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

C0. Identity

  • County seat: Toledo, OH
  • Population: approx. 441,815 (2020 Census)
  • Recording unit: county
  • FIPS: 39095
  • Parent legal framework: ohio
  • County seat note: Toledo is the largest city in northwest Ohio and the county seat; Lucas County uses the traditional Ohio three-commissioner structure with separately elected Auditor, Treasurer, Recorder, Sheriff, and Clerk of Courts.

C1. Local Tax Sale

Judicial / Mortgage & Tax Foreclosure Sheriff Sales (online platform)

  • Conducts own sale? Yes — the Lucas County Sheriff conducts judicial foreclosure (mortgage and tax) sales under Common Pleas Court order.
  • Platform: RealAuction — county-specific subdomain: https://lucas.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov/ (all sales are online-only; no in-person bidding as of March 12, 2026). Source: https://lucascountysheriff.org/resources/sheriffs-sales (retrieved 2026-06-02); https://www.lucascountytreasurer.org/sheriff-sales (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • RealAuction contract: Pursuant to a contract with the Ohio Department of Administrative Services. Mortgage foreclosures moved online December 16, 2020; tax foreclosures migrated to the same platform effective March 12, 2026. Source: https://lucascountysheriff.org/resources/sheriffs-sales (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • Sale calendar:
    • Mortgage Foreclosure Auctions: Wednesdays at 10:00 AM
    • Tax Foreclosure Auctions: Monthly, typically the second Thursday of the month at 10:00 AM; unsold properties offered at a second sale approximately two weeks later. Source: https://www.lucascountytreasurer.org/sheriff-sales (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • Registration: All prospective bidders must register online at https://lucas.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov/ and comply with all applicable procedures, deposit requirements, and affidavit requirements prior to bidding. Source: https://lucascountysheriff.org/resources/sheriffs-sales (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • Deposit requirements (Local Rule 5.02(D)(1), Lucas County Common Pleas Court):
    • Tax foreclosure sales: 10% of the starting bid (minimum $1,000, maximum$5,000). Starting bid = all delinquent taxes, assessments, interest, and court/title/administrative costs.
    • Appraised properties: 5% of appraised value (minimum $1,000, maximum$5,000).
    • Non-appraised (tax) properties: 10% of starting bid (same range).
    • Deposits must be submitted electronically through the auction platform via debit transaction or other authorized electronic transfer, payable to the Sheriff of Lucas County, Ohio.
    • License fee: $500.00 per case (effective July 1, 2025), calculated and collected by the Lucas County Clerk of Courts Office. Source: https://www.lucascountytreasurer.org/sheriff-sales (retrieved 2026-06-02); https://lucascountysheriff.org/resources/sheriffs-sales (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • Delinquent Tax Affidavit requirement (tax foreclosure sales only): Per R.C. 5721.19(J), effective April 9, 2025, all bidders at tax foreclosure sheriff’s sales must submit a completed and notarized Delinquent Tax Affidavit confirming the purchaser (and any associated pass-through entity) owns no Ohio property with unpaid delinquent taxes — or that an exception under R.C. 5721.19(J) applies. Deadline: 10:00 AM Wednesday preceding the Thursday auction (at least 24 hours before sale). Failure to submit voids the purchase; the Sheriff may move the Court to vacate the sale. Source: https://www.lucascountytreasurer.org/sheriff-sales (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • Post-sale payment: Purchaser must remit remaining balance within 30 days of notification from the Sheriff after confirmation of sale; non-payment results in deposit forfeiture and possible contempt proceedings. Source: https://lucascountysheriff.org/resources/sheriffs-sales (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • Minimum bid (mortgage foreclosure): Two-thirds of appraised value (R.C. 2329.20); no minimum at second mortgage-foreclosure sale. Tax foreclosure starting bid = total taxes + costs (per court order).
  • Bidding increments: Competitive bids must increase by at least $25. Source: https://lucascountysheriff.org/resources/sheriffs-sales (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • Title warranty: Properties sold AS IS; the Sheriff’s Office does not guarantee clear title.

