What does the poverty exemption affirmation confirm?

It affirms that the applicant owns and occupies the property as a homestead and states whether income and asset status has remained unchanged or qualifies under the form’s fixed-income statement.

Who can complete this affirmation?

The property owner may complete it. A legal designee may also complete it, but the form says the designee must attach a letter of authority.

Do I need a notary for the poverty exemption affirmation?

No. The form calls for a signature and date, not notarization. A legal designee must attach a letter of authority.

How do I submit the affirmation?

The form does not provide submission contact details. Submit it to the county department named on the form and check the county website for current contact information.

St. Joseph County, MI · St. Joseph County

No notary required

Affirmation of Ownership and Occupancy to Remain Exempt by Reason of Poverty

Property owners use this form to affirm ownership, homestead occupancy, and income status to remain eligible for a poverty-based property tax exemption.

At a glance

Issued by: City of St. Joseph County · St. Joseph County, St. Joseph County, Michigan
Notarization: Not required: file this form without a notary.
Official source: Original source unavailable. Use the archived PDF.
Blank form: Download the PDF
Catalogued: Oct 5, 2026
Machine-readable: JSON record · about the forms index

Original source unavailable. Use the archived PDF.

What this form is

This form affirms that the applicant owns and occupies the property as a homestead and meets the stated income-status criteria to remain eligible for a poverty-based property tax exemption. It requests owner and property details, any legal designee’s information, and the applicant’s certification. A legal designee must attach a letter of authority.

Who needs it

An owner seeking to remain eligible for a poverty-based property tax exemption completes this affirmation, or a legal designee completes it with a letter of authority.

How to submit it

Submit it to the county department named on the form; check the county website for current contact details.

About notarization

This document is signed and dated without a notary; a legal designee must attach a letter of authority, and the form does not say it must be notarized.

How to submit this form

1
Download the Form
Download the poverty exemption ownership and occupancy affirmation.
2
Complete the Form
Enter the owner and property information, complete applicable designee details, and check the statements that apply.
3
Gather Attachments
If a legal designee completes the form, attach a letter of authority.
4
Submit to the County
Submit the signed and dated form to the county department named on it; check the county website for current contact details.

Frequently asked questions

What does the poverty exemption affirmation confirm?: It affirms that the applicant owns and occupies the property as a homestead and states whether income and asset status has remained unchanged or qualifies under the form’s fixed-income statement.
Who can complete this affirmation?: The property owner may complete it. A legal designee may also complete it, but the form says the designee must attach a letter of authority.
Do I need a notary for the poverty exemption affirmation?: No. The form calls for a signature and date, not notarization. A legal designee must attach a letter of authority.
How do I submit the affirmation?: The form does not provide submission contact details. Submit it to the county department named on the form and check the county website for current contact information.

Need something notarized?

This Affirmation of Ownership and Occupancy to Remain Exempt by Reason of Poverty doesn’t need a notary, but Michigan residents can notarize other documents online with a commissioned online notary.