Michigan tax foreclosure surplus proceeds settlement
Fox, et al. v. County of Saginaw, et al. and Arkona, LLC, et al. v. County of Cheboygan, et al.
Also known as Fox v. Saginaw County; Arkona v. Cheboygan County; Michigan foreclosure surplus proceeds; 1:19-cv-11887; 1:19-cv-12372
The lawsuit claimed 28 Michigan counties kept tax-foreclosure sale surplus instead of returning it to owners.
Copied from the official notice. Last compared Nov 7, 2026.
- You could get
- 125% of surplus, less fees
Source
“will usually receive 125% of the surplus proceeds from the sale of the property less the amount the court awards to cover attorney’s fees and costs.”
From the administrator site: Official settlement website home page. Last compared Nov 7, 2026.
- You need
- Papers needed The Unique ID printed on your notice (under the barcode) Takes work: describes the claim form only
Source
“or do not have a Unique ID and believe that you are a member of the Settlement Class, contact the Settlement Administrator”
From the administrator site: Official settlement website Submit a Claim Form page. Last compared Nov 7, 2026.
- Who can file
- Owners of property tax-foreclosed in 28 MI counties, 2013-2020
Source
“Generally, if you owned a property that was foreclosed on by one of the counties listed above from 2013 to 2020, and the property sold for more than the unpaid taxes, fees, and costs, you are a member of the class. ... Alcona, Alpena, Arenac, Bay, Clare, Cheboygan, Crawford, Genesee, Gladwin, Gratiot, Huron, Isabella, Jackson, Lapeer, Lenawee, Macomb, Midland, Monroe, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon, Saginaw, Sanilac, St Clair, and Tuscola.”
From the administrator site: Official settlement website home page. Last compared Nov 7, 2026.
- Where
- Anywhere in the U.S.
Source
“All Persons, and the estate of such persons if they are bankrupt or deceased, that owned a Property in fee simple in any County which Property, that during the Class Period (i.e. January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2020), was foreclosed through a real property tax foreclosure and sold at tax auction for more than the Minimum Sale Price, and to whom the County did not refund the Surplus Proceeds.”
From the administrator site: Fox Long Form Notice (PDF on official site). Last compared Nov 7, 2026.
- Time to file
- About 15 minutes
Source
Our estimate of how long the official claim form takes. The notice does not say.
From the official site: surplusproceedssettlement.com. Last compared Nov 7, 2026.
Free. The official site never charges.
Quick answers
How much is the Michigan tax foreclosure surplus proceeds settlement payout?
125% of surplus, less fees.
Where is the Michigan tax foreclosure surplus proceeds settlement claim form?
On the official site, surplusproceedssettlement.com. Filing is free. The last day to file is Nov 23, 2026.
When will the Michigan tax foreclosure surplus proceeds settlement pay?
Payment can only happen after the court gives final approval and any appeals are over.
The final approval hearing is set for Jan 22, 2027.
Is the Michigan tax foreclosure surplus proceeds settlement legit?
The settlement administrator (the company that handles claims) is RG2 Claims Administration, and the official site is surplusproceedssettlement.com. Real notices point there; if a link in a message goes anywhere else, do not use it.
The official site never asks you to pay to file.
Compare yourself to the official class definition
You may be included if a listed county tax-foreclosed your property in 2013-2020, sold it above the minimum price and kept the surplus.
It covers Alcona, Alpena, Arenac, Bay, Clare, Cheboygan, Crawford, Genesee, Gladwin, Gratiot, Huron, Isabella, Jackson, Lapeer, Lenawee.
It covers Macomb, Midland, Monroe, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon, Saginaw, Sanilac, St Clair and Tuscola.
Check each condition yourself. The boxes are only for you; nothing is sent or stored.
All Persons, and the estate of such persons if they are bankrupt or deceased, that owned a Property in fee simple in any County which Property, that during the Class Period (i.e. January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2020), was foreclosed through a real property tax foreclosure and sold at tax auction for more than the Minimum Sale Price, and to whom the County did not refund the Surplus Proceeds.
From the administrator site: Fox Long Form Notice (PDF on official site)
This checklist is for guidance only and can be wrong. Only the court's definition decides. Read the official wording before you file.
How to file
-
Find the code from your notice
- The Unique ID printed on your notice (under the barcode)
-
Gather what you need
You will need supporting documents.