Forfeited Land Sales (Auditor — in-person auction)

  • Platform: In-person auction (not online). The Lucas County Auditor acts as the selling agent for forfeited lands under R.C. Ch. 5723.
  • 2025 sale: Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 9:00 AM, One Government Center, Commissioners’ Hearing Room (1st floor), Toledo, OH 43604. Registration deadline: December 4, 2025 at 11:59 PM. Source: https://www.lucascountyohioauditor.gov/forfeitedland (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • 2026 sale date: [needs_verification — not yet posted on auditor’s page as of 2026-06-02; typically held in late fall (November–December)]
  • Payment: Bids ≤$1,000 paid in full on sale day (cash only); bids >$1,000 require 50% deposit on sale day with full balance due within 5 business days. An $85 fee per parcel covers deed preparation and recording. Source: https://www.lucascountyohioauditor.gov/forfeitedland (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • Contact: 419-213-4406; outreach@co.lucas.oh.us

Delinquent List Publication

Foreclosure Request Program (Lucas County-specific)

  • Lucas County Treasurer offers an unusual Foreclosure Request Program that allows eligible third-party investors to request expedited tax foreclosure on delinquent parcels. If approved, the requestor pays a $5,000 per-parcel deposit toward foreclosure costs and commits to bidding at the Sheriff’s Sale; the opening bid covers all delinquent taxes, assessments, interest, and court/title/administrative costs. Deposit is refunded if the property is redeemed or the requestor does not win. Source: https://www.lucascountytreasurer.org/foreclosure-requests (retrieved 2026-06-02)

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

  • Where to redeem (pre-sale / during judicial process): Pay all delinquent taxes, penalties, interest, and costs to the Lucas County Treasurer’s Office: One Government Center, Suite 500, Toledo, OH 43604. Phone: 419-213-4305 (main) / 419-213-4055 (delinquencies) Online payment: https://www.lucascountytreasurer.org/make-a-payment Source: https://www.lucascountytreasurer.org/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • Redemption deadline: Per R.C. 5721.25, the owner may redeem at any time before entry of confirmation of sale by paying all taxes, assessments, penalties, interest, charges due plus costs. See ohio §2 for full statutory framework.
  • Post-sale: No post-confirmation statutory redemption right for tax foreclosure deeds (equity of redemption cut off at confirmation). See ohio §2.
  • Delinquent payment plans: The Treasurer’s Office offers a Delinquent Installment Payment Plan (DIPP) for owner-occupants of residential property to avoid foreclosure; inquire at the dedicated DIPP counter at the Treasurer’s Office or call 419-213-4055. Source: https://www.lucascountytreasurer.org/dipp (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • Local fees: Standard Ohio statutory rates apply; no locally-set rate deviations identified.
  • Deviations from state default: None identified. Standard Ohio framework (R.C. 5721.25) applies; see ohio.

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

Judicial Foreclosure Surplus (Common Pleas Court → Treasurer)

Forfeited Land Sale Surplus (R.C. 5723.11)

  • Claim venue: Lucas County Auditor’s Office; One Government Center, Suite 600, Toledo, OH 43604; 419-213-4406.
  • Deadline: Former owner must demand within one year from the day of the forfeited-land sale (R.C. 5723.11). See ohio §3 for historical note.

▸ For Investors / Operators — Lucas County judicial foreclosure sales (tax and mortgage) are exclusively online through RealAuction at https://lucas.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov/, with tax sales on the second Thursday monthly and mortgage sales on Wednesdays. The 10%-of- starting-bid deposit (minimum $1,000, maximum$5,000) and a notarized Delinquent Tax Affidavit (due by 10:00 AM the Wednesday before each Thursday auction, effective April 9, 2025) are specific Lucas County requirements. The Foreclosure Request Program ($5,000 per-parcel deposit) offers investors a path to accelerate specific delinquent parcels; forfeited-land sales remain in-person at the Auditor's office. A$500 license fee per case applies effective July 1, 2025.

