USA Foreclosure Wiki

Lorain County, OH

12 min read

Lorain 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 Lorain County actually runs it. Legal information, not legal advice. Last verified: 2026-06-02.

C0. Identity

  • County seat: Elyria, OH
  • Population: 309,833 (2020 Census)
  • Recording unit: county
  • FIPS: 39093
  • Parent legal framework: ohio
  • Governance: Standard Ohio three-commissioner structure (Commissioners: David Moore, Marty Gallagher, Jeff Riddell). Separate elected Auditor, Treasurer, Clerk of Courts, Recorder, Sheriff, and Prosecuting Attorney.

C1. Local Tax Sale

Lorain County runs both tracks recognized by Ohio law: judicial foreclosure sales conducted by the Sheriff (via court-ordered “Orders of Sale”), and — for tax-delinquent land — the statutory delinquent tax pathway under the Lorain County Prosecutor / Auditor consistent with R.C. Chapter 5721. The county has also adopted the expedited Board of Revision / abandoned-land pathway under R.C. 323.65–323.79.

Judicial / Mortgage & Tax Foreclosure Sheriff Sales

  • Conducts own sale? Yes — the Lorain County Sheriff (Civil Division) prepares and sells real property as directed by the court (Orders of Sale — Sheriff Sales). Source: https://www.loraincountysheriff.com/civil-division/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • Platform (civil/mortgage foreclosure cases): RealAuction — state-operated online auction platform run under contract with Ohio’s Department of Administrative Services. County-specific portal: https://lorain.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov/ RealAuction customer service: 877-361-7325 / customerservice@realauction.com (weekdays 8:30 AM–6:00 PM ET). Source: https://www.loraincountysheriff.com/services/lorain-county-sheriffs-sales/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • Platform (tax cases): Tax cases are conducted as a verbal/in-person auction at 226 Middle Ave, 4th Floor, Commissioner’s Public Hearing Room / Conference Room A, Elyria, OH 44035. Tax case starting bids are entered into CivilView approximately one week prior to the sale date. Source: https://www.loraincountysheriff.com/services/lorain-county-sheriffs-sales/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • Foreclosure sale listings: Available via CivilView at https://salesweb.civilview.com/Sales/SalesSearch?countyId=18 (retrieved 2026-06-02 — confirmed active listings including 25 foreclosure entries with property addresses, plaintiff/defendant, parcel numbers)
  • Sale calendar: Sales are held on designated Wednesdays, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Specific sale dates are posted on the Sheriff’s website as they become available; many sales are cancelled the day prior. Next known sale dates (as of 2026-06-02): June 10, June 17, June 24, July 1, July 8, July 29, August 12, September 9, 2026. Source: https://salesweb.civilview.com/Sales/SalesSearch?countyId=18 (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • Past sales archive: Annual PDF reports (2006–2024) available at https://www.loraincountysheriff.com/sheriff-sales-reports/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • Registration: Bidders for civil (online) cases must register on the RealAuction website and maintain a deposit account. Proper identification required for in-person (tax case) sales. Source: https://www.loraincountysheriff.com/services/lorain-county-sheriffs-sales/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • Deposit requirements: A deposit account with RealAuction is required to bid online. Specific deposit amounts were not published on the Lorain County Sheriff’s website as of 2026-06-02 — see needs_verification.
  • Delinquent list location: [needs_verification — Lorain County Auditor publishes delinquent land list (loraincountyauditor.gov) but the specific URL for the list was not retrievable as of 2026-06-02 due to server 403 responses]
  • Tax certificate sales (R.C. 5721.30+): [needs_verification — whether Lorain County participates in the tax certificate path; Treasurer Daniel J. Talarek’s office administers this but no dedicated tax-certificate-sale page was verified as of 2026-06-02]

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

Under ohio state law (R.C. 5721.25), the former owner may redeem delinquent land at any time before the entry of confirmation of sale by paying all delinquent taxes, assessments, penalties, interest, charges, and costs. Lorain County follows this statutory framework without documented local deviation.

  • Where to redeem: Payment to the Lorain County Treasurer (Daniel J. Talarek), who holds tax accounts. Foreclosure actions are filed by the Lorain County Prosecuting Attorney (Tony Cillo) in the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas, General Division (225 Court Street, Elyria, OH 44035).
  • Local fees: Statutory costs of the foreclosure proceeding (title search, publication, court filing, sheriff’s service) are added to the redemption amount per R.C. 5721.25. No separate local fee schedule was identified beyond state statute.
  • Redemption contact:
  • Deviations from state default: None identified.

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

Ohio R.C. 5721.19–5721.20 govern surplus distribution. After costs, the 5% delinquent-collection fund assessment, taxes/assessments, and other lienholders are paid, any residue belongs to the former owner. The clerk of the court must notify the owner; the treasurer holds the funds. The owner has three years from the date of receipt of funds to demand payment (R.C. 5721.20). After three years, the residue is forfeited to the delinquent tax and assessment collection fund (R.C. 321.261) or, if Lorain County has a qualifying land reutilization corporation, to that fund (R.C. 321.263).

