Worcester County, Massachusetts — Tax Sale & Surplus Procedure

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

Critical jurisdictional note — Worcester County has no county government. Worcester County’s county government and county commissioners were abolished effective July 1, 1998, when county functions were assumed by state agencies under Massachusetts General Law. The surviving functions are (1) an elected County Sheriff (civil process / execution; not a tax-sale officer), (2) an elected District Attorney, (3) court officials administered by the state, and (4) two Registries of Deeds (a state office under the Secretary of the Commonwealth). There is no county treasurer, no county tax collector, and no county property-tax clerk. Property-tax operations resolve to: (a) the municipal treasurer-collector of each of Worcester County’s 57 cities and towns (5 cities, 52 towns), each of which conducts its own tax taking under G.L. c. 60; (b) the Massachusetts Land Court (a single statewide court in Boston) that adjudicates every tax-lien foreclosure; and (c) one of the two Worcester County Registries of Deeds where instruments are recorded. (Wikipedia — Worcester County, MA)

C0. Identity

• County seat: Worcester (traditional shire town; largest city in the county and in Massachusetts outside of Boston). No functioning county government since July 1, 1998. (Wikipedia — Worcester County, MA)
• Population: 862,111 (2020 Census); 2025 estimate ~888,502. Second-most populous county in Massachusetts. (Wikipedia — Worcester County, MA)
• Recording unit: county, split into two registry districts — the Worcester District (southern/central; serves Worcester city and most of the county; official website: worcesterdeeds.com; document portal: masslandrecords.com/worcester/) and the Worcester North District (northern; Fitchburg-based, serves the northern tier towns; official website: fitchburgdeeds.com). Both are state offices under the Secretary of the Commonwealth. (sec.state.ma.us — Registry District Offices)
• Municipalities: 57 incorporated municipalities (5 cities, 52 towns); each municipality operates its own treasurer-collector for tax-title purposes. (Wikipedia — Worcester County, MA)
• FIPS: 25027
• Parent legal framework: massachusetts — municipal tax taking under G.L. c. 60 → judicial foreclosure in the Land Court → post-Tyler § 64A excess-equity return (St. 2024, c. 140). Statutes are not restated here.

C1. Local Tax Sale

• Conducts own sale? No county-level sale exists. The “sale” layer in Massachusetts is the municipal tax taking (G.L. c. 60 § 53), performed by each municipal treasurer-collector; the (abolished) county plays no role. There is no county auction platform, no county deed sale, and no county lien-certificate auction. — see massachusetts §1.

• City of Worcester — three auction types (most populous municipality): The City of Worcester (pop. ~211,000; within the county) conducts three distinct public auction categories for delinquent tax matters through the Treasurer & Collector of Taxes, all governed by M.G.L. c. 60:

  1. Tax Collector’s Deed Sale — sale of tax liens that have NOT yet been foreclosed; property owners retain the right to redeem.
  2. Tax Lien Assignment Sale — unforeclosed liens assigned to a private buyer under M.G.L. c. 60 § 52; the assignee acquires no possession rights until the Land Court enters a Judgment of Foreclosure.
  3. Tax Foreclosure Auction — disposition of city-owned properties where title has already vested in the City by Land Court decree; these are under the care of the Tax Title Custodian. (City of Worcester — Public Auctions)

• Platform / vendor: No external online auction platform (RealAuction / GovEase / Bid4Assets) identified for Worcester City’s deed auctions as of this verification. Auctions are conducted in person by the Treasurer & Collector’s Office. No statewide online auction platform applies to c. 60 tax-title proceedings generally. (City of Worcester — Public Auctions)

• Sale calendar / frequency: No fixed annual calendar. The City of Worcester held Tax Collector’s Deed Sales in 2019, 2022, and 2023 (skipping 2020–2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic); the City did not hold a lien auction in 2024. The most recent documented auction: June 7, 2023 (Treasurer Shaun W. Strobel, per the official deed sale document). The next auction date is posted as a PDF on the City’s website but was not scheduled as of the date of this verification. Contact the Treasurer & Collector’s Office (508-799-1075) for current scheduling. (This Week in Worcester — Worcester Continues Lien Deed Auctions)

