaw St., Ste. 2A, Flint) by July 1 of the year of foreclosure, then file Form CC 540 (SCAO) in the 7th Circuit Court in rem case between February 1 and May 15 of the year after the sale; (2) for 2013–2020 foreclosures, file through the Fox v. Saginaw County class-action settlement portal at surplusproceedssettlement.com by July 16, 2026 (125% recovery of surplus). Missing Form 5743’s July 1 deadline forfeits all rights to proceeds under the MCL 211.78t track.

Legal information, not legal advice. This page summarizes Genesee County, Michigan tax- and mortgage-foreclosure procedure from official county sources and corroborated official sources retrieved on 2026-06-02. Statutes, deadlines, and auction logistics change; verify against the cited official sources and consult a licensed Michigan attorney before acting.

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