  • Claim filing venue: Lorain County Court of Common Pleas — Civil Division (Room 105), 225 Court Street, Elyria, OH 44035; Clerk of Courts: Tom Orlando, 440-329-5536. The Clerk of Courts maintains foreclosure case records and the residue/surplus fund notification process per R.C. 5721.20; the Treasurer holds the actual funds. Source: https://www.loraincountyohio.gov/386/Office-Locations-and-Hours-of-Operation (retrieved 2026-06-02); https://www.loraincountyohio.gov/377/Clerk-of-Courts (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • Online case records: https://coc.loraincountyohio.gov/ — public access to civil, criminal, domestic relations, and 9th District Court of Appeals cases since 1988; e-filing available as of December 8, 2025. Source: https://www.loraincountyohio.gov/377/Clerk-of-Courts (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • Claim form: [needs_verification — no specific surplus/residue claim form identified on the Lorain County Clerk of Courts website as of 2026-06-02; contact Civil Division at 440-329-5536 for the applicable form]
  • Local deadline notes: Three-year deadline per R.C. 5721.20 (state law, no local variation identified). For forfeited land (auditor’s-deed path, R.C. 5723.11), the deadline is one year from the day of sale.
  • Unclaimed-funds list published: [needs_verification — no confirmed public unclaimed-surplus list was found on Lorain County’s official sites as of 2026-06-02]
  • Contact: Tom Orlando, Clerk of Courts; Civil Division: 440-329-5536; 225 Court Street, Room 105, Elyria, OH 44035. Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:00 PM. Source: https://www.loraincountyohio.gov/386/Office-Locations-and-Hours-of-Operation (retrieved 2026-06-02)

▸ For Investors / Operators — Lorain County runs a split-platform system: civil and mortgage foreclosure sales are conducted entirely online via RealAuction at lorain.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov; tax cases are conducted as a verbal in-person auction at 226 Middle Ave, 4th Floor, Elyria (with starting bids entered into CivilView approximately one week prior). Wednesday sales begin at 10:00 a.m. and many are cancelled the day prior — verify status before attending. Minimum bid on foreclosure/mortgage sales is two-thirds (2/3) of appraised value per R.C. 2329.20; tax-case minimum is the judgment amount plus costs. Active listings are available at salesweb.civilview.com/Sales/SalesSearch?countyId=18. Deposit amounts for online civil sales were not confirmed from official sources; contact RealAuction Customer Service at 877-361-7325.

▸ For Former Owners — Surplus from a Lorain County foreclosure is held by the County Treasurer; the Clerk of Courts (Tom Orlando, Civil Division, 225 Court Street, Room 105, Elyria; 440-329-5536) handles R.C. 5721.20 notification. Former owners have three years from the date the Treasurer receives residue funds to demand payment; after that the residue is forfeited to the delinquent tax and assessment collection fund. For forfeited-land sale surplus (R.C. 5723.11), the deadline is one year from the day of sale. A specific surplus claim form was not confirmed as of last verification — contact the Clerk of Courts Civil Division directly.

C4. Offices & Contacts

OfficeNameAddressPhoneURL
TreasurerDaniel J. Talarek226 Middle Ave, Elyria, OH 44035 (county admin building)440-329-5787loraincounty.com/treasurer/
AuditorCraig Snodgrass226 Middle Ave, Elyria, OH 44035440-329-5207loraincountyauditor.gov
Clerk of CourtsTom Orlando225 Court St, Elyria, OH 44035 (Justice Center)440-329-5624loraincountyohio.gov/377
RecorderMike Doran226 Middle Ave, Elyria, OH 44035440-329-5148loraincountyrecorder.gov
Sheriff (Civil Div.)Jack M. HallCivil Office: 225 Court St, Room 104, Elyria, OH 44035440-329-5515 (civil) / 440-329-3709 (main)loraincountysheriff.com
ProsecutorTony Cillo225 Court St, 3rd Floor, Elyria, OH 44035440-329-5389lcprosecutor.com

Source for officials’ names and phones: https://www.loraincountyohio.gov/376/County-Elected-Officials (retrieved 2026-06-02) Source for sheriff address/civil division: https://www.loraincountysheriff.com/contact/ (retrieved 2026-06-02) Source for clerk divisions/addresses: https://www.loraincountyohio.gov/386/Office-Locations-and-Hours-of-Operation (retrieved 2026-06-02) Source for recorder portal: https://www.loraincountyrecorder.gov/property-search (retrieved 2026-06-02)

Note: The Treasurer’s and Auditor’s specific office suite addresses within the 226 Middle Ave building were not confirmed from official web sources as of 2026-06-02 (county admin building address used as proxy; see needs_verification).