• Pre-sale notification (Worcester City): the Treasurer & Collector sends 4 pre-sale notifications to the property owner beginning approximately 4 months before any deed sale. Prior to any Assignment of Tax Title Auction, the treasurer must (a) publish notice in a local newspaper and post in at least 2 public places at least 14 days before the auction, and (b) mail notice to the taxpayer at least 10 days before the auction — per M.G.L. c. 60 § 52. (City of Worcester — Public Auctions)

• Registration / deposit (Worcester City Collector’s Deed Sale):

  • All bidders must register and be present prior to auction commencement.
  • Deposit: minimum 10% of the purchase price at time of sale, payable in cash or check made payable to “City of Worcester.”
  • Balance: paid by cash, certified check, or teller’s check within 7 business days of the auction.
  • Deed recording: the Collector’s Deed must be recorded at the Worcester District Registry of Deeds within 60 days of the sale. needs_verification — these terms are from the June 7, 2023 auction document (official city PDF; binary-encoded; could not be read via automated fetch); confirm with the Treasurer’s Office for current auction terms.

• Rate within statutory range: Pre-taking delinquent taxes accrue interest at 14% per annum from the date the bill was due (G.L. c. 59 § 57), per Worcester City’s official real-estate-tax page. Post-reform tax-title accounts (tax takings entered on or after November 1, 2024) accrue interest at 8% per annum (G.L. c. 60 § 62, as amended by St. 2024, c. 140 § 88); tax-title accounts originated before November 1, 2024 continue to accrue at 16% per annum. Redemption amounts also include lawful charges per M.G.L. c. 60 §§ 62, 68. (City of Worcester — Real Estate Tax; City of Worcester — Public Auctions; G.L. c. 60 § 62)

• Delinquent list location (Worcester City): maintained by the Treasurer & Collector of Taxes, City Hall Room 203, 455 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608; phone 508-799-1075 / 508-799-1095. No dedicated public online delinquent list URL identified; the Tax Foreclosures page lists 45 current city-title properties (updated periodically, for reference only). (City of Worcester — Tax Foreclosures) needs_verification for delinquent-list publication for the county’s other 56 municipalities.

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

• Where / how to redeem locally: Pay the municipal treasurer-collector of the city or town where the parcel is located, at any time before the Land Court enters a judgment of foreclosure; after a petition is filed, redemption is on court-set terms until judgment (G.L. c. 60 §§ 62, 76). — see massachusetts §2.

• City of Worcester redemption contact:

  • Treasurer and Collector of Taxes, City Hall Room 203, 455 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608
  • Phone: 508-799-1075 (Collector) / 508-799-1095 (Treasurer)
  • Fax: 508-799-1097
  • Email: treasurer@worcesterma.gov
  • Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. (City of Worcester — Liens & Auctions)

• Local fees: statutory tax-title account balance + interest from the date of taking (8% for accounts entered on or after November 1, 2024; 16% for pre-reform accounts) + lawful charges. No separate county fee. Per Worcester City: “all taxes, costs and interest must be paid” to prevent foreclosure; redemption amount governed by M.G.L. c. 60 §§ 62, 68. (City of Worcester — Real Estate Tax; G.L. c. 60 § 62)

• After petition filed: the right to redeem through the Treasurer ends once the deed holder files a complaint in the Land Court; thereafter redemption is on court-set terms per G.L. c. 60 § 76. (City of Worcester — Public Auctions)

• Deviations from state default: none identified at the county level or for Worcester City; mechanics governed entirely by G.L. c. 60. needs_verification for any local ordinance or individual-municipality rule in Worcester County’s other 56 municipalities.