- The foreclosed property's address, county, foreclosure year and tax or parcel identification number
- Documents showing your interest in the property at foreclosure, such as deeds, tax bills, mortgages or utility bills
- Heirs, trustees or agents: a Certificate of Trust, power of attorney, or the appointing court and case number
-
File online, or by mail
At surplusproceedssettlement.com, by Nov 23, 2026. Filing is free.
Or mail a paper claim form to:Surplus Proceeds Settlement, c/o RG2 Claims Administration, P.O. Box 59479, Philadelphia, PA 19102-9479
The deadline note says: “Online or by mail postmarked by November 23, 2026 (court order of August 25, 2026).” -
Save your confirmation
Keep your confirmation number or email. You do not need to file again.
Confirm with the administrator before you act.
After you file
Payment can only happen after the court gives final approval and any appeals are over.
The final approval hearing is set for Jan 22, 2027.
For context: First payments were issued 52 to 875 days after final approval, based on 15 settlements. Half were paid within 119 days. 1 of the 15 waited on appeals after approval.
Also ending this week
Related settlements
Case details
- Case
- Fox, et al. v. County of Saginaw, et al. and Arkona, LLC, et al. v. County of Cheboygan, et al.
- Court
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Northern Division (Bay City)
- Case number
- Case No. 1:19-cv-11887 (Fox) and Case No. 1:19-cv-12372 (Arkona)
- Administrator
- RG2 Claims Administration
- Official site
- surplusproceedssettlement.com
- Full payout terms
- Usually 125% of your property's surplus, less feesUsually 125% of the surplus proceeds from the tax sale of your former property, minus the attorneys' fees the court awards (counsel planned to ask for 20 percent); may be reduced, for example if someone else with an interest in the property used the Public Act 256 process or if a county gets an unexpectedly large volume of claims.
- Effort
- Hard, about 15 minutes
Other dates
- Final approval hearing
- (ahead) source document
The court’s exact words
All Persons, and the estate of such persons if they are bankrupt or deceased, that owned a Property in fee simple in any County which Property, that during the Class Period (i.e. January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2020), was foreclosed through a real property tax foreclosure and sold at tax auction for more than the Minimum Sale Price, and to whom the County did not refund the Surplus Proceeds.
Quoted from the official notice. Read the notice for the full definition.
Our notes: Per the long-form notices, the class is all persons (and the estate of such persons if they are bankrupt or deceased) who owned a property in fee simple that, between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2020, was foreclosed for unpaid real property taxes by one of 28 Michigan counties and sold at tax auction for more than the Minimum Sale Price, and to whom the county did not refund the surplus proceeds. Counties: Alcona, Alpena, Arenac, Bay, Clare, Cheboygan, Crawford, Genesee, Gladwin, Gratiot, Huron, Isabella, Jackson, Lapeer, Lenawee, Macomb, Midland, Monroe, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon, Saginaw, Sanilac, St Clair and Tuscola (Cheboygan and Monroe are in the Arkona case; the other 26 are in the Fox case). Heirs, estates, joint owners, trustees and people acting under a power of attorney may file. Anyone who filed a Public Act 256 surplus-proceeds motion and did not withdraw it in time is treated as excluded. People who asked to be excluded get nothing.
Sources and checks (9)
Every fact people act on was copied from the official source and compared with it. How we check
- Official settlement website home page administrator site
- Official settlement website Submit a Claim Form page administrator site
- Official settlement website Contact Us page administrator site
- Order Granting Stipulation Regarding Amended Deadlines and Postcard Notice, Fox, ECF No. 517 (August 25, 2026, PDF on official site) court record
- Order Granting Stipulation Regarding Amended Deadlines and Postcard Notice, Arkona (August 25, 2026, PDF on official site) court record
- Fox Long Form Notice (PDF on official site) administrator site
- Arkona Long Form Notice (PDF on official site) administrator site
- Claim Form (PDF on official site) administrator site
- Official online claim form (linked from the Submit a Claim Form page) administrator site
What changedLast change Oct 29, 2026
- Page created. Claims open until November 23, 2026. source document
Questions
I already filed. What now?
Keep your confirmation number or email. You do not need to file again. Payment can only happen after the court gives final approval; once it does, the payment status page shows what is known.