▸ For Former Owners — Judicial-foreclosure surplus held by the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas transfers to the Lucas County Treasurer after 90 days; you then have three years from receipt of funds by the Treasurer to file a claim using the online Excess Funds Claim Form at https://www.lucascountytreasurer.org/excess-funds (Treasurer: 419-213-4305; One Government Center, Suite 500). An unclaimed-funds list is published at co.lucas.oh.us. For forfeited-land sales, demand payment from the Auditor within one year of the sale (R.C. 5723.11).

C4. Offices & Contacts

OfficeOfficeholderAddressPhoneURL
TreasurerLindsay M. WebbOne Government Center, Suite 500, Toledo, OH 43604419-213-4305https://www.lucascountytreasurer.org/
AuditorKatie Moline, CPAOne Government Center, Suite 600, Toledo, OH 43604419-213-4406https://www.lucascountyohioauditor.gov/
RecorderMichael D. AshfordOne Government Center, Suite 700, Toledo, OH 43604419-213-4400https://co.lucas.oh.us/675/Recorder
Clerk of Courts (Common Pleas)J. Bernie Quilter700 Adams Street, Toledo, OH 43604419-213-4484https://portal-ohlucas.tylertech.cloud/portal
Sheriff (Civil Division)Sheriff Michael J. Navarre1622 Spielbusch Avenue, Toledo, OH 43604419-213-4900https://lucascountysheriff.org/
Common Pleas Court700 Adams Street, Toledo, OH 43604419-213-4500https://lucascountycommonpleas.com/
Land BankLucas County Land Reutilization Corp.One Government Center, Suite 580, Toledo, OH 43604419-213-4293https://lucascountylandbank.org/

Civil Division (Sheriff) — specific contacts:

  • Mortgage foreclosure questions: 419-213-4786 or 419-213-4741
  • Tax foreclosure questions: 419-213-4741 or 419-213-4698
  • Clerk of Courts Civil Division: 419-213-4490

Sources:

C5. Local Procedure Notes

  • All judicial foreclosure sales online-only (RealAuction): As of March 12, 2026, both mortgage and tax foreclosure sheriff’s sales are exclusively online through https://lucas.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov/; no in-person bidding is available. Mortgage foreclosures were online since December 2020. Source: https://lucascountysheriff.org/resources/sheriffs-sales (retrieved 2026-06-02)

  • Forfeited land sales remain in-person: In contrast to the sheriff’s sale platform, the Auditor’s annual forfeited-land sales (R.C. Ch. 5723) continue as in-person auctions at One Government Center. Source: https://www.lucascountyohioauditor.gov/forfeitedland (retrieved 2026-06-02)

  • Delinquent Tax Affidavit effective April 9, 2025: A significant local procedure change: as of April 9, 2025, all tax foreclosure sale bidders must submit a notarized affidavit confirming they are current on all Ohio property taxes (R.C. 5721.19(J)). The affidavit must be uploaded by 10:00 AM the Wednesday before the Thursday auction. This requirement applies only to tax foreclosure auctions (not mortgage-only auctions). Source: https://www.lucascountytreasurer.org/sheriff-sales (retrieved 2026-06-02)

  • $500 license fee per case (July 1, 2025): The Lucas County Clerk of Courts charges a$500 license fee per case for online sheriff’s sales, effective July 1, 2025. This is collected by the Clerk and not the platform. Source: search snippet from lucascountysheriff.org (retrieved 2026-06-02)

  • Foreclosure Request Program (unique to Lucas County): The Treasurer’s Office accepts requests from investor-purchasers to advance specific delinquent parcels through the judicial foreclosure pipeline; requires $5,000 per-parcel deposit commitment. This is not an Ohio-wide program. Source: https://www.lucascountytreasurer.org/foreclosure-requests (retrieved 2026-06-02)