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

• Claim filing venue — prospective (post-Nov. 1, 2024 Land Court judgments): Under G.L. c. 60 § 64A (St. 2024, c. 140 § 93, eff. Nov. 1, 2024), after a final Land Court judgment of foreclosure, the judgment holder (the foreclosing municipality or private assignee) must: (1) elect within 30 days of final judgment to retain or sell the property (amended eff. Aug. 5, 2025; originally 14 days); (2) provide a written itemized accounting not more than 30 days after sale or receipt of appraisal; and (3) allow former owners to submit a written excess-equity claim not more than 18 months after the date of that notice. For Worcester City parcels, written claims are submitted to the Treasurer and Collector of Taxes, City Hall Room 203, 455 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608 (phone: 508-799-1075; email: treasurer@worcesterma.gov). (G.L. c. 60 § 64A; City of Worcester — Liens & Auctions)

• Dispute resolution — prospective claims: Any party may seek a Superior Court determination by filing a written complaint within 12 months after the date of the written itemized accounting notice. The statute grants jurisdiction to “the superior court” without specifying county venue; Massachusetts venue rules (G.L. c. 223 or c. 214) govern — typically the county where the real property is located. For Worcester County parcels, the Worcester County Superior Court (225 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608; phone 508-831-2300; Clerk Dennis P. McManus) is the appropriate venue. (G.L. c. 60 § 64A) needs_verification — confirm with counsel whether Worcester County Superior Court (225 Main Street) or another court is the correct venue for a § 64A dispute involving Worcester County properties; the statute does not specify county.

• Claim filing venue — retroactive (Land Court judgments May 25, 2021 – Oct. 31, 2024): Under St. 2024, c. 140 § 212, former owners whose right of redemption was foreclosed by a final judgment entered on or after May 25, 2021 but before the Act’s effective date may file a written complaint in the Superior Court for the return of excess equity within 12 months of the Act’s effective date. No claim may be asserted for judgments entered on or before May 24, 2021. For Worcester County properties, file at Worcester County Superior Court, 225 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608; phone 508-831-2300; email Worcester.clerksoffice@jud.state.ma.us. needs_verification — the statute does not specify county venue for retroactive claims; consult counsel.

• Retroactive deadline: it is uncertain whether former owners must have filed by July 1, 2025 or November 1, 2025 (different provisions of Chapter 140 have different effective dates). As of June 2026 the retroactive filing window has very likely closed; former owners should consult counsel immediately. (St. 2024, c. 140 §§ 93, 212; confirmed via DLS guidance and search-result extract from mass.gov/info-details/ask-dls-tax-title-reform-part-2)

• Deadline — prospective claims: the written claim must be submitted to the judgment holder within 18 months of the municipality’s notice of written itemized accounting sent to former owners after judgment. Disputes may be filed in Superior Court within 12 months of that notice. (G.L. c. 60 § 64A)

• Escheat (unclaimed excess equity): If the excess equity is not claimed within 19 months of the sale or appraisal, it must be reported pursuant to G.L. c. 200A (Unclaimed Property), ultimately going to the Massachusetts State Treasurer’s Unclaimed Property Division (searchable at FindMassMoney.gov; phone: 888-344-MASS). (G.L. c. 60 § 64A)

• Worcester City historical surplus retention: Between 2014–2020, Worcester City retained $139,742 more than taxes owed on two tax-foreclosed homes. A Pacific Legal Foundation study found Worcester County homeowners lost on average ~87$260,000 average loss for ~$36,000 average tax debt). The June 7, 2023 auction occurred just 13 days after the Tyler v. Hennepin County SCOTUS ruling; the 2024 state reform (St. 2024, c. 140) now requires excess equity to be returned. (This Week in Worcester — Worcester Continues Lien Deed Auctions)

• Claim form: No standardized statewide § 64A form exists as of this verification. The claim is a written request identifying the former owner, the property, and the basis for the claim, delivered to the judgment holder. needs_verification for any Worcester City-specific form.

• Unclaimed-funds list: the Massachusetts State Treasurer’s Unclaimed Property Division at FindMassMoney.gov (phone: 888-344-MASS). No dedicated county surplus list.

▸ For Investors / Operators — Worcester County has no county-level tax sale; each of its 57 municipalities runs its own tax-taking and auction under G.L. c. 60. Worcester City offers three distinct mechanisms — a Collector’s Deed Sale, a Tax Lien Assignment Sale, and a Tax Foreclosure Auction — with different title consequences and redemption implications for each; the City used in-person-only auctions (most recently June 7, 2023) with a 10% deposit at the sale and a 7-business-day balance period. Private assignees (e.g., Tallage) may hold judgments in Worcester County municipalities and are the counterparty for § 64A excess-equity claims where the City has assigned. Deed recording at the correct Worcester registry district (Worcester District, 90 Front St., for most municipalities; Worcester North District in Fitchburg for northern-tier towns) is required within 60 days of sale.

