There's still time to save your home. Attorney Demers has stopped hundreds of tax foreclosures across Detroit — exploring every legal avenue to keep you in your home.
(313) 655-9214 — Emergency Help
Thousands of properties in Wayne County face tax foreclosure every year. An experienced attorney can help you keep your home.
Detroit and Wayne County have experienced one of the largest waves of tax foreclosures in American history. Since 2002, over 150,000 properties in Detroit alone have gone through the tax foreclosure process — a staggering number that has devastated neighborhoods from Brightmoor to East English Village, from Southwest Detroit to the North End.
Many of these foreclosures are preventable with proper legal representation. Attorney Kenneth Demers has helped property owners in Detroit, Dearborn, Inkster, Highland Park, Hamtramck, Taylor, Lincoln Park, Ecorse, and River Rouge fight tax foreclosures since 1996. His knowledge of the Wayne County Treasurer's procedures and Michigan property tax law provides clients with effective defense strategies.
Under the Michigan General Property Tax Act (MCL 211.78), the tax foreclosure process follows a strict three-year timeline:
Property taxes become delinquent on March 1. Interest and penalties begin to accrue. The local treasurer begins collection efforts.
Delinquent taxes are forfeited to the Wayne County Treasurer. Additional interest, penalties, and fees accrue. Property owner receives forfeiture notice.
FORECLOSURE — The Wayne County Treasurer petitions the circuit court for a judgment of foreclosure, typically by March 31. After judgment, the property goes to tax sale. This is your last chance to act.
✓ Payment Plan Negotiation — Working with the Wayne County Treasurer to establish manageable installment plans
✓ Poverty Exemption Petitions — Filing for Principal Residence Exemption if you meet income guidelines under MCL 211.7u
✓ Procedural Challenges — Contesting improper notice, defective service, or constitutional violations in the foreclosure process
✓ Bankruptcy Filing — Filing Chapter 7 or Chapter 13to trigger an automatic stay and stop the foreclosure
✓ Surplus Recovery — Recovering excess proceeds owed to you under the Rafaeli decision if your property was already sold
✓ Right of Redemption — Exercising your legal right to redeem your property before the foreclosure judgment is finalized
Aggressive legal defense at every stage of the Wayne County tax foreclosure process — from delinquency to judgment to sale.
Negotiating installment agreements with the Wayne County Treasurer's office to stop foreclosure and make taxes manageable.
Filing poverty/hardship exemption petitions under Michigan law to reduce or eliminate your delinquent property tax burden.
Recovering excess sale proceeds you're owed under the Michigan Supreme Court's Rafaeli decision (2020) when your property sold for more than taxes owed.
Time is critical. The sooner you act, the more options you have to save your property.
Wayne County's foreclosure deadline is typically March 31 of Year 3. Don't wait until it's too late.
Call Now — (313) 655-9214Every year thousands of Detroit properties are lost to tax foreclosure. The legal process moves fast — you need to act before it's too late.
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Also serving River Rouge, Romulus, Westland, Canton, Livonia, Redford Township, Southfield, and all of Wayne County, Oakland County, and Macomb County.
Payment plans, poverty exemptions, and legal challenges can stop a tax foreclosure — but only if you act before the deadline.
Call (313) 655-9214In Wayne County, the tax foreclosure process follows a three-year timeline under Michigan's General Property Tax Act (MCL 211.78). Year 1: Taxes become delinquent on March 1. Year 2: Taxes are forfeited to the Wayne County Treasurer with additional penalties. Year 3: The Treasurer petitions the circuit court for foreclosure judgment, typically by March 31. Property goes to tax sale after judgment. Working with a Detroit tax foreclosure defense attorney early provides the most options to save your property.
Yes — there are multiple legal strategies. You can pay delinquent taxes in full before judgment, negotiate a payment plan with the Wayne County Treasurer, apply for a poverty exemption if you meet income guidelines, challenge the foreclosure on procedural grounds (improper notice, defective service), or file bankruptcy to trigger an automatic stay. The key is acting early — the more time you have, the more options are available. Demers Law, P.C. offers free consultations to evaluate your situation.
In Rafaeli, LLC v. Oakland County (2020), the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that when a county seizes property for unpaid taxes and sells it for more than what's owed, the former owner is entitled to the surplus proceeds. Previously, counties kept all sale proceeds. For Detroit and Wayne County property owners, this means if your property was sold at a tax sale for $50,000 but you only owed $5,000 in taxes, you have a legal right to the $45,000 surplus. A tax foreclosure attorney can file a claim on your behalf.
Under MCL 211.7u, Michigan homeowners who meet certain income guidelines can apply for a poverty exemption (also called a Principal Residence Exemption) that reduces or eliminates property taxes on their primary residence. In Detroit, the income guidelines are set by the Board of Review and are typically based on federal poverty guidelines. If approved, the exemption can reduce your assessed value — and your tax bill — by up to 100%. Applications are typically due by the Board of Review deadline in March. An attorney can help you prepare a strong application.
Tax foreclosure defense attorney fees in Detroit vary depending on the complexity of the case. Simple payment plan negotiations may cost $500–$1,500 as a flat fee, while contested foreclosure defense can range from $2,000 to $5,000+. Surplus recovery cases are sometimes handled on a contingency basis (no fee unless you recover money). Demers Law, P.C. offers free initial consultations and works with clients to find affordable fee arrangements. The cost of losing your home far exceeds attorney fees.
Attorney Demers has saved hundreds of Detroit homes from tax foreclosure auction. There may still be time to save yours.
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