When The Taxes Go Unpaid
MCL 211.78g — forfeiture on March 1, and redemption until the March 31 after a foreclosure judgment
Forfeiture. On March 1 each tax year, property delinquent for taxes, interest, penalties and fees for the preceding 12 months or more is forfeited to the county treasurer, who adds a $175.00 fee to each forfeited property.
Redemption. Forfeited property may be redeemed on or before the March 31 immediately after the entry of a judgment foreclosing it, or in a contested case within 21 days after that judgment, by paying the amounts the section lists.
Possession, and the certificate. The foreclosing governmental unit has no right to possession until the April 1 after the judgment, or in a contested case until 22 days after it. Not more than 45 days after forfeiture, the treasurer records a certificate that explains the right of a person with an interest to claim remaining proceeds after a sale.
Someone else who redeems. A person other than the owner who redeems is entitled to a lien for the amount paid, recorded within 30 days with the register of deeds.
What the redemption amount includes, the notices that must be given, and what happens to any money left after a sale are set out in other sections that are not on this page. Whether a particular property can still be redeemed is a question for a licensed Michigan attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- MCL 211.78g — Forfeiture on March 1, and redemption before the foreclosure takes effect
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Michigan attorney.