▸ For Former Owners — Under G.L. c. 60 § 64A (effective Nov. 1, 2024), after a Land Court judgment the judgment holder must send a written itemized accounting; former owners then have 18 months from that notice to submit a written excess-equity claim directly to the judgment holder (for Worcester City: Treasurer & Collector of Taxes, City Hall Room 203, 455 Main St., Worcester; phone 508-799-1075). Disputes may be filed in the Worcester County Superior Court (225 Main St., Worcester; Clerk Dennis P. McManus; 508-831-2300) within 12 months of that notice. If the excess-equity amount remains unclaimed after 19 months, it transfers to the Massachusetts State Treasurer’s Unclaimed Property Division (FindMassMoney.gov). For judgments entered between May 25, 2021 and Oct. 31, 2024, a retroactive claim under St. 2024, c. 140 § 212 should be reviewed with counsel immediately, as the filing window has very likely closed.

C4. Offices & Contacts

No county treasurer / county tax collector / county property-tax clerk exists (county government abolished July 1, 1998). Tax-title and redemption functions are municipal (Worcester City and 56 other municipalities). The foreclosure court is the statewide Land Court in Boston. Recording is at the two Worcester County Registries of Deeds (state offices). Excess-equity disputes go to the Worcester County Superior Court.

Named official note: needs_verification — the current named Treasurer & Collector of Taxes for Worcester City is not displayed on the official worcesterma.gov website as of this verification. The CFO is Timothy J. McGourthy (confirmed at worcesterma.gov/finance). Shaun W. Strobel is named as treasurer in the June 7, 2023 official deed sale document; “Francisco Hernandez” appeared only in secondary sources (countyoffice.org) and was not confirmed on the official website. Use the office contact information above; verify the current named Treasurer & Collector at worcesterma.gov.

C5. Local Procedure Notes

• No county government (since July 1, 1998): all property-tax functions are municipal (Worcester City and 56 other cities/towns) or state (Land Court, Registries of Deeds). There is no Worcester County tax sale, county treasurer, or county property-tax clerk. This is the single most important operational fact. (Wikipedia — Worcester County, MA)

• Two registry districts: unlike Suffolk County’s single registry, Worcester County has two registry districts — the Worcester District (main; official site: worcesterdeeds.com; document portal: masslandrecords.com/worcester/; 90 Front Street, Worcester; Register Kathryn A. Toomey; phone 508-368-7000; fax 508-798-7746; email Worcester.Deeds@sec.state.ma.us) and the Worcester North District (official site: fitchburgdeeds.com; 166 Boulder Drive Suite 202, Fitchburg; Register Kathleen Reynolds Daigneault; phone 978-342-2132; fax 978-345-2865; email fitchreg@sec.state.ma.us). Which registry governs a given parcel depends on the town’s location. needs_verification for a definitive town-by-district allocation list. (sec.state.ma.us — Registry District Offices)

• Municipal variation: Worcester County has 57 municipalities, each with its own treasurer-collector, its own tax-title procedures, and its own auction schedule (if any). Procedures and contacts described here are verified for Worcester City only; other municipalities (e.g., Leominster, Fitchburg, Gardner, Marlborough, Shrewsbury, Millbury) follow the same G.L. c. 60 framework but have their own offices and calendars. needs_verification for other individual-municipality contacts and auction histories.