  • Forfeited land cash-only: The Auditor’s forfeited-land sale accepts cash only on sale day (no checks, cards, or debit). This is a notable local deviation from some counties that accept certified checks. Source: https://www.lucascountyohioauditor.gov/forfeitedland (retrieved 2026-06-02)

  • Land bank (R.C. 323.65–323.79 expedited path): The Lucas County Land Reutilization Corporation (LCLRC) is an active land bank (operating since August 31, 2010). It may receive property through the Board of Revision expedited-foreclosure path (direct transfer without sale) under R.C. 323.78. The LCLRC acquired 668 properties in 2013 alone. Source: https://lucascountylandbank.org/ (retrieved 2026-06-02); Ohio Auditor of State audit report (retrieved 2026-06-02)

  • Private Selling Officers (PSOs): Ohio permits licensed auctioneers/brokers to conduct judicial foreclosure sales; Lucas County Common Pleas Court allows PSOs subject to court approval. [needs_verification — whether Lucas County currently has active PSOs and how to find their listings]

C6. Records Access

ResourceURL
Parcel search (AREIS — by parcel, address, owner)https://icare.co.lucas.oh.us/lucascare/search/commonsearch.aspx?mode=parid
Map / GIS search (AREIS Online)https://icare.co.lucas.oh.us/lucascare/maps/mapadv.aspx
Recorder deed / document search (DTS Public Access)https://lucas.dts-oh.com/PaxWorld5/
GIS data / ArcGIS hub (Auditor)https://auditor-lucascountyohio.hub.arcgis.com/
Tax payment portal (Treasurer)https://www.lucascountytreasurer.org/make-a-payment
Foreclosure case search (Sheriff/County)https://lcapps.co.lucas.oh.us/foreclosure/search.aspx
Clerk of Courts online dockets (Tyler Tech)https://portal-ohlucas.tylertech.cloud/portal
Sheriff’s sale auction platform (RealAuction)https://lucas.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov/
Auditor forfeited land pagehttps://www.lucascountyohioauditor.gov/forfeitedland
Excess funds (Treasurer)https://www.lucascountytreasurer.org/excess-funds

Sources:

C8. Title & Quiet Title

  • Title type delivered: Tax deed / sheriff’s deed (judicial foreclosure path) or auditor’s deed (forfeited land path). Neither carries warranty covenants; conveys the foreclosed/forfeited interest only.

  • Quiet title required? In practice, yes for most Ohio tax deeds and sheriff’s deeds before title insurance can be issued. The deed extinguishes most junior liens and interests, but title insurers routinely require a quiet-title action or deed seasoning before insuring marketable title.

  • Court: Quiet title actions in Lucas County are filed in the General Division, Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, 700 Adams Street, Toledo, OH 43604. This is a civil action under R.C. 5303.01 et seq. and Ohio Civ. R. Example cases: Complaint to Quiet Title, Case CI0202204086 filed in Lucas County Common Pleas, confirming this is the proper venue. Source: https://www.toledolegalnews.com/legal_notices/common_pleas_court/complaint-to-quiet-title-case-ci0202204086/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)

  • Typical timeline:

    • Uncontested: 60–120 days from filing to final judgment (common Ohio estimate); add 6–8 weeks if service by publication is required (defendants cannot be located).
    • Contested: 18–24 months or longer.
    • [needs_verification — no Lucas County-specific timeline data retrieved; these are general Ohio estimates from practitioner sources]
  • Typical cost range (uncontested, general Ohio):

    • Filing fee: $400–$500 (contact Clerk of Courts Civil Division at 419-213-4485 for current fee schedule)
    • Attorney fees: approximately $1,500 flat-rate (common estimate for uncontested; varies widely by firm)
    • Title search: ~$150
    • Publication costs: $125–$400
    • Service of process: additional per defendant
    • Total uncontested: estimated $1,500–$5,000+ Source: https://www.littlejohnlawllc.com/library/ohio-attorney-explains-quiet-title-action.cfm (retrieved 2026-06-02) [secondary source — costs should be verified with local Toledo counsel] [needs_verification — Lucas County-specific filing fee confirmation from the Clerk of Courts]
  • Deed seasoning local notes: [needs_verification — no Lucas County-specific title-insurer seasoning requirement found in retrieved sources; Ohio title insurers vary by underwriter policy]