C5. Local Procedure Notes

  • Civil vs. Tax case split: Lorain County Sheriff’s Sales run on two separate tracks: (1) civil/mortgage foreclosure cases are conducted entirely online via RealAuction; (2) tax cases are conducted as verbal in-person auctions at 226 Middle Ave, 4th Floor. This split is operationally significant for investors and researchers. Source: https://www.loraincountysheriff.com/services/lorain-county-sheriffs-sales/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • High cancellation rate: The Sheriff’s office explicitly warns that “many sales are cancelled on the day prior to the sale.” Prospective bidders should verify sale status the day before. Source: https://www.loraincountysheriff.com/services/lorain-county-sheriffs-sales/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • Board of Revision / abandoned land: Lorain County may use the expedited R.C. 323.65–323.79 pathway for abandoned land, including potential direct transfer to a land reutilization corporation (land bank) without a public sale. If a land bank later resells for more than the tax debt + costs, R.C. 323.78 requires the excess delivered to the county treasurer within 45 days (Tyler v. Hennepin County compliance mechanism). [needs_verification — whether Lorain County has an active Land Reutilization Corporation under R.C. 1724 or 5722; no official land bank website was reached as of 2026-06-02]
  • Affidavit of Non-Delinquency: [needs_verification — whether Lorain County requires a notarized Affidavit of Non-Delinquency from purchasers at tax sales, as some Ohio counties do per R.C. 5721.38(C); not confirmed from Lorain County official sources]
  • Deviations from state default: None identified beyond the civil/tax platform split noted above.

C6. Records Access

C7. Meta

sources:

needs_verification:

  • Specific deposit amount(s) for RealAuction online civil sales — not published on Lorain County Sheriff’s website.
  • Tax certificate sale (R.C. 5721.30+) participation by Lorain County: whether Treasurer holds annual certificate auctions and what platform/calendar is used.
  • Delinquent land list URL on loraincountyauditor.gov (site returned 403 Forbidden during research).
  • Auditor Craig Snodgrass’s parcel/property search portal URL (loraincountyauditor.gov blocked all requests 2026-06-02).
  • GIS map portal URL for Lorain County.
  • Tax payment portal URL for Lorain County (online payment option not confirmed).
  • Whether Lorain County has an active Land Reutilization Corporation (land bank) under R.C. 1724 or 5722 — website unreachable.
  • Specific surplus/residue claim form name and URL from Clerk of Courts.
  • Whether unclaimed surplus list is published publicly by Lorain County.
  • Whether Lorain County requires an Affidavit of Non-Delinquency from tax-sale purchasers per R.C. 5721.38(C).
  • Treasurer Daniel Talarek’s specific office suite and tax payment portal URL.

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

changelog:

  • 2026-06-02 — Initial population. Sheriff sales platform (RealAuction online for civil, verbal in-person for tax cases at 226 Middle Ave 4th floor) confirmed from official Sheriff’s website. All elected officials’ names and phones confirmed from loraincountyohio.gov. Clerk of Courts addresses/divisions confirmed. Recorder deed-search portal (recorder.dts-oh-lorain.com/paxworld/) confirmed. CivilView sale calendar with upcoming 2026 dates confirmed. Auditor and Treasurer-specific portals not confirmed (server 403/site unreachable); flagged needs_verification.

▸ For Investors / Operators — Lorain County runs a split-platform system: civil and mortgage foreclosure sales are conducted entirely online via RealAuction at lorain.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov; tax cases are conducted as a verbal in-person auction at 226 Middle Ave, 4th Floor, Elyria (with starting bids entered into CivilView approximately one week prior). Wednesday sales begin at 10:00 a.m. and many are cancelled the day prior — verify status before attending. Minimum bid on foreclosure/mortgage sales is two-thirds (2/3) of appraised value per R.C. 2329.20; tax-case minimum is the judgment amount plus costs. Active listings are available at salesweb.civilview.com/Sales/SalesSearch?countyId=18. Deposit amounts for online civil sales were not confirmed from official sources; contact RealAuction Customer Service at 877-361-7325.

▸ For Former Owners — Surplus from a Lorain County foreclosure is held by the County Treasurer; the Clerk of Courts (Tom Orlando, Civil Division, 225 Court Street, Room 105, Elyria; 440-329-5536) handles R.C. 5721.20 notification. Former owners have three years from the date the Treasurer receives residue funds to demand payment; after that the residue is forfeited to the delinquent tax and assessment collection fund. For forfeited-land sale surplus (R.C. 5723.11), the deadline is one year from the day of sale. A specific surplus claim form was not confirmed as of last verification — contact the Clerk of Courts Civil Division directly.

Legal information, not legal advice. Verify all facts against current official sources before acting. Law changes; this page was last verified 2026-06-02.

Graph View

Backlinks