• Three Worcester City auction types: unlike a simple deed auction, Worcester City uses three distinct mechanisms — (1) Tax Collector’s Deed Sale (unforeclosed liens), (2) Tax Lien Assignment Sale (c. 60 § 52 assignment to private buyer), and (3) Tax Foreclosure Auction (city already holds Land Court title). Each type carries different rights and redemption consequences for the property owner. (City of Worcester — Public Auctions)

• Worcester City skipped 2024 lien auction: the City did not hold a Tax Collector’s Deed Sale or Lien Assignment auction in 2024 — the only scheduled events were Tax Foreclosure Auctions (of already-foreclosed city-title land). (This Week in Worcester — Worcester Continues Lien Deed Auctions)

• Private assignees (Tallage model): Worcester City and other municipalities may assign their tax receivables to a private entity under G.L. c. 60 §§ 2C, 52. Tallage Lincoln, LLC v. Williams, 485 Mass. 449 (2020) (SJC-12847) is the controlling SJC case limiting assignee charges — the court held that an assignee of a tax title may not include subsequent tax payments in the redemption amount under G.L. c. 60 § 52. Where a private assignee holds the judgment, § 64A excess-equity claims run to the assignee, not the City; disputed excess equity still goes to the appropriate Superior Court. (Justia — Tallage Lincoln, LLC v. Williams, 485 Mass. 449 (2020); G.L. c. 60 §§ 2C, 52; massachusetts §§ 1, 3)

• Land Court is statewide (Boston): every Worcester County municipal tax foreclosure is filed in the Land Court at 3 Pemberton Square, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02108 (phone 617-788-7470). There is no separate Worcester County Land Court session; hearings take place in Boston. (Mass.gov search result — Land Court Tax Lien Foreclosure Resources)

• Sheriff does NOT conduct mortgage or tax sales: the Worcester County Sheriff (Lew Evangelidis) handles civil process and execution levies on money judgments via the Civil Process Division. The sheriff does not conduct c. 60 tax-title foreclosures or mortgage power-of-sale auctions (those are conducted by the mortgagee / servicer under G.L. c. 244 § 14). (Worcester County Sheriff’s Office)

• Redemption period extension (2024 reform): St. 2024, c. 140 extended the minimum period before a foreclosure petition may be filed from 6 months to 12 months after the taking. — see massachusetts §2.

C6. Records Access

• Deed / land-records search (Worcester District): Official registry website: worcesterdeeds.com; document search / viewing portal: MassLandRecords.com Worcester — free document search, viewing, and downloading; covers both recorded land and registered land / Land Court documents for the southern/central district. Register: Kathryn A. Toomey; 90 Front Street, Worcester, MA 01608; 508-368-7000; M–F 9 a.m.–4 p.m. https://www.masslandrecords.com/worcester/ (sec.state.ma.us — Registry District Offices; MassLandRecords.com — Worcester)

• Deed / land-records search (Worcester North District / Fitchburg): Official registry website: fitchburgdeeds.com; also searchable via MassLandRecords.com northern district portal. Register: Kathleen Reynolds Daigneault; 166 Boulder Drive Suite 202, Fitchburg, MA 01420; 978-342-2132. https://www.fitchburgdeeds.com/ (sec.state.ma.us — Registry District Offices)

• Worcester City parcel / assessor search (property viewer): Worcester Atlas interactive map viewer: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/503920c4ab1b4404bee9dce73114538d (City of Worcester — Property Records)

• Worcester City assessment database (Vision Government Solutions): https://gis.vgsi.com/worcesterma/ (confirmed as official assessing database for Worcester, MA; City Assessor: Samuel E. Konieczny, MAA; FY2026 residential rate: $13.28/$1,000; commercial: $29.06/$1,000) (City of Worcester — Taxes & Assessments)

• Worcester City real estate tax payment portal (UniBank / UniPay Gold): https://unipaygold.unibank.com/TransactionInfo.aspx?transid=3486 Accepts personal check (EFT) or credit card; also payable at M&T Bank branches or in person at City Hall Room 203. (City of Worcester — Payments)

• Massachusetts Interactive Property Map (statewide MassGIS): https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-interactive-property-map Covers all 351 cities and towns; parcel boundaries and assessment data.