  • Title insurers active locally:

    • Chicago Title Insurance Company (active in Lucas County; appeared as a named party in Lucas County sheriff sale case CI200901309)
    • [needs_verification — full list of active underwriters in the Toledo market; Midland Title (Toledo-based, midlandtoledo.com) is a local agent; Old Republic, First American, and Stewart are Ohio-licensed underwriters but local agent participation was not confirmed] Source: https://www.toledolegalnews.com/sheriffsale/details/id/132411 (retrieved 2026-06-02)

C9. Purchaser Obligations

  • Subsequent tax payment office: After a sheriff’s sale, all subsequent real estate taxes become the purchaser’s responsibility upon delivery of the deed. Taxes are paid to the Lucas County Treasurer’s Office: One Government Center, Suite 500, Toledo, OH 43604; 419-213-4305; online at https://www.lucascountytreasurer.org/make-a-payment. There is no tax proration in Lucas County sheriff’s sales; taxes run with the property as of the date of the last tax bill due at the time of sale. Source: https://www.lucascountytreasurer.org/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)

  • Notice to owner procedure: Under Ohio law, the redemption right survives until confirmation of sale (R.C. 5721.25). The court’s confirmation process provides constructive and actual notice via the foreclosure docket. After confirmation, the Sheriff prepares the deed and notifies the purchaser of the remaining balance; there is no separate post-confirmation notice-to-owner obligation placed on the purchaser as such (notice obligations fall on the court/Sheriff/Clerk during the foreclosure process). The purchaser gives no separate “redemption notice” — the statutory redemption deadline is governed by court confirmation. See ohio §2 and right-of-redemption. [needs_verification — confirm whether the Lucas County Board of Revision expedited path (R.C. 323.78) imposes any purchaser-level notice obligations distinct from the standard judicial foreclosure path]

  • Redemption payment office: Owner redeems by paying all amounts due to the Lucas County Treasurer’s Office (pre-confirmation) or through the Clerk of Courts (by motion during court proceedings). See C2 above. Source: https://www.lucascountytreasurer.org/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)

  • Occupancy and access during redemption: Properties are sold AS IS; the Sheriff does not provide keys or guarantee vacant possession. If a property is occupied, the purchaser must obtain a Writ of Possession from the Clerk of Courts before proceeding with eviction. The Civil Section of the Sheriff’s Office executes writs of possession (fee: $60 per writ). Source: https://lucascountysheriff.org/resources/sheriffs-sales (retrieved 2026-06-02); https://lucascountysheriff.org/law-enforcement/civil-section (retrieved 2026-06-02)

  • Conveyance form: Purchaser must complete the DTE 100 (Auditor’s Conveyance Form) and pay any applicable conveyance fee to the Lucas County Auditor; this is required for the Sheriff’s Deed to be recorded. Source: https://lucascountysheriff.org/resources/sheriffs-sales (retrieved 2026-06-02)

C10. Local Restrictions

  • Land bank active: Yes. The Lucas County Land Reutilization Corporation (LCLRC) has been active since August 31, 2010. It is organized under R.C. 1724 (nonprofit) and is authorized to receive property through the Board of Revision expedited path (R.C. 323.65–323.79), including direct transfers without sale. The LCLRC focuses on converting vacant/abandoned properties to affordable housing and productive use.

