No. Surplus funds are a legitimate legal right. When a county sells a property at a tax auction for more than the taxes owed, the law requires that excess proceeds be held for the former owner. We're licensed recovery agents who help people claim what's legally theirs. You can verify the existence of surplus funds yourself by contacting the county where your property was located.
If a property you previously owned was sold at a tax auction (due to unpaid taxes), and it sold for more than the amount owed, there may be surplus funds in your name at the county. Counties are supposed to notify former owners, but notices often go to outdated addresses. We search public records to find these funds. You can also contact the county directly to ask.
Our fee is a percentage of the funds we successfully recover — it is specified in your fee agreement before we begin. You pay nothing upfront. If we don't recover any funds, you owe us nothing. The fee percentage varies by state (some states have statutory caps) and is always disclosed clearly before you sign anything.
You don't need to. This is a contingency arrangement — our entire fee comes out of the recovered funds after disbursement. There are no application fees, filing fees, or any other costs charged to you.
It varies by county and state. After you sign the fee agreement, we typically file within 1–2 weeks. County processing times range from 30 days to 6 months. Most claims are resolved within 60–120 days of filing. We keep you updated throughout the process.
Typically: proof of identity (driver's license or passport), proof of prior ownership (a deed or closing documents if available), and your signature on our fee agreement. We guide you through exactly what's needed for your specific county — requirements vary.
Heirs may be entitled to surplus funds from a deceased person's property. This typically requires probate documentation or a court order establishing your right to claim. We can guide you through this process and, where required, connect you with a licensed attorney in your state.
No — we are surplus funds recovery specialists, not attorneys. Some states require an attorney to file certain types of surplus claims. In those cases, we work with licensed attorneys in your state and coordinate the process on your behalf. We'll tell you upfront if your situation requires attorney involvement.
Surplus funds are distributed based on the legal priority of claims — former owners typically have priority after any remaining mortgage debt. We review the title history and advise you on your specific situation before proceeding.
We currently work in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Washington. We're expanding to additional states. Contact us to ask about your state.
Tax sale records and property auction results are public information. We search county databases, public trustee records, and sheriff sale filings to identify cases where there may be unclaimed surplus funds. If we contacted you, it's because public records suggest there may be funds in your name.
If a claim is denied, we review the reason and determine whether an appeal or additional documentation can resolve the issue. If we're unable to recover the funds, you owe us nothing.