• Worcester City GIS data open portal: https://gisdata.worcesterma.gov/ (City of Worcester — GIS)

• Land Court docket search (all c. 60 foreclosure petitions statewide): Massachusetts Trial Court electronic case access, searchable by party name, case type, and docket number. https://www.mass.gov/how-to/find-a-land-court-case-docket

C7. Meta

• sources:

  • {type: secondary, url: “https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worcester_County,_Massachusetts”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # county govt abolished July 1, 1998; 57 municipalities; pop. 862,111 (2020)
  • {type: official, url: “https://www.worcesterma.gov/finance/taxes-assessments/real-estate-tax”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # 14% delinquent interest; demand fee $5; warrant fee$9; tax taking process; Treasurer Room 203 phone 508-799-1075
  • {type: official, url: “https://www.worcesterma.gov/finance/liens-auctions/public-auctions”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # three auction types (deed sale, lien assignment, tax foreclosure); 16% redemption interest pre-reform; M.G.L. c. 60 §§ 62, 68; Treasurer contact
  • {type: official, url: “https://www.worcesterma.gov/finance/liens-auctions/public-auctions/tax-foreclosures”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # 45 city-title properties listed; Tax Title Custodian; disposition by public auction; contact Treasurer
  • {type: official, url: “https://www.worcesterma.gov/finance/liens-auctions”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # three auction categories; Treasurer info: City Hall Room 203, 455 Main St, 508-799-1075/1095, treasurer@worcesterma.gov, M–F 8am–5pm
  • {type: official, url: “https://www.worcesterma.gov/finance/taxes-assessments”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # FY2026 residential tax rate $13.28/$1,000; commercial $29.06/$1,000; quarterly billing; City Assessor Samuel E. Konieczny MAA; Assessing at Room 209
  • {type: official, url: “https://www.worcesterma.gov/finance/payments-appeals-refunds”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # UniBank/UniPay Gold for real estate tax; Tyler Technologies for motor vehicle; M&T Bank; in-person Room 203; phone 508-799-1075/1095
  • {type: official, url: “https://www.worcesterma.gov/finance/taxes-assessments/property-records”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # Worcester Atlas viewer; property search by MBL/street/owner; data updated Nov. 6, 2025
  • {type: official, url: “https://www.worcesterma.gov/finance”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # CFO Timothy J. McGourthy; Treasurer & Collector division; City Hall Room 201; 508-799-1180
  • {type: secondary, url: “https://thisweekinworcester.com/worcester-continues-lien-deed-auctions/”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # 2019/2022/2023 auction history; no 2024 lien auction; June 7 2023 = 13 days after Tyler ruling; PLF study: Worcester retained $139,742 above taxes on two homes; 87$260k loss on avg $36k tax debt
  • {type: official, url: “https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/registry-of-deeds/district-offices.htm”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # Worcester District: Kathryn Toomey, 90 Front St, 508-368-7000, fax 508-798-7746, Worcester.Deeds@sec.state.ma.us, worcesterdeeds.com; North District: Kathleen Reynolds Daigneault, 166 Boulder Drive Suite 202 Fitchburg, 978-342-2132, fax 978-345-2865, fitchreg@sec.state.ma.us, fitchburgdeeds.com
  • {type: official, url: “https://www.masslandrecords.com/worcester/”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # official MassLandRecords deed portal for Worcester District; Register Kathryn A. Toomey; 90 Front St; M–F 9am–4pm; free search and download
  • {type: official, url: “https://www.fitchburgdeeds.com/”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # Worcester North District Registry of Deeds; Register Kathleen Reynolds Daigneault; 166 Boulder Drive Suite 202 Fitchburg; 978-342-2132; fitchreg@sec.state.ma.us — page content sparse on fetch; contact info confirmed via sec.state.ma.us
  • {type: official, url: “https://www.mass.gov/locations/worcester-county-superior-court”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # Worcester County Superior Court; Clerk Dennis P. McManus; 225 Main St Worcester 01608; phone 508-831-2300; email Worcester.clerksoffice@jud.state.ma.us; M–F 8:30am–4:30pm — confirmed via search snippet (mass.gov returned 403 to direct fetch)
  • {type: official, url: “https://www.mass.gov/orgs/land-court”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # Land Court: statewide jurisdiction; 3 Pemberton Square 5th Floor Boston 02108; phone 617-788-7470; M–F 8:30am–4:30pm — confirmed via search snippet (mass.gov returned 403 to direct fetch)
  • {type: official, url: “https://worcestercountysheriff.com/”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # Sheriff Lew Evangelidis confirmed; 5 Paul X. Tivnan Drive, West Boylston 01583; phone 508-854-1800; civil process services listed; not a tax-sale officer
  • {type: official, url: “https://civilprocess.com/worcester/contact/”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # Civil Process: 240 Main St PO Box 1066 Worcester 01613; phone 508-752-1100 (local) / 800-842-0083 (toll-free); fax 508-752-3588
  • {type: official, url: “https://gis.vgsi.com/worcesterma/”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # Vision Government Solutions assessing database for Worcester MA (official assessing DB, confirmed)
  • {type: official, url: “https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleIX/Chapter60/Section64A”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # G.L. c. 60 § 64A full text retrieved: 30-day election; 120-day appraisal; 180-day listing; 18-month claim window; 30-day written itemized accounting; 12-month Superior Court complaint window; 19-month escheat to c. 200A; amended eff. Aug. 5, 2025 (14→30 days for election)
  • {type: official, url: “https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleIX/Chapter60”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # Chapter 60 section index; confirmed § 52 (management/sale of land), § 53 (taking for taxes), § 62 (redemption), § 64A (excess equity after judgment)
  • {type: official, url: “https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleIX/Chapter60/Section62”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # G.L. c. 60 § 62 — redemption; St. 2024, c. 140 § 88 reduced tax-title interest from 16% to 8% for takings on or after Nov. 1, 2024; pre-reform accounts continue at 16%
  • {type: secondary, url: “https://law.justia.com/cases/massachusetts/supreme-court/2020/sjc-12847.html”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # Tallage Lincoln LLC v. Williams, 485 Mass. 449 (2020) SJC-12847: SJC affirmed Land Court holding that tax-title assignees under G.L. c. 60 § 52 may not include subsequent tax payments in redemption amount
  • {type: official, url: “https://www.worcesterma.gov/finance/liens-auctions/municipal-lien”, retrieved: “2026-06-02”} # Municipal Lien Certificate info: residential (1–3 units) $25; residential (4+ units)$100; commercial $150; UniBank online or mail; Treasurer Room 203; treasurer@worcesterma.gov

