Our Standards

We Do the Hard Work First

Before we ever reach out to a property owner, every potential claim is screened against four critical checkpoints. If it doesn't clear all four, we don't pursue it.

Ownership & Title Confirmed

We trace the ownership chain through public records to confirm the right person held title at the time of the sale — and that the surplus is genuinely theirs to claim.

Liens & Encumbrances Mapped

Second mortgages, IRS tax liens, HOA judgments — we identify every encumbrance that could reduce or block the net payout, so there are no surprises at disbursement.

Bankruptcy & Court Status Cleared

An active bankruptcy stay can freeze a claim entirely. We check federal court records before proceeding — so your time is spent only on claims that are legally clear to pursue.

Claimant Eligibility Established

We verify who the legal claimant is — living owner, estate, or heirs — before making contact. This protects you from wasted outreach and ensures the right person signs the agreement.

Every claim we take on has already earned it

Anything flagged at these four stages gets set aside. That means the time we spend together is focused exclusively on claims that are clean, claimable, and worth pursuing — not on discovering problems after the fact.

We Search Public Records

Every tax sale in the US is a matter of public record. We continuously monitor auction results across 17+ states and dozens of counties. When a property sells for more than the taxes owed, we identify the former owner and verify the surplus amount.

When we contact you — by letter, phone, or email — it means we've already located funds tied to a property you previously owned. We don't guess or speculate.

What we search:

County tax sale auction records
Sheriff sale and constable sale results
Public trustee excess proceeds lists
Clerk of court surplus fund registers

You Sign a Fee Agreement

If you want to proceed, you sign a simple contingency fee agreement. This agreement:

Authorizes us to act on your behalf with the county
Specifies our fee as a percentage of the recovered amount
Requires no upfront payment of any kind
Means if we don't recover funds, you owe nothing

We can send the agreement digitally for e-signature — no printing or mailing required.

We File the Claim

This is where we do the heavy lifting. We prepare and file all required documentation with the county, which typically includes:

Completed county claim forms

Proof of ownership / identity

Notarized authorization letters

Fee agreement on file

Any required supporting documents

Attorney coordination (where required)

Processing times vary by county — typically 30 to 120 days. We monitor the claim status and follow up with the county as needed.

You Get Paid

Once the county approves the claim, funds are disbursed. Depending on the county and state, disbursement goes either directly to you or through our office for proper allocation per the fee agreement.

You keep the majority

Our fee is a percentage of the recovered amount — which means the larger the surplus, the better it is for both of us. We're fully aligned with your interests.

How Surplus Funds Recovery Works