  • Right of first refusal (ROFR): Under R.C. 5722.21, any property acquired by a county land reutilization corporation in a transaction other than the tax foreclosure procedures in R.C. Chapters 323, 5721, or 5723 is subject to a 30-day priority right of acquisition by the municipality or township where the property is located (extendable to 90 days if a recording of intent is made). Properties transferred via the standard tax-foreclosure/sheriff’s-sale or board-of-revision paths are not subject to this ROFR. Source: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-5722.21 (retrieved 2026-06-02) [needs_verification — whether the City of Toledo or any Lucas County municipality has exercised R.C. 5722.21 ROFR rights in practice; no specific local ordinance or exercise of ROFR was found in retrieved sources]

  • Entity / insider restrictions: Per the Delinquent Tax Affidavit requirement (R.C. 5721.19(J), effective April 9, 2025), any purchaser or associated pass-through entity that owns Ohio property with unpaid delinquent taxes is barred from receiving title at a tax foreclosure sheriff’s sale. This applies to both individuals and entities (including LLCs and partnerships). Source: https://www.lucascountytreasurer.org/sheriff-sales (retrieved 2026-06-02)

  • Municipal ROFR in foreclosure: [needs_verification — The City of Toledo has not been confirmed as exercising a municipal right of first refusal in judicial tax foreclosure proceedings. Ohio R.C. 5722.01–5722.21 provides the land-reutilization framework; no Toledo-specific ordinance was retrieved.]

C7. Meta

sources:

needs_verification:

  • 2026 Forfeited Land Sale date (not yet posted on Auditor’s page as of 2026-06-02; typically held late fall).
  • Lucas County-specific quiet title timeline and filing fee (contact Clerk of Courts Civil Division at 419-213-4485 or review current Local Rules Appendix A).
  • Full list of active title underwriters in the Toledo/Lucas County market and their specific seasoning requirements post-tax deed.
  • Whether the City of Toledo or any Lucas County municipality has exercised R.C. 5722.21 ROFR rights in practice.
  • Whether the Board of Revision expedited path (R.C. 323.78) imposes separate purchaser-level notice obligations distinct from the standard judicial foreclosure path.
  • Active Private Selling Officers (PSOs) in Lucas County Common Pleas and how their listings are published.
  • Lucas County-specific confirmation of deed seasoning period required by title underwriters (general Ohio practice is 3–5+ years; no county-specific rule found).
  • Confirm Adrienne Lech vs. J. Bernie Quilter — evidence suggests Quilter remains Clerk of Courts in 2026 (signed documents found May 2026); confirm current officeholder.

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

changelog:

  • 2026-06-02 — Initial population. All local facts sourced from official Lucas County government pages (sheriff, auditor, treasurer, clerk of courts, common pleas court, land bank). Verified: RealAuction platform URL + transition date (March 12, 2026), sale schedule (Wednesdays/monthly-Thursdays), Local Rule 5.02(D)(1) deposit schedule (10% / $1K–$5K), Delinquent Tax Affidavit requirement effective April 9, 2025, $500 license fee effective July 1, 2025, forfeited land 2025 sale details, Foreclosure Request Program, all office contacts and officeholder names. C8/C9/C10 modules populated with verified and needs_verification fields.

▸ For Investors / Operators — Lucas County judicial foreclosure sales (tax and mortgage) are exclusively online through RealAuction at https://lucas.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov/, with tax sales on the second Thursday monthly and mortgage sales on Wednesdays. The 10%-of- starting-bid deposit (minimum $1,000, maximum$5,000) and a notarized Delinquent Tax Affidavit (due by 10:00 AM the Wednesday before each Thursday auction, effective April 9, 2025) are specific Lucas County requirements. The Foreclosure Request Program ($5,000 per-parcel deposit) offers investors a path to accelerate specific delinquent parcels; forfeited-land sales remain in-person at the Auditor's office. A$500 license fee per case applies effective July 1, 2025.

▸ For Former Owners — Judicial-foreclosure surplus held by the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas transfers to the Lucas County Treasurer after 90 days; you then have three years from receipt of funds by the Treasurer to file a claim using the online Excess Funds Claim Form at https://www.lucascountytreasurer.org/excess-funds (Treasurer: 419-213-4305; One Government Center, Suite 500). An unclaimed-funds list is published at co.lucas.oh.us. For forfeited-land sales, demand payment from the Auditor within one year of the sale (R.C. 5723.11).


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.