• needs_verification:

  • Current named Treasurer & Collector of Taxes for Worcester City — the official worcesterma.gov website does not display the Treasurer & Collector’s name (CFO Timothy J. McGourthy is named; Treasurer position is unlisted). Shaun W. Strobel is named in the June 7, 2023 official deed sale document. Verify current officeholder at worcesterma.gov or by calling 508-799-1075.
  • Town-by-district allocation — which of Worcester County’s 57 municipalities record at the Worcester District (Worcester; worcesterdeeds.com) vs. the Worcester North District (Fitchburg; fitchburgdeeds.com); the official sec.state.ma.us page lists office information but not jurisdiction by town.
  • Next scheduled Worcester City auction date and type (2025/2026) — the city website references “Next Auction” PDFs but no date was available at time of this verification. Contact Treasurer & Collector at 508-799-1075.
  • Treasurer-collector contacts for other 56 municipalities in Worcester County (e.g., Leominster, Fitchburg, Marlborough, Gardner, Shrewsbury, etc.); each has its own office and procedures.
  • Exact retroactive § 64A claim deadline (July 1 vs. November 1, 2025); as of June 2026 this deadline has very likely passed — consult counsel.
  • Prospective § 64A claim form — no standardized form exists as of this verification; confirm with Worcester City Treasurer’s Office whether a specific form has been adopted.
  • Worcester-City-specific § 64A intake procedure — whether the Treasurer & Collector’s Office has adopted a standardized process for receiving excess-equity written requests under § 64A post-reform.
  • Active private assignee (Tallage) agreements — whether Worcester City or other Worcester County municipalities currently have active tax-receivable assignments to private buyers (e.g., Tallage entities); relevant for § 64A claimant identification.
  • Retroactive § 64A venue confirmation — G.L. c. 60 § 64A and St. 2024, c. 140 § 212 do not specify county venue for Superior Court complaints; consult counsel to confirm whether Worcester County Superior Court (225 Main Street) is the correct venue for a former Worcester County property owner.
  • Whether G.L. c. 200A § 13 finder-fee cap (10%, 24-month unenforceability window) applies to direct § 64A excess-equity recovery claims against a Worcester County municipality — open question inherited from massachusetts §3.
  • Auction platform — whether Worcester City or any other Worcester County municipality uses an online auction platform (GovEase, RealAuction, Bid4Assets, GovDeals) for any category of tax-related sales.
  • 2023 auction deposit/balance terms — deposit (10%), 7-day balance, and 60-day deed-recording requirements are from the June 7, 2023 auction document (official city PDF, binary-encoded; could not be read via automated fetch). Verify current terms with Treasurer’s Office for any future auction.

• cross_links: massachusetts, right-of-redemption, surplus-funds, tyler-v-hennepin-county, treasurer-sale, due-process-notice, third-party-recovery-rules, mullane-v-central-hanover

• changelog:

  • 2026-06-02 — Initial population. Documented the structural reality: Worcester County has no county government (abolished July 1, 1998); all property-tax operations resolve to (1) the 57 municipal treasurer-collectors, (2) the statewide Land Court at 3 Pemberton Square Boston for all c. 60 tax-lien foreclosures, and (3) the two Worcester County Registries of Deeds (Worcester District: 90 Front St, worcesterdeeds.com; North District: 166 Boulder Drive, Fitchburg, fitchburgdeeds.com) for recording. Worcester City’s three auction types (Deed Sale, Lien Assignment, Tax Foreclosure Auction), auction history (2019/2022/2023; none in 2024), and surplus practices documented. § 64A excess-equity claims sourced from direct retrieval of G.L. c. 60 § 64A at malegislature.gov: 30-day election, 18-month claim window, 12-month Superior Court window, 19-month escheat. Retroactive provision in St. 2024, c. 140 § 212 (not in § 64A itself). Tax-foreclosure property count updated to 45 (retrieved from official city page). Tallage Lincoln LLC v. Williams 485 Mass. 449 (2020) verified at Justia. Registry official websites corrected: worcesterdeeds.com (Worcester District) and fitchburgdeeds.com (Worcester North), with masslandrecords.com/worcester/ as the document search portal. City Assessor confirmed as Samuel E. Konieczny MAA. Sheriff Lew Evangelidis confirmed at official sheriff website. All wiki-links resolve to existing pages. gap_score: 9 (9 × Row-2 needs_verification flags; no Row-3/4/5 issues).

▸ For Investors / Operators — Worcester County has no county-level tax sale; each of its 57 municipalities runs its own tax-taking and auction under G.L. c. 60. Worcester City offers three distinct mechanisms — a Collector’s Deed Sale, a Tax Lien Assignment Sale, and a Tax Foreclosure Auction — with different title consequences and redemption implications for each; the City used in-person-only auctions (most recently June 7, 2023) with a 10% deposit at the sale and a 7-business-day balance period. Private assignees (e.g., Tallage) may hold judgments in Worcester County municipalities and are the counterparty for § 64A excess-equity claims where the City has assigned. Deed recording at the correct Worcester registry district (Worcester District, 90 Front St., for most municipalities; Worcester North District in Fitchburg for northern-tier towns) is required within 60 days of sale.

▸ For Former Owners — Under G.L. c. 60 § 64A (effective Nov. 1, 2024), after a Land Court judgment the judgment holder must send a written itemized accounting; former owners then have 18 months from that notice to submit a written excess-equity claim directly to the judgment holder (for Worcester City: Treasurer & Collector of Taxes, City Hall Room 203, 455 Main St., Worcester; phone 508-799-1075). Disputes may be filed in the Worcester County Superior Court (225 Main St., Worcester; Clerk Dennis P. McManus; 508-831-2300) within 12 months of that notice. If the excess-equity amount remains unclaimed after 19 months, it transfers to the Massachusetts State Treasurer’s Unclaimed Property Division (FindMassMoney.gov). For judgments entered between May 25, 2021 and Oct. 31, 2024, a retroactive claim under St. 2024, c. 140 § 212 should be reviewed with counsel immediately, as the filing window has very likely closed.

Legal information, not legal advice. This page summarizes local operational procedure and inherits its legal framework from massachusetts. Verify every fact against the cited official source before acting. Last verified: 